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Allison

As the acupuncture profession continues to engage with neuroscience, psychophysiology and integrative medicine, the role of mind-body medicine has become increasingly central to clinical practice. Acupuncture's documented effects on the limbic system, autonomic regulation, interoceptive processing, and the descending pain-modulatory network parallel many of the mechanisms activated during clinical hypnosis.…

Distal and contralateral needling remains one of acupuncture’s most reliable strategies for the treatment of pain, but in a recruitment-based focus, it becomes more than symptom relief; it enables immediate functional verification. The clinician tests a specific deficient action, needles a minimal set of contralateral points, and then retests under…

Caroline

Electroacupuncture (EA) is widely used in modern clinical practice, yet polarity and frequency are often applied without clear theoretical grounding. The classical Chinese medicine principles of direction, tonification and regulation of qi closely parallel modern neurophysiological findings regarding electrical stimulation. This article examines polarity and frequency selection in EA through…

In classical Chinese medicine, jing – or essence – is the deepest foundation of human life. It governs our capacity for growth, reproduction, and graceful aging, anchoring the strength of the kidneys, the vitality of the reproductive system, and the arc of our longevity. It is, in every sense, our…

In prior issues, Neil discussed the Gallbladder Official as a whole (March 2016, including points 17 and 24); points 37-41 (June 2013); points 1,16 and 20 (May 2021); points 2-3, 8-9 and 12-13 (April 2024); and points 7, 10, 14-15, 18-19, 21, and 23 (April 2025). This article features points…

Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) affects more than 15% of the U.S. population but evades most practitioners’ radar. Just five years ago, it wasn’t even on my radar, despite already having 20 years of experience as a clinician at that time. The more I dug (similar to leaky gut and…

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common disorder marked by upper-gastrointestinal discomfort, altered digestion and reduced quality of life. This study examined whether transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), delivered to the auricular conchae, could improve FD symptoms and modulate brain networks linked to autonomic regulation, interoception and affect.

I have written previous on unique clinical issues concerning heat and hot climates, and how I use a “heat inventory” to evaluate patients prior to the summer months. With that said, let’s discuss how to generate qi and blood, and cultivate yin / essence prior to extensive periods of heat…

In July 2025, Congress passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a sweeping piece of legislation that, among many other provisions, directed the U.S. Department of Education to convene a series of Negotiated Rulemaking Committees to reshape federal higher education policy. For Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (AHM) schools, students, practitioners,…

Chicago’s Angela Lorbeck, DACM, LAc, was one of many acupuncturists around the country horrified by a scene involving excessive needling during the March 18 th episode of the popular NBC show “Chicago Med.” For those who enjoy the show and range of unusual medical case studies, it was still a…

Jeffrey

In early 2026 a trend arose in multiple state wherein MAP carriers were retroactively repricing the supplemental acupuncture to the Medicare Fee Schedule and attempting to recoup payments for non‑Medicare‑covered acupuncture supplemental benefits. Because stand‑alone acupuncturist services are statutorily excluded under Medicare, the Medicare Fee Schedule and sequestration rules should…

Andre

Research supports the effectiveness of selecting the distal acupuncture points for the treatment of microtrauma and for relieving pain, particularly in cases of chronic shoulder pain. But to make the treatment results long-lasting, clinical experience and research suggest that instead of treating the most painful structure first, we identify the…

In healthcare, the term red flag is used to describe signs and symptoms that can indicate the presence of serious health conditions. These conditions generally carry an increased likelihood for serious complications, disability or even death. In recent years, additional flags have been described to accompany red flags. Like red…

Ann Y

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.…

Aidan