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Over the past several years, allegations of sexual misconduct among acupuncture practitioners have become more commonplace. As a result, clinics have to become much more vigilant in implementing policies to avoid sexual misconduct allegations. While no practitioner is immune to a sexual misconduct allegation, your exposure risk can be minimized…

Alyssa

In our office, the majority of ACL patients will experience some kind of posterior knee pain. Every patient’s timeline is different, but the revelation is common at some point over the course of rehab. I’ve learned to check every popliteus I come across in ACL patients who seemingly plateau at…

Chris

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) aligns with the holistic philosophy of palliative care and can be integrated with conventional modalities for comprehensive treatment. As TCM encompasses diverse therapeutic practices based on theories of qi , yin-yang balance, and the five elements, these modalities can offer support that benefits patients with complex…

Vulvodynia, chronic vulvar pain of unknown origin lasting at least three months, affects approximately 7% of American women and has no consistently effective treatment. In its most serious form, vulvodynia can lead to physical disability and suicidal ideation. This is the clinical landscape a rigorously designed, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial…

One can achieve gong fu or kung fu in any endeavor: art, music, martial arts, medicine, athletics, writing, or any activity that brings one inspiration and passion. Kung fu implies a high level of mastery forged via hard work over a long period of time; a literal alchemy of one’s…

Jing depletion in modern women is increasingly common and chronically underrecognized – particularly in its earlier, more subtle expressions. The opportunity for TCM practitioners is significant: With careful pattern differentiation and a sequenced, layered treatment strategy, it is possible to address the constitutional root of many of the conditions that…

Chinese medicine is built on a foundation of observations of the natural world, and yet planetary astrology and movements are overlooked. Saturn and the water element in Chinese medical theory share many similar qualities, and in comparing the two, many useful insights can be gained. Let’s delve into these two…

Light-emitting diode (LED) therapy, once a futuristic concept developed through NASA’s exploration of space-based healing, has become a foundational treatment in clinical, cosmetic and wellness settings. Initially studied to aid plant growth and accelerate wound healing in astronauts, LED therapy has evolved into a noninvasive, highly versatile modality that treats…

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…