Randal Lyons, DOM, LAc

Dr. Randal Lyons has helped himself, and thousands of others, achieve sobriety using TCM for the past 27 years. A graduate of Emperor's College of TOM, he's consulted for dozens of world-class addiction treatment facilities; and is the author of Opening the Eyes of the Heart. Currently, his focus is Alchemist Recovery, an online program that creates collaboration among TCM practitioners, mental health professionals and businesses in need of support for those struggling with addiction.

Previous Articles

Step #1 in Treating Addiction: Defining It
July 2021 (Vol. 22, Issue 07)
The Cycle of Addiction, Part 3
May 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 05)
The Cycle of Addiction, Part 2: The Yin and Yang of Addiction
February 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 02)
The Cycle of Addiction, Part 1
November 2006 (Vol. 07, Issue 11)
Trending
News / Profession
Classification and Determination of TCM Constitution: China’s New National Standard
Classification and Determination of TCM Constitution

On April 1, 2026, China implemented a landmark national standard: Classification and Determination of TCM Constitution. Although designated as a recommended rather than mandatory standard, it represents a major step in modernizing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) by converting traditional constitution theory into a clear, measurable and clinically practical framework. By clarifying the relationship between constitution, disease, and pattern differentiation, the standard strengthens professional credibility, supports research, and enhances patient-centered treatment.

Ann Y Wang, CMD (China), LAc
News / Profession
Profession at a Crossroads: What Must Change
Profession at a Crossroads: What Must Change

The field of acupuncture in the U.S. continues to grow in visibility, patient demand and clinical effectiveness. Yet behind the curtain, many acupuncturists are quietly struggling to keep their doors open. While the profession is rooted in centuries of healing tradition, modern economic pressures – particularly those driven by insurance limitations, low reimbursement rates and job-market saturation – are making it increasingly difficult for licensed acupuncturists to thrive.

Shabnam Pourhassani, LAc, QME, DACM
Acupuncture & Acupressure
It’s Time to Stop Prescribing Points
It's Time to Stop Prescribing Points

A student stands over a patient, needle poised. They have a “perfect” prescription: a textbook combination of points harvested from a lecture slide on chronic lower back pain. But as the needle meets the skin, the student hesitates - the symptom of a quiet habit that has taken hold of our profession. We routinely say we “prescribe” points. It sounds efficient. It echoes the authority of biomedical culture and fits neatly into the insurance field. But vocabulary is never neutral; repeated long enough, it dictates behavior.

Bruce W. Park, DACM