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The chronosystem, within which the macrosystem is nested, includes the history of the acupuncture profession in the U.S. and reflects the change over time of the environment surrounding acupuncture. The macrosystem, within which the exosystem is nested, includes broad cultural influences or ideologies that have long-ranging consequences for the focal…

The information that the West has been given regarding the organ pairs of the fire element and assigned yin and yang polarities has never resonated with me through years of study of the human body. I have reasoned certain truths that have proven to be fact through research of anatomy…

Have you noticed that qigong, a fundamental pillar of Chinese medicine, is gaining much wider recognition by the public? In fact, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) recently updated the Health Information section of its website to include a section titled “Qigong: What You Need to Know.”

The NCCAOM submitted the following Q&A with Janet Zand, OMD, Dipl. Ac., CH, OM, LAc, CCN, new board chair, in response to a request from Acupuncture Today. Let’s hear Dr. Zand’s thoughts on where the profession stands, what she hopes to accomplish and why practitioner involvement is critical to the…

Endometriosis is an often-painful disorder in which tissue similar to the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus – the endometrium – grows outside the uterus. Endometriosis most commonly involves the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue lining the pelvis. It can cause pain – sometimes severe, especially…

Working with chronically ill patients entails acknowledging the reality that not all patients will survive their diagnosis. Chinese medicine and acupuncture play a crucial role in palliative and end-of-life care, addressing medication and disease side effects, alleviating pain associated with death, reducing anxiety and stress, and helping patients find peace…

In the search for effective treatments for COVID-19, there has been growing interest in the fields of phytopharmacology and nutrition regarding the potential of natural compounds and traditional foods as sources of antiviral agents. One such food that has been attracting researchers’ attention is natto, a traditional Japanese dish consumed…

As sepsis is a serious condition with high morbidity and is connected to a wide array of medical issues, a successful treatment option is highly exciting. After examining the herbs that constitute the injectable herbal formula Xuebijing, I was not surprised at its efficacy, as its main therapeutic vector is…

The recession conversation is ongoing, but no one can deny that costs are increasing. No practitioner wants an existing or new patient to delay booking an appointment due to concerns over cost. Follow these three C’s to keep your practice thriving during these challenging times.

Mainstreaming the acupuncture profession is a complex endeavor. A myriad of factors, directly and indirectly, influence acupuncture’s integration into mainstream medicine in the United States. In subsequent parts of this article, each of the influences will be introduced using Neal and Neal’s networked model approach, starting with the chronosystem.

Judyth

Herbal medicine has been the medicine of necessity and choice from the beginning of history. About 80% of our planet’s population still actively uses herbal medicine as its foremost source of health care. With the amazing abilities of herbal medicines to nourish yin and increase qi, why aren’t more acupuncturists…

MG

If you’ve ever wondered why there’s a cap on your patients’ healing, you’ll want to read this. The answer is so simple – and beautiful – that you’ll seriously wonder why you never learned this in school. If you’ve been looking to literally achieve 10 times your current clinical effectiveness,…

Mailchimp announced on its website earlier this year that it identified a hacker had accessed its system, exposing customer data. (This was the company’s second hacking event in six months.) This highlights the importance of acupuncturists understanding and following HIPAA privacy & security rules; in particular, the requirements for having…

It is in the stomach that the major part of digestion occurs. Known as “The Official of Rotting and Ripening,” this organ processes the food and drink we consume into a proper mixture so nutrition can be easily absorbed. The stomach is also responsible for receiving and digesting at the…

Ready to bill insurance - but don’t know how to get started? Learn the basic requirements, which insurances to accept (and which to avoid, and other factors to consider. Billing insurance may seem like a hassle, but it will open doors to allow more patients to experience your medicine -…

As a practitioner, it’s understandable that most of your time is spent treating patients, rather than developing your social media presence. However, just like diagnosing and treating a patient’s condition depends on their symptoms and individual needs, leveraging social media as a marketing tool requires a similar approach.

One of the most popular topics in both allopathic and integrative medicine at the moment is the issue of “long COVID.” I will cover some important clinical considerations on Chinese herbal medicine in cases of long COVID in future columns; however, in this column let’s focus on the issue of…