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When one thinks of India, the word “acupuncture” doesn’t exactly spring to mind. While living there for four months this past winter, however, I was quite moved to learn that acupuncture is becoming more widely practiced as the efficacy of the medicine gains recognition. The people of India are very…

As a practitioner of the Asian healing arts, I have been blessed with what most would consider a very successful practice. Of course, I realize success may be defined by a host of various attributes, depending on who is doing the defining. Some measure success simply by the amount of…

For many years, Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) could not be explained or understood from the Western medicine and pharmaceutical viewpoints and approaches. Because of this, Chinese herbal medicine has been labeled as unscientific, and regarded by some as a type of folk medicine.

Many elite-level athletes, both male and female, take steroids to increase their performance. The illegal use of steroids dates back to the late 1950s. However, performance-enhancing substances have been around for as long as athletes have competed.

“What Are My Choices?” is here to answer all of those questions - and more. What Are My Choices? is an occasional column that gives you the information you need straight from the experts: the companies themselves. This issue’s column focuses on software and computer supplies - items that are…

An example of the beauty of the ancient Chinese view of life is that it originates in a deep, integrated and cosmological understanding of the three treasures: heaven, humanity and earth. The ancients developed a natural system for humanity to study, understand and live life. This system is the Eight…

Sunshine, flowers and qi were all in full bloom over the weekend of March 11-13, 2005 for this year’s Southwest Symposium, held at the Omni Hotel Southpark in Austin, Texas. Over 250 participants came together for the meeting, titled “Integrating Qi .”

Ten million Americans over the age of 50 have osteoporosis; another 34 million are currently at risk of developing it. These statistics come from the U.S. Surgeon General, who recently issued his first-ever warning of the seriousness of rising cases of osteoporosis and bone disease in the United States. The…

My eight-year-old son is studying earthworms. His zealous third grade fellows eagerly race to their science class, crowd around Petri dishes, and subject the poor creatures to environmental influences that would kill an elephant. The worms are prodded (to determine if they have nerves), warmed (to determine levels of heat…

The Acupuncture Poll question for March 2005 was: What percentage of your practice consists of treating patients for infertility and related issues?

Bastyr University has announced the appointment of a new dean, three associate deans and other key faculty members to new positions. The appointments were made as part of Bastyr’s transition to a new school-based model of governance, and are expected to help lay the groundwork for future developments at the…

The Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of Suffolk, has ruled that the therapies administered by acupuncturists in the course of patient care “constitute medical treatment” and bear “a substantial relationship to the rendition of medical treatment.” As such, acupuncturists in New York are now protected under…

In part one of this article, I discussed three points on the Bladder meridian (UB 67, 66, and 58) and how they are used for their spiritual connotation. Before discussing the series of points below, I want to emphasize that we would only use these points if we were treating…

The executive committee of the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM) hosted a meeting with the leaders of eight national acupuncture and Oriental medicine organizations on Saturday, March 12 in Columbia, Md. to discuss issues regarding acupuncture and Oriental medicine education.

Scientists at the University of California, Irvine have discovered that certain types of electroacupuncture may dramatically reduce blood pressure levels. Research funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and published in a recent issue of the Journal of Applied Physiology 1 has shown that low-level electrical stimulation at…

I recently made a presentation before the Florida Board of Acupuncture on behalf of the Florida Association of Oriental Medicine (FAOM) and as a faculty member given authority to speak for the Florida College of Integrative Medicine. This article seeks to further the argument made then to this wider audience…

On Sunday, Feb. 27, 2005, the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM) kicked off its 25th anniversary with a celebration held at Pioneer Square, the college’s new educational facility located in San Francisco’s Potrero Hill district. The event featured international and state dignitaries, representatives from the college’s leadership, and…

Monday, April 25. It’s another sunny day in Southern California. For the acupuncture profession, though, those sunny skies might turn dark soon, if a few legislators have their way. In particular, I want to talk to you about two bills making their way through the California legislature that could spell…

Scientists at Yale University School of Medicine have been awarded a $400,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to observe the effects of acupuncture in relieving low back pain in pregnant women. The study will be conducted over a three-year period, and will attempt to find a safe, natural…

Over the last decade, the phrase “complementary and alternative medicine,” or CAM, has become commonplace. There are many reasons why CAM has become more popular. The rise of consumer movement and the accompanying distrust of experts have often been cited by health researchers as to why patients are choosing CAM…