Research Rounds

News in Brief

Acupuncture Today Staff

Acupuncture Valuable for Angina, Says Study

Research findings published in JAMA Internal Medicine suggest acupuncture effectively reduces the frequency of attacks in patients with chronic, stable angina. This clinical trial involved 404 patients randomized to one of four groups: acupuncture on the acupoints on the disease-affected meridian (DAM), acupuncture on the acupoints on the nonaffected meridian (NAM), sham acupuncture (SA)] or no intervention whatsoever. Each member of the first three groups received treatment three times a week for four weeks (12 total sessions).

Patients recorded attacks every four weeks for the next 16 weeks; researchers noted that changes in the frequency of attacks differed significantly among groups, with the greatest reduction in attacks occurring in members of the group who received acupuncture on the acupoints on the disease-affected meridian (DAM).

Reference:

  • Zhao L, et al. Acupuncture as adjunctive therapy for chronic, stable angina. JAMA Internal Med, 2019 July 29 (epub in advance of print).

ASA: New Board Members, Member Associations

The American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA) recently announced two new board members: Olivia Hsu Friedman (Illinois) and Andy McIntyre (Oregon). At the same time, the ASA announced four new state association members: the Acupuncture Association of Missouri, the Kentucky State Acupuncture Association, the California Acupuncture & Traditional Medicine Association, and the Nebraska Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine Association.

November 2019
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Your Practice / Business
Three Reasons to Make the Switch to Online Appointment Scheduling
Three Reasons to Make the Switch to Online Appointment Scheduling

People today want convenience, whether it be from their bank, credit card, favorite retail store, or restaurant. They demand it from the companies who hold their loyalty, including their health care providers (you). They don’t want to call and possibly be put on hold, and they want to use an app or schedule an appointment on your website. Here are three reasons your practice can gain by switching to online appointment scheduling.

Antonio Arias
Chinese & Asian Medicine
Fire and the Pelvis
Fire and the Pelvis

While there aren’t any meridians associated with fire that cross the pelvis, that doesn’t mean the lower tan tien is void of fire. Fire has a more ethereal quality to it in relationship to the pelvis and can be connected through discussion of the lower tan tien, the lower san jjao, the ming men, and the bao mai. In this article, we’ll journey through the anatomy of subtle fire in the pelvic bowl and look a bit at how it is kindled, carried and cultivated.

Krystal Lynn Couture, DPT, LAc
Billing / Fees / Insurance
The State of 21st Century Acupuncture in the U.S. (Pt. 3)
The State of 21st Century Acupuncture in the U.S.

Whether you accept it, avoid it or live somewhere in between, insurance coverage has become a defining issue for our profession. Patients increasingly expect to use their benefits, practitioners want to be compensated fairly for their time and expertise, and the system itself remains – at best – fragmented. The encouraging news is that coverage has expanded in meaningful ways. The challenging news is that reimbursement, across the board, remains inadequate.

Clasina (Sina) Leslie Smith, MS, MA, LAc, MD, Dipl. Ac., FAAMA