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Most of us recognize and have felt anger at some point in our lives. Anger can be seen as a natural response to some kind of pain, whether emotional or physical. Our reaction to the pain is the spark that lights the fire of anger: we evaluate the cause and…

Many practitioners run their clinic without any extra help—at least initially. I’ve always been pretty good at multi-tasking. Having nine kids taught me how to wear multiple hats and juggle a lot of responsibilities. Running a clinic is similar. Most of the time I wear my acupuncturist hat, but I…

In addition to the 12 primary Organ-related meridians in the body, there are other energy circulation channels that have been mapped out by Traditional Chinese Medicine. Probably the most significant of these are called the Eight Extraordinary (or Extra) Vessels. These have also been called the Eight Ancestral Meridians because…

When patients with neuromuscular problems come to you for treatment there is usually a lot you can do for them to improve their mobility or reduce their pain, whether it is a middle age woman with a frozen shoulder, a young athlete with a partially torn rotator cuff, an elderly…

One of my patients told me recently, that their physical therapist used a “dry needle” and that it wasn’t acupuncture. Apparently, physical therapists (PT) are taught to tell their patients that “only acupuncturists practice acupuncture.” The PT told my patient dry needling is not a form of acupuncture. To that,…

After seeing Kim Kardashian’s face all over the Internet -and my inbox- following her posting on getting facial acupuncture, I recalled the work of Michael Cunningham who was at the University of Louisville when I was doing my doctoral work. According to Cunningham and some research Kardashian’s face is considered…

There are three Chinese patent medicines that belong in everyone’s first aid kit. All three are for topical application, and all three provide extraordinary benefits unavailable from any domestic over-the-counter. The three products are Yunnan Bai Yao , Plaster For Bruise (Pain Relieving Medicated Plaster), and Ching Wan Hung .…

On Monday, April 15 2013, locals and visitors from around the globe gathered for the world’s largest marathon in the city of Boston. With 23,000 participating in the race and many more on the sidelines, the marathon represents a Boston institution. Terror and chaos struck as two bombs exploded that…

The expressions “obese” and “obesity” are not pejorative terms. They are scientific terms, determined solely by the Body Mass Index scale, which combines a person’s height and weight in a mathematical formula. A number of 30 and above denotes “obesity.”

New research by Korean doctors of Oriental Medicine suggested that an acupuncture method could reduce acute lower back pain faster and more effectively than conventional drug injections. It is the first study of Oriental Medicine for pain relief that has received international recognition through the PAIN journal.

Dr. Kezhen Zhang M.D., is currently the founder and president of Beijing Taijitang Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. In May, he came to the United States for the very first time to observe acupuncture school students and also to share his knowledge about the importance of “space” in the body from…

Stephanie

When it comes to practicing herbal medicine in a mainstream setting, there are a number of important points to understand when it comes to prescribing formulas. Some important questions to ask are - what method of prescribing and dispensing is most effective in this setting? How do you avoid the…

Although this column doesn’t usually feature a book review, we’re going outside of our usual public health format to discuss a new book written by Patricia Herman ND, PhD. The title of her book is Evaluating the Economics of Complementary and Integrative Medicine , published by the Samueli Institute in…

Including standardized extra points, there are just over 400 acupuncture points on the body. You get 400 and I get 400 - same. Yet, time and time again treatment protocols are coveted as if they were some secret formula only intended for the right and privileged.

There is a lot of focus in the acupuncture world on fertility and helping women get pregnant. It’s exhilarating to hear the news that a patient is expecting a baby. The other side of that is pregnancy loss. That includes abortion, miscarriage or stillbirth. I invite you to consider that,…

In the previous installment of this article I discussed important ideas concerning gastrointestinal health and foundational ideas from TCM, which can provide key insights into creating effective protocols for healing the gut. In this second part I will discuss ways to integrate Western herbs and supplements into TCM protocols to…

As many of you know, when it comes to treating infertility, we are dealing with a patient population that is, generally speaking, in emotional turmoil. These patients often experience fear, anxiety, despair, hopelessness, grief and anger. And, it is these emotional states that are hindering their ability to conceive. Which…

Energy is a hot commodity. Society pays dearly for it and for the expertise of those who know how to cultivate it. Since health and productivity rely on vital people, our society increasingly values professionals who build human energy. As such, there is progressively more admiration for the work of…

When patients go see Arizona-based acupuncturist Jing Liu, it is to get top care from an practitioner well versed in all aspects of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Liu has been trained extensively in her homeland of China and is best known for studying under highly regarded Dr. Shi Xue Min. Liu’s…