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While the range of disorders for which patients seek acupuncture treatment is increasing, many practitioners still find that the majority of their appointments involve musculoskeletal disorders and pain. These disorders may involve acute trauma, slow-healing injuries or more chronic conditions. In any case, acupuncture is frequently the treatment of choice.

In the first part of this series, I discussed the managed care industry and its interest in developing networks of acupuncture providers. I also shared my view that acupuncturists must come to terms with managed care if we ever hope to become part of the mainstream medical system in America.…

Happy Year of the Dragon! The staff of Acupuncture Today wants to take this opportunity to wish you, your family and staff the best of the new year. We also want to thank you for your overwhelming response to Acupuncture Today. Your calls comments and reactions have been wonderful. We…

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the United States, affecting more than 16 million Americans and approximately 75% of the population over age 50. Also known as degenerative joint disease, the condition causes the breakdown of cartilage in joints, leading to joint pain and stiffness. It can…

These questions are asked so frequently that we must have replied hundreds of times. For most people, acupuncture is still strange and new: the thought of bringing your child is extraordinary, even to many acupuncturists! Our answer is simple: acupuncture can do a lot for your child. It is a…

The federal Health Care Finance Administration (HCFA), which administers Medicare’s medical programs, announced that it is now requiring hospitals and other health care providers to provide their patients with advice about pain-relief options. This would include the right to request or reject specific pain medications and the right to select…

Numerous studies have documented the cost-effectiveness of acupuncture compared to traditional Western medical care. A 1994 study of stroke patients showed that those who received acupuncture spent an average of 73 days less in a hospital or nursing home than those receiving standard care alone, saving an average of more…

Any emerging profession such as Oriental medicine can always be improved by increasing standards, especially as more knowledge, skills and abilities become more available to this society. However, any adjustment in standards should be based on demonstrated needs. Further, in order to be most effective and economical, such changes should…

For more than 2,500 years, acupuncture has been one of the world’s most popular forms of health care. Only in the latter part of this century has the practice of acupuncture gained acceptance in North America, but the profession appears to have earned much respect in that short time. A…

The Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine has chosen Robert M. Shook as its new president, bringing more than a quarter century of experience in health care administration and management to the position. Mr. Shook replaces Fred Lanphear, who had served as the school’s president the last six years.

Research has become a frequently heard buzzword in the acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM) community. Practitioners and AOM clinics are asking how to conduct office-based research. Insurance companies, health policy makers, allopathic hospitals, and the National Institutes of Health are requesting to see clinical trials of acupuncture efficacy. Acupuncture colleges…

Peripheral neuropathy, also known as polyneuropathy or peripheral neuritis, is a disease usually secondary to collagen vascular diseases such as systemic lupus erythmatosus (SLE), scleroderma and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is also secondary to metabolic diseases such as diabetes, or to infectious agents such as Lyme disease.

Warfarin (which is sold under the trade name coumadin, among others) is commonly referred to as a blood thinner. It is frequently prescribed to prevent and treat strokes, heart attacks and others diseases characterized by obstruction of blood vessels with clots leading to death of body tissues and/or organs. Warfarin…

Imagine sitting on the edge of a peaceful pond, observing the wonderful reflections dancing on the surface of the mirror blue waters. A gentle breeze blows by a tree and releases a tender leaf that quietly floats and lightly touches the surface of the water. The immediate effects are noticeable.…

As the new millennium begins, those who practice the millennia old art of acupuncture are being asked to participate in a truly modern phenomena: managed care. Independently licensed or certified acupuncturists along with other health professionals authorized to practice acupuncture are being courted by companies developing discount care and managed…

What makes an acupuncture and Oriental medicine practice successful? Recent graduates and experienced practitioners alike have asked me this question many times. I also ask myself this question as my practice evolves and changes. First, “success” must be defined individually, as the answer will most likely be different for each…

Welcome to the year 2000. The new millennium presents us with new opportunities and challenges in the field of Oriental medicine. This profession is young, and today we see that acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioners are growing, both in numbers and acceptance in the medical community, at lightning speed. We…