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Since being established as a nonprofit organization in May 2002, the National Oriental Medicine Accreditation Agency (NOMAA) has worked toward developing institutional and programmatic criteria for a professional doctor of Oriental medicine (OMD) degree. 1 However, after receiving a 70-page staff analysis from the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) outlining…

The Acupuncture Poll’s question for July 2006 was: What is the most discouraging aspect of being a member of the acupuncture and Oriental medicine profession?

The effects of cha herbal formulas are numerous and well-known. This three-part article discusses 24 of the most well-known effects of cha herbal formulas, including ingredients, dosage, preparation and functions. Each part discusses eight effects from cha formulas.

The concept of Kang Wen , or “defeat the epidemic,” has a long history in the evolution of Chinese medicine. Even in the 12th and 13th centuries, medical records indicate that wars, famines and various types of epidemics affected health and disease, exerting influence by actually altering the nature of…

I have a patient who had a headache and neck pain over the weekend. He called my after-hours line and was subsequently seen on a Sunday. Is there any way of billing for treating a patient for an emergency Sunday visit?

Diving into the pool of manual therapies opens vistas of greater healing when combined with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It excites me to witness the human body reach its healing potential through the integration of TCM and bodywork. Even TCM practitioners of ancient times witnessed the benefits of manual therapies…

I had a woman (I’ll call her Rachel) come to me two years ago referred by a patient. She was 33, with tightness and pain over her breastbone. I treated her with acupuncture, and the pain and tightness went away, but it came back in a couple of hours after…

For thousand of years, the Chinese have recognized that the Five Elements - Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water - exist in everything and everyone, and are essential for life. Classical Five-Element acupuncture asserts that every human being is born with, or develops early in life, an imbalance in the…

In my practice, a topic that arises often is candida and yeast allergies. In this article, I intend to clear up some common misconceptions about candida that get in the way of helping this condition. First, let us look at a definition of candida.

Many people seek relief from the suffering of progressive degenerative disease. What does one mean by relief from such chronic conditions? Focusing on the physical manifestations of disease leads many modern practitioners to search for the perfect protocol - the “magic bullet.” The desire for proof leads to the standard…

Our brothers have fallen, my friends. They fell into the magnificent history we create together. They merged into the Tao from which all is born and all returns. Tom Riihimaki, Roger Hirsh and Rory Kerr have left us. As Roger’s teacher Baolin Wu said, they went riding cranes “towards the…

Here is a fascinating question: Which of these factors is most significant for healing our patients: 1. the specific clinical techniques we administer, such as insertion of needles into well-chosen acupoints, giving herb formulas, physical therapy, bodywork, and so on; or 2. the healing intent we project while giving treatment?

As summer begins to roll away, so do the days of sunny beaches, picnics, long bike rides ... and vacations. Patients are taking advantage of that precious remaining summer time to enjoy the long, bright days and balmy evenings. The lazy days of summer are bringing both final vacations and…

On May 2, 2006, Jeannie Kang, LAc, then president of the California State Oriental Medicine Association (CSOMA), e-mailed the CSOMA Board expressing her concerns about the organization opening a $26,000 line of credit. 1 On May 7, 2006, Kang e-mailed her resignation to the board, making several allegations regarding this…

After learning through an anonymous e-mail that the security of its testing database had been compromised, the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) began a process of updating the security and procedures for certification exams.

A.B.3014, a bill designed to define “Asian massage,” is making its way through the California legislature and may end up on Governor Schwarzenegger’s desk soon. The bill, introduced by Assemblyman Paul Koretz on Feb. 24, 2006, would amend Business and Professions Code Section 4937, the Acupuncture Licensure Act. While the…

Recent research suggests acupuncture may provide relief to people afflicted with fibromyalgia. In a pair of studies by two separate research groups, similar results showed a significant improvement for participants in terms of pain and other symptoms. The positive results could lead to a greater acceptance of acupuncture from primary…

Only a few months ago, the American Medical Association (AMA) announced the establishment of the Scope of Practice Partnership, 1 a conglomeration of state medical associations and specialty groups created, according to one association newsletter, “to marshal the medical community’s resources against the growing threat of expanding scope of practice…

May 17, 2006 was truly a black Wednesday. At 6:10 p.m., our good friend, Roger Hirsh, forever left us. He was riding a crane toward the Western Heaven to visit LaoZi, and Heaven kept him. The rivers and lakes, Heaven and Earth, alas for his death, mourned for his passing.…

Welcome to Student Corner, Acupuncture Today ‘s column devoted to students and continuing students of traditional Chinese medicine. There are many issues of particular interest to students of Chinese medicine, and as TCM schools become larger and the base of the student population increases, it’s important to have a column…