Search Acupuncture Today

In the first part of this series on the sliding scale as a tool for social entrepreneurship, we looked at why an acupuncturist might want to use a sliding scale. In part two, we’ll consider how.

We’ve been seeing the headlines from various sources: “Study: Supplements Fail to Ease Arthritis” ( Seattle Post-Intelligencer ), “Echinacea Has No Effect on Colds” ( New York Times ), “Study Debunks Echinacea’s Powers” ( CBS News ) and “Supplements May Not Be Beneficial” ( Marin Independent Journal ). These headlines…

Pertussis (whooping cough) is aptly called “the 100-day cough” ( bai re ke ) in Chinese medicine. Vaccinations against pertussis contained in the DPT (diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus) shot have reduced incidence in the United States significantly, but parental rejection of the vaccination has resulted in a re-emergence of the illness throughout the…

Integrative medicine seems to be a big buzzword lately. It is truly wonderful that there seems to be genuine interest on every level for combining complementary or alternative therapies with standard Western medicine. Hospitals, Western medical teaching institutions, cancer centers, and many other health care facilities realize the need for…

The first part of this discussion, which appeared in the April 2006 issue of Acupuncture Today , focused on the pathophysiology of acute otitis media (AOM) in children and the problems stemming from antibiotic treatment of this condition. Part two attempts to guide the practitioner through the treatment of the…

I sincerely hope you have read the article on the front page of this issue of Acupuncture Today regarding the American Medical Association’s newly formed “Scope of Practice Partnership,” which has been established to investigate the validity of complementary and alternative medicine. That’s a nice way of putting it. If…

We are part of a healing community that practices or supports acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM), the indigenous healing system of China and East Asia. Indigenous healing systems reflect the way a culture perceives how human beings interact with or relate to nature and the cosmos - how do we…

Researchers from Georgetown University Medical Center have announced plans to perform a multi-site study to investigate the healing effects of huperzia, a type of moss commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. The purpose of the study, which will be conducted at 23 locations in 12 states and the District of…

On May 7, 2006, Jeannie Kang, LAc, president of the California State Oriental Medicine Association (CSOMA), resigned. Her resignation was followed quickly by the resignation of two other board members; Randall Neustaedter, LAc, and Marilyn Allen. Although Kang fully outlined her reasons for leaving the association in a May 7,…

The American Medical Association first embarked on a concentrated effort aimed at destroying an alternative health care profession when it formed the Committee on Quackery in November 1963 to “contain and eliminate” the chiropractic profession as a recognized health care service in the United States. 1 Now, more than 30…

The American Association of Oriental Medicine and the National Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance have announced their intention to hold a formal meeting this summer to discuss ways of working together for the advancement of the acupuncture and Oriental medicine profession. The announcement came as the result of an earlier…

As our dynamic profession continues to evolve in the U.S., unique models and approaches to treatment develop. Their hardiness, effectiveness and resilience are being tested in a variety of settings, such as rural, medically underserved areas, as well as in urban communities searching for models that emphasize wellness.

This month’s column is devoted to responding to your questions and comments. It’s important to have a forum for sharing with one another, and I am considering on how to expand upon that idea for you, possibly with teleclasses and group phone discussions. If you have suggestions, let me know.

Experience with cases can teach the subtle art of classical Chinese medicine. Each individual has a story which presents a unique collection of challenges to his or her embodiment. Reviewing how treatments work, and sometimes even more importantly how they don’t, brings new interpretations and insights. Interesting and difficult cases…

Mold has been around for more than 3 billion years. Most molds are quite harmless, and we have all lived with mold mostly without incident. However, toxic molds can be a whole other issue. What differentiates toxic molds from regular molds is that the toxic molds produce mycotoxins (also called…

Sleep is a wonderful thing, but unfortunately for many of us, a good night’s sleep is something that happens all too infrequently. In fact, some studies have shown that most of us in North America are chronically sleep-deprived. In the second half of this article, we will explore some ways…

Chinese medicine is a healing technique that has existed virtually unchanged for thousands of years. Presently, it’s facing what I believe to be one of its greatest challenges; namely, the 21 st century, where the Eastern and Western worlds are converging. These are challenges that shake the foundations of both…

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 will discuss eight effects from cha formulas.

Can electroacupuncture help heal infectious disease? Here is a remarkable case history that suggests it may be possible with a common and very challenging disease.

A report of findings is a component of an evaluation and management (E&M) service (codes 99201 through 99205 and 99211 through 99215) under counseling. Counseling is an integral part of the E&M service and is part of the criteria for choosing the appropriate E&M code. Counseling, as defined in CPT…