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Since launching the Acupuncture Now Foundation (ANF), our volunteer leadership has continued to work to achieve our vision of “Creating a World Where the Benefits of Acupuncture are Known and Available to All.” Our biggest project to date has been the production of the documentary series “Getting to the Point”…

The Roman doctor, Galen, (2nd century AD) did pivotal work to prove that blood, which he thought was produced by the liver, and the cardio vascular system existed. He conceived that the arteries and veins were two separate networks. Blood, he thought, did not circulate but rather ebbed and flowed,…

Many of us decide to become acupuncturists because we are healers at heart and want to focus on treating patients, not because we want to own and operate a business. So we work for someone else, which can have great advantages, especially as a new graduate.

Of all the finite resources we possess, perhaps the most valuable one is time. There never seems to be enough time to accomplish everything that must be done, and all too often we sacrifice things in our personal life to meet the demands of our practice. Let’s discuss some simple…

Even an acute poison can become an excellent drug if it is properly administered. On the other hand even a drug, if not properly administered, becomes an acute poison. — Charaka Samhita

The beauty industry continues to boom and grow constantly, from topical creams, lotions and potions all the way to cutting edge cosmetic surgeries. Some treatments simply fail at being effective, while others may be effective but very costly and invasive; and finding a more natural treatment that is actually effective…

It is no secret that today’s consumer has high expectations when it comes to how and when they can contact a business. In fact, one of the reasons clinic management software has become so popular with acupuncture practitioners is they allows customers to book appointments and make payments online day…

The international standardization conference was held this year in Shanghai, China (June) - this was the ninth plenary session. Meetings for technical committees, or working groups also took place at the conference.

Before we can approach treatment of a patient’s primary elemental imbalance (AKA “Causative Factor” or “CF”), a number of specific energetic blocks must be considered and, if present, removed in order for treatment to be effective. I cannot emphasize this enough. We cannot treat through a block, which means that…

The jolt of seeing a woman conscious and talking during surgery left a lasting impression in 1971 when acupuncture was on the national news. A “New York Times” reporter covering President Nixon’s trip to China fell ill with appendicitis and surgeons successfully used acupuncture for anesthesia and post-operative pain.

As an acupuncturist I see many people suffering from depression. I often think depression is the major imbalance of our culture. I have a patient I’ve been working with for several years. Her major challenge is chronic stubborn depression. I’ve found the most effective treatment for alleviating her depression is…

Successful practitioners are the ones who know how to run a business, first and foremost. I became a licensed acupuncturist in 2006. After having worked in chiropractor's offices for nine years, I opened my own office in 2015: four treatment rooms, a back office and a waiting room. Since then,…

Gilian

Diane

The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) is offering a route to achieve national certification—without having to take any of the NCCAOM exams. This is specifically for California licensed acupuncturists that meet the eligibility requirements.

In my pursuit of being a skilled health care provider, I focus on reading journals, attending classes, staying current on medicinal research, and choosing the correct billing codes. However, most of us would never have started down this career path if there wasn’t something more. It is my belief the…

Certified Chinese herb practitioners often identify themselves with the credentials “LAc” (Licensed acupuncturist). Very few Chinese herb practitioners utilize the post-nominal letters “Dipl. OM” (Diplomate of Oriental Medicine) or “Dipl. CH” (Diplomate of Chinese Herbology) to indicate their expanded education that includes significant herbal training and testing. Practitioners also don’t…

Back in 1910, when D.D. Palmer published The Chiropractor’s Adjuster and introduced the world to what he called the “triad of health” – thoughts, trauma and toxins – he explained that the body can only be made optimally healthy if all three aspects of health are addressed.

TCM looks death in the face. We do not camouflage it as if it were poisonous. “We must allow our patients to die but we cannot allow them to perish,” was my first lesson the day I met my teacher as a teenager.

In the first article in this series, “Early Detection Reduces Hip, Knee, & Shoulder Replacements,” I described time tested screening procedures and perspectives as indicators of when to encourage your patients to seek further medical evaluation. Additionally, I described the anatomical relationships that have evidenced themselves to contribute to the…