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I often find myself scanning the press for articles of note that point to issues of great significance in the health realm, which seem to vindicate ideas long held in natural medicine circles but considered outside the mainstream thinking. A recent article about shift work and cancer caught my attention.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive disease of the central nervous system in which communication between the brain and other parts of the body is disrupted. There are multiple scars on the myelin sheaths comprised of a fatty layer surrounding and protecting the neurons of the brain and spinal cord.…

To give you better insight on how to get into a busy medical practice and earn the money you deserve, I would like to share the story of my life path. When I was an intern four years ago, I was unable to keep my full-time day job as a…

Metabolic syndrome describes a cascade of symptoms and physiological presentations due to elevated insulin and glucose in the blood. It is synonymous, or at least directly leads to, type 2 diabetes. 1 It’s important to know the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Both show increased blood glucose…

As we celebrated the Year of the Earth Rat in February, life was a party and a time for family, friends, food, beverage and lots of very loud fireworks. Thanks, Buddha, for the great tea in this land, as it has again proven itself to be the best cure for…

In medicine, the study of etiology refers to the study of the origins of disease. The study of pathogenesis is the study of the actual processes within the body whereby disease occurs, develops and changes. One of the most central concepts of TCM is that of the intimate connection between…

Bioelectromagnetic therapy (BT) is the application of electromagnetic fields to treat and prevent disease and promote health and longevity. Electromagnetism is a powerful clinical tool, simple to apply yet complex in its biological effects. Whenever current (I) passes through a wire, it induces a magnetic field (B) (see below). Although…

I recently had a patient present to my office for acupuncture. She had seen a documentary on TV about how acupuncture could help with weight loss. During the consultation, I told her, “Yes, acupuncture can help with weight loss, but we also need to talk about diet and exercise.” She…

Medi-Cal Acupuncture Still Available in California Last month, Acupuncture Today reported on the California state budget crisis posing a threat to acupuncture for Medi-Cal patients. On Feb. 15, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the 2008-2009 budget, which included a 10 percent across-the-board reduction in Medi-Cal reimbursements.

Currently, the practice of Chinese medicine is a medical modality that has personalized diagnosis, herbs and treatment. I think it’s possible for Chinese medicine to skip the mass, dehumanizing health care stage and go directly to custom-made products and personalized service, with the backing of the highest level of scientific…

Q: I am having trouble understanding how often I can bill for a re-examination. I do understand that I cannot bill an examination or E&M service on each visit, but are there rules for when it is appropriate? I have heard everything from once a week to four weeks, and…

“Why not go out on a limb? That’s where all the fruit is.” - Will Rogers I am writing this piece because I believe leadership is not only a key to becoming an effective teacher and practitioner; it also is a key to success in the field of acupuncture and…

Acupuncture stimulates the embodied spirit to change life process ( qi ). Manipulating needles conducts movement to unblock vital flow or attract it to emptiness. Acupuncture focuses movement and responsiveness to enhance the potency of specific vital functions. This art stimulates the emergence of healing as a natural expression of…

On Sept. 11, 2003, actor John Ritter died of an aortic dissection at St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, Calif. There is now a very large malpractice lawsuit against the hospital, the two medical doctors who evaluated him and various other personnel, brought forth by the Ritter family. How large…

There is an old expression that the season of spring comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. Now, I have heard this said many times through the years, just as you probably have. Even when I was an elementary school teacher early on in my career,…

For many years, it has been standard procedure to treat addicts within the criminal justice system as just that - criminals. Now, an innovative treatment program in one county in central Maryland is offering addicts not only a chance for recovery, but also an alternative to going through the arduous…

Following the appointment of six new members to the National Advisory Council of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM) wasted no time in expressing its concerns to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Michael…

In a case that touches not only upon the skills it takes to be an acupuncturist, but also upon the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners ruled on Feb. 1, 2008 that a blind acupuncturist who has passed her national exams cannot be licensed without…

Perhaps one of the best ways to spread the good word about acupuncture is via mass media. When television viewers saw Oprah Winfrey get an acupuncture treatment last year, it reinforced in their minds not only the efficacy, but also the safety of acupuncture as an alternative treatment - “If…

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the slow deterioration of the cells in the macula, a tiny yellowish area near the center of the retina. The macula gives us clear central vision and fine detailed images. The deterioration of the macula affects an individual’s central vision - the ability to read,…