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Practitioners who are intentional about the way their patients interact with their clinic, even before they are treated, is an important first step in creating trust in a health care setting. Practice management and electronic medical records (EMR) systems can help to facilitate the above and essentially guide the patient…

A new study adds to the evidence suggesting acupuncture can positively influence PTSD psychobiology and symptomatology. The two-arm, parallel-group, prospective, blinded, randomized clinical trial compared traditional (verum) acupuncture to sham acupuncture, with veterans ages 18-55 assigned to receive acupuncture or sham (the control) for 15 weeks (one-hour sessions, twice weekly,…

Microneedling has emerged as a widely embraced therapeutic modality for acupuncturists, offering diverse benefits ranging from addressing fine lines and wrinkles to treating conditions such as acne, acne scars, hair loss, melasma, and rosacea. This article focuses specifically on the application of microneedling as a therapy for acne and acne…

Many are beginning to understand that when it comes to PPO (and managed care) plans, the expected benefit is that the provider will have greater access and more patients and visits. However, with this comes reduced payments and possibly a requirement for preauthorization.

TrA-2, my primary needle location, I needle 95% of the time and I think it works the best. You’ll know you have the right point location when you discover the muscle twitching when applying electric stimulation.

The NCCAOM distributed the Job Task Analysis (JTA) Survey on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, to all licensed acupuncturists and herbal medicine practitioners. Your participation in this effort is invaluable in defining NCCAOM exam content outlines at the entry-to-practice level. The data collected is essential for recognition and advancing the acupuncture…

As long as one can accurately taste (a chemical reaction) an herb, one can know how to use it and apply it effectively. Taste is, most likely, the way ancient herbal medicines were discovered and used. Taste and smell are probably how our animals know what herbs to eat when…

On Dec. 7, 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) released its “Guideline for Non-Surgical Management of Chronic Primary Low Back Pain in Adults in Primary and Community Care Settings.” The purpose of the 244-page document is to “provide evidence-based recommendations on nonsurgical interventions for chronic primary LBP in adults” that…

This case study aims to explore the effectiveness of photobiomodulation with a class 4 therapy laser in treating low back pain. A 45-year-old patient who suffered from chronic low back pain due to degenerative disc disease underwent a series of class 4 laser therapy sessions over a period of four…

Christine

The Herbal Oncology Program (HOP), developed at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Center by its Integrative Medicine Service (IMS) and Pharmacy Departments, published findings from a groundbreaking study last year that explores the efficacy of herbal formulas to support cancer patients, providing valuable insights for future studies and treatment strategies.

J William

Metabolic syndrome is a complex disorder based on aberrant glucose metabolism involving numerous coexisting and interconnected conditions. With approximately 100 million Americans (35% of adults) 1 suffering from the multitude of its far-reaching effects, it couldn’t be more relevant to our current collective health and well-being.

In this ongoing series, my mission is to “nerd out” and provide you with all the information I use when treating certain muscles. I’m starting with the transverse abdominis (TrA) because just recently I needled it on a patient with low back pain, and it made a profound difference in…

David

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…