The Modern Acupuncturist

Shabnam Pourhassani, LAc, QME, DACM

Dr. Shabnam Pourhassani attained a bachelor's degree in holistic science (2006) and master's degree in acupuncture and Oriental medicine (2008) from South Baylo University; and her doctorate in acupuncture and Chinese medicine (DACM) from Pacific College of Health Sciences in 2021. She practices in Newport Beach, Calif., and is an inpatient staff member of Cedars Sinai Medical Center and the California Rehabilitation Institute [a Cedars Sinai / University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Health partnership].

Previous Articles

Who Owns Your Words?
January 1, 2026 (Vol 27, Issue 1)
Navigating the Complexities of Chronic Pain Care Under PPO Plans
October 1, 2025 (Vol. 26, Issue 10)
The Benefits of Building a Referral Culture in Acupuncture
August 1, 2025 (Vol. 26, Issue 8)
Acupuncture Employment Negotiation in the Time of Specialization
November 2023 (Vol. 24, Issue 11)
Ethical Considerations for Acupuncturists: Egg Freezing
January 2023 (Vol. 24, Issue 01)
Infertility Is Not a Disease
November 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 11)
Caffeine, Acupuncture and Pain
June 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 06)
Venous Thromboembolism (VTE): Can Acupuncture Help Save Lives?
April 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 04)
Acupuncture Fees Don't Make Sense
February 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 02)
Trending
Acupuncture & Acupressure
Open the Orifices: Point Combinations for Allergy Presentations
Open the Orifices: Point Combinations for Allergy Presentations

Acupuncture can be highly effective in cases of nasal congestion so common in allergy presentations; so much so that I often treat such issues using acupuncture protocols alone. In cases of seasonal allergies with highly predictable causes such as obvious elevations of environmental allergens, I use a skeleton acupuncture prescription that can easily be fleshed out to target potential underlying patterns and effectively customized to the patient.

Craig Williams, LAc, AHG
Lasers & Tens
The Laser Learning Curve for Light-Based Fertility Treatments
The Laser Learning Curve for Light-Based Fertility Treatments

Low-level laser therapy is having a moment in acupuncture circles for good reason. With a growing body of research supporting its role in reducing inflammation, enhancing circulation and stimulating mitochondrial activity, more practitioners are exploring its application in fertility care. But in the nearly 20 years I’ve used laser therapy in clinical practice, I’ve seen a wide range of outcomes. It’s not because laser therapy doesn’t work. It’s because many of us don’t realize how much the details matter.

Marcy White, LAc, Dipl. Ac., MAc, CFMP
Evidence / Research / Science
TEAM Dietary and Herbal Therapies for Cancer Patients
TEAM Dietary and Herbal Therapies for Cancer Patients

“Integrating Traditional East Asian Medicine Dietary and Herbal Therapies for Supporting Cancer Treatment and Survivorship in the West,”published in Perspectives on Integrative Medicine (2025), provides a detailed exploration of how traditional East Asian medicine (TEAM) can support cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. This article summarizes findings from the two case reports included in the study.

John Chen, PhD, PharmD, OMD, LAc