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Ann M.

In part 2 of this series, we introduced an ancient Taoist meditative practice, called the “Water Wheel.” We can view this technique as the beginning of a transformational journey whereby the acupuncturist/practitioner refines their qi and cultivates effortless clarity of intention, in turn becoming an acupuncturist/alchemist. This dynamic of inner…

The protocol described in this article utilizes a combination of acupuncture needling, microcurrent and color-light treatment in conjunction with therapeutic exercise. It is a good example of a multi-faceted approach to a hard-to-treat pain issue. Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition of the foot that is hard to treat because…

Desperate times call for drastic measures. Anticipating a 20 percent reduction in revenue, the nonprofit CEO asked me, “We are already as lean as we can be! We have cut services, prioritized our work and eliminated non-essential areas. Our leadership will forego bonuses and raises this year. We have installed…

Q: What three things are essential for a newly minted practitioner to have? A: Web site: Unless you already have a community of patients to tap into or your target market does not use the Internet, most practices need a Web site. A Web site is only as good as…

In my last article, I dabbled into being ready to heal in relation to people with chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia (CF/FM), with a promise to cover more this time around. This is a thorny topic. In our daily lives, most of us operate under a fairly thick slathering of guilt. Having a…

There are systems of facial reflexology that use the acupressure points to bring about healing and balance elsewhere in the body. In facelift massage work, we try to focus on the Chinese facial rejuvenation acupressure points. There is a system of facial reflexology that mimic foot reflexology by projecting the…

Patients don't always disclose the whole truth. Sometimes, we tell outright lies. I was sitting with a friend of mine who is an acupuncturist. We were at Starbucks discussing a project we were working on together. I wasn't feeling particularly well. My friend asked if he could take my pulse.…

One morning in 1972, Dr. Zhi-yun Bo was treating a patient suffering from intense low back pain and sciatica that resisted improvement. A sudden inspiration reminded him that the Governing Vessel and the Conception Vessel are paired in a biao-li (Internal-External) relationship, and this moved him to try CV4 and…

Let's face it. Most of us are not 97-year-old 23rd-generation Chinese acupuncturists, and we never will be. I know, the truth hurts and all that. Even if your best will never be as good as that, there are things you can do now to make your treatments feel and work…

Angina, chest pain, dizziness, palpitation and high blood pressure are symptoms associated with cardiovascular disease. Medical science dedicates a great deal of effort and expense developing drugs, devices and procedures to combat the most common cause of death in both men and women. These symptoms can be controlled, prevented and…

One person does make a difference. Now is the time to unite and stand together to protect and preserve the profession. It is a sad but exciting time for the profession as we pay tribute to a one-of-a-kind acupuncturist, Miriam Lee. She single-handedly lead and trained many others in this…

In previous articles in this series, I discussed a number of areas of inquiry and exploration to help us determine who our patient is and what they truly need. In many ways, the Twelve Officials (organs/functions) speak to us and tell quite plainly what the needs of the patient are.…

Last month, I shared questionnaire responses from colleagues working in hospital settings. I hope you enjoyed the piece and gained some insight for your own career. This month I am continuing to share what acupuncturists working in traditional medical settings are saying about building practices and being successful.

What do you do when you have treated a patient a number of times for their problem and there has been no noticeable change? How do you respond when they come reporting a particular problem, and after interviewing and examining them, you determine that what they believe to be the…

According to a recently released federal report, there was a very substantial increase in visits to acupuncturist between 1997 and 2007. The number of patient visits per 1,000 people jumped from 27.2 visits in 1997 to 79.2 visits per 1,000 in 2007. Furthermore, median out-of-pocket patient payments to acupuncturists and…

In December 2007, I helped bring acupuncture to a refugee camp in Burma (Myanmar). I was given the opportunity to train 15 “backpack medics” simple techniques in auricular acupuncture, while my teammates installed solar power in the clinic (a large bamboo hut with dirt floors). Together, we brought ” qi…

One of the great things about traditional Chinese medicine is that it has been developed, over a long period of time, to address a prodigious number of health problems, many of which still exist today. Unfortunately, one of its shortcomings is that it is not well versed in the challenges…

Acupuncture Today will launch a publication and Web site in early 2010 that are dedicated to providing practice advice, unbiased “how to” articles and timely product information for the acupuncture profession. One feature of the new Acupuncture Today Practice Insights magazine and Web site, will be a national survey of…

In its third year, the Trudy McAlister Fund has awarded two scholarships to two very deserving students. The recipients were Ian Koebner, who attends the New England School of Acupuncture, and Christy Kennedy from the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Each student received a $1,000 scholarship.