Eric Brand, LAc

Eric Brand, LAc, a graduate of the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine and a fluent Chinese speaker, has pursued extensive academic and clinical opportunities in both Asia and the West. He is the author of A Clinician's Guide to the Use of Granule Extracts and the co-author of the text Concise Chinese Materia Medica, and he has translated a variety of modern and classical Chinese medical texts. Eric has a particular passion for Chinese herbal processing, herbal authentication and quality discernment and he is the owner of Legendary Herbs.

Previous Articles

When Big Pharma Meets Chinese Medicine
October 2014 (Vol. 15, Issue 10)
Changes in Herbal Medicines from Ancient Times to the Present
July 2014 (Vol. 15, Issue 07)
Pesticides and Chinese Herbs: Understanding the Issues
June 2014 (Vol. 15, Issue 06)
Preserving the Natural Resources and Culture of Chinese Herbal Medicine
March 2014 (Vol. 15, Issue 03)
In Memory of Acupuncturist Al Stone
September 2013 (Vol. 14, Issue 09)
Trending
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
Chinese & Asian Medicine
Vesicle Formation After Cupping: Clinical Insights & Management Considerations
Vesicle Formation After Cupping: Clinical Insights & Management Considerations

While the formation of erythema and ecchymosis is an anticipated skin response to cupping therapy, the appearance of post-treatment vesicles remains less discussed in clinical literature. This article presents a case study of vesicle formation following cupping therapy, explores underlying pathophysiology, and offers management guidelines to support practitioners in addressing this phenomenon safely and effectively.

Roman Slavinskiy, LAc
Acupuncture Techniques
Understanding Facial Spasms and Tics
Understanding Facial Spasms and Tics

Facial movements are essential for communication, expression and function. But when these movements become involuntary, they can lead to conditions that are not only physically uncomfortable, but also socially and emotionally distressing. Today, we’re taking a closer look at three common facial motor disorders – blepharospasm, hemifacial spasm and facial tics – and how both Western medicine and TCM view and treat them.

Michelle Gellis, AP, Dipl. Ac.