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Mitigating cardiac-related wear and tear has long been a therapeutic concept in the fight against heart failure. In fact, acupuncturists have used their expertise to support heart function for millennia. There remains a need for more high-quality studies, but recent research may be revealing what mechanisms are behind acupuncture’s efficacy…

The assembly of officials (organs/functions) relies on the gallbladder’s clarity and sound judgment to organize and decide how their tasks are to be best carried out. We are constantly faced with decisions to be made, consciously and unconsciously. Not every possible decision is right, appropriate or valuable.

Some of the best advice I was given as an acupuncture student was to focus my attention on one school of thought at a time. This included the acupuncture channel systems. The belief was that every channel system has the power to treat everything. However, a deep relationship must be…

From a Western perspective, aerobic exercise is touted as primary preventive and treatment option when it comes to blood pressure regulation; although too often, BP-lowering medications are also prescribed, alone or in combination with exercise recommendations. An Eastern alternative: tai chi, which should be adopted by more Western practitioners and…

I remember making the big decision to embark on a career in this medicine and being naive to what that would even mean. I often bring this up when I guest lecture at a school, but I’ve never met anyone who comes into this industry because it feels like a…

It is not a surprise when I encounter lingering cough post-viral infection in the clinic. The majority of patients commonly treat viral infections with fever-reducing over-the-counter remedies, which allow the pathogens to penetrate deeper into the body, often remaining active for weeks to months. Combined with the use of over-the-counter…

A research letter in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) provides early findings from the most recent (2022) survey on the use of complementary health approaches (CHA). The findings include data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), which conducts interviews both by phone and in-person. The CHA…

Are you thinking it is the time in your career development to branch out and “give back” to the profession that sustains and feeds you? There are many ways of doing so including being involved in professional organizations and societies, advocating for the profession in the greater community, conducting research,…

Barbara

Jennifer

I was motivated to write this article after hearing yet another story of a male practitioner in our field making inappropriate comments about sexual behavior in his treatment room. Over the years, I’ve gathered stories about various men practicing in our field who have exhibited inappropriate behavior toward female patients.…

Although a hip can fracture with a fall in any direction, more than 75% of all hip fractures are the result of a sidewards fall. Until recently, it’s been unclear as to why lateral falls are so destructive, as people in their 20s do not break their hips when they…

In the realm of mental health, a profound crisis looms large, particularly among young adults, who grapple with escalating rates of anxiety and depression. In response to this pressing issue, I, the founder of Acupuncturists Without Borders, along with partner organizations, have initiated a groundbreaking pilot program aimed at addressing…

I recently sat down with Matthew Bauer, who has been in practice since 1986. He is the president of the Acupuncture Now Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating people about the benefits of acupuncture; and author of the book Making Acupuncture Pay: Real-World Advice for Successful Private Practice.

People generally know they need to correct their posture, but I find they don’t know where to start other than the blanket advice they’ve been given over the years. When it comes to posture, there doesn’t seem to be many ways to get people to have a healthy obsession with…

The following is a recent case study from my clinic showcasing the often dramatic positive results of acupuncture for acute health challenges. This patient is a 44-year-old female suffering from acute eye inflammation with concomitant eye pain with headache. Upon visit to her allopathic physician, after examination, the patient was…

Coercive control, also known as mind control, thought reform, undue influence, or colloquially referred to as a “cult,” is a growing and concerning phenomenon, especially in the United States. In essence, coercive control is pervasive, underscoring the importance for health care practitioners to be keenly aware of this issue, and…

Part 1 of this article discussed the nighttime hours of what I call the Tan Cycle 24-Hour Clock, which is meant to be an evolution of the TCM clock. The shift proposed by this evolution is based on current, modern physiological understanding and observation. Part 2 explores the daytime hours.

Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes are the codes that describe the services provided to your patient from exams, therapy, X-ray, etc. Some years can have a pronounced change, like in 2021, when there was a complete revamp of evaluation and management services (E&M). Let’s take a look at the 2024…

A randomized clinical trial suggests auricular acupuncture is effective for reducing symptoms of depression. The study, conducted at four university research centers in Brazil and involving adults (ages 18-50) diagnosed with moderate or moderately severe depression, randomized patients to one of two treatment groups for comparison, featuring a six-week intervention…