"My Chi"

The New York College of Health Professions has obtained the patent for a line of sports apparel aimed at allowing the athlete to administer self-acupressure during play. I suppose this is not unlike sending a patient home with ear seeds and having them press on them several times a day, but I am having trouble envisioning a football team bending over in a time-out huddle rubbing on themselves to get a boost of energy for the big play or a golfer massaging Shenmen (Heart 7) through his specially patented gloves. I will admit, the commentary would be awfully amusing and I cannot wait to see who is going to be the first to sponsor it.

SYOSSET, NY (PRWEB) May 24, 2006 -- New York College of Health Professions announced today that it has received an exclusive license on a patented, new line of clothing and accessories that provide the benefits of acupressure to specific points when in contact with the body. This product line is so easy to use that it can be self administrated by the wearer during sports activities.

Acupuncture and Acupressure have been used for thousands of years and are well known in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Both have been shown to produce chemicals in the body that allow a person to either relax or become energized. "We now have the ability to apply this to lines of clothing," says Donald Spector, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of New York College of Health Professions, and well-known inventor. "While the application in sports is obvious, these clothing and accessories can also be used to reduce motion sickness, help in weight reduction and assist in smoking cessation," says Spector. The means of attaining the natural drug release is by putting small seeds in the right places. When the consumer presses on these points they are basically practicing the most basic technique of Acupressure. "We are not going to say that this is as effective as our licensed professionals that the College trains to become practitioners of Acupuncture or Acupressure," says Lisa Pamintuan, "but there should be a noticeable effect in many cases."

"Imagine it's the ninth inning, the score tied, you are one run up but bases are loaded with no outs. I wouldn't want to be the pitcher," says Lisa Pamintuan, who years ago played at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open and is now President of New York College, the 25-year-old pioneering institution of Holistic Health (http://www.nycollege.edu/). "However, hopefully, our baseball cap will make situations like this a little easier. All athletes look for ways to enhance their performance, whether on the field or the tennis court. I wish I had worn this line of clothing when I was playing at Wimbledon as a 16-year-old. I would have been able to press the acupressure points in the clothing, like my sweatbands, and I would have been able to be either energized when I was tired, or relaxed when it was a tight match."

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Pet Peeve PS: I know there is no real Pin Yin standard, but I always learned it as "Qi" not "Chi"

Different care could aid NHS – therapists

Across the pond, practitioners in the UK have many of the same woes we do - battling the skeptics and the critics. Oriental Medicine is not a system of healing that lends itself to traditional research methods and as a result, most of the studies out there are small with plenty of limitations that fuel traditionalist criticisms. Thankfully, there are competent, educated practitioners like Nina Wilson who defend the wrote and tired attacks our profession.

Published on 26/05/2006


Healing hands: Nina Wilson believes that complementary therapies could save the NHS money By Pamela McGowan

Health reporter

THERAPISTS have defended their profession after a group of leading UK doctors this week labelled complementary medicine as "bogus" and "unproven."

The critics urged NHS trusts to stop using treatments such as homeopathy and Reiki because of a lack of evidence that it does any good.

But west Cumbrian therapist Nina Wilson, who practices oriental body balance and acupuncture, has hit back at the comments.

She said she has seen how acupuncture can help to heal people who have had no luck with western practices.

This includes back and neck problems, muscle strains and repetitive strain injuries, which often results in patients having to undergo surgery if seen by western doctors, she said.

Miss Wilson, who is based in Whitehaven, added that it is hard to carry out controlled, clinical tests into treatments like acupuncture because unlike western techniques, it does not focus solely on a specific problem and it varies with every individual.

But she said that in China it is used alongside conventional medicines in hospitals and some patients choose it as an anaesthetic when having major operations.

She believes the UK government could actually save money if it were to make complementary medicines available on the NHS, alongside existing treatments.

"I treat a lot of people who have been able to go back to work after being off with long-term injuries. That saves money," she said.

The criticism of alternative practices was made in a letter written by 13 medics and sent to 476 health trusts.

In north Cumbria, the primary care trusts do not directly fund any such treatments. However a spokeswoman told the News & Star that if a doctor or physiotherapist was trained to carry out a procedure such as acupuncture and decided to use it, it would be covered.

Carlisle Reiki teacher and hypnotherapist, Marion Dunlop, has also worked as a nurse and believes the two approaches can work together in harmony.

She said billions of pounds have been spent on research into western medicine. However, complementary therapies have not had that investment to prove or disprove their effectiveness.

"I would argue that just because the scientific evidence isn't there it doesn't mean it doesn't exist," she said. "People existed for thousands and thousands of years before we had western medicine and survived."

But she added: "I am not knocking western medicine. We always view ourselves as complimentary."

Press Release

This is the full press release from the NCCAOM concerning the bill in Kentucky. I muct share this quote from the article as it sums up what I believe most professionally trained Oriental Medicine practitioners feel:

As of today, there are still six states, including Alabama, Mississippi, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming that have no regulatory laws for the practice of acupuncture. In most of these states, only physicians and osteopaths, often with little or no formal education in acupuncture, are allowed to practice. As a result, healthcare consumers in these states may not experience the full efficacy of acupuncture treatment. In addition, the healthcare consumer is potentially placed at risk for treatment received from an unqualified individual who claims to be an acupuncturist.


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Needle Works: Obtaining Qi

“The most important thing in acupuncture is the arrival of Qi” – Ling Shu Chapter One

Here is a little back-to-the-basics guide for obtaining, moving, and maintaining Qi sensation. The name of the techniques come from the text Acupuncture and Moxibustion: A Guide to Clinical Practice. I find that it helps to go over these introductory texts periodically to maintain skills and to keep from growing complacent with our own patterns in practice.

Qi should feel like:
aching, numbness, tingling, itching, brief coolness/heat, pressure, heaviness, twitching, electric shock (aka tongue on a 9-volt battery – I have about a 60% acknowledge rate on this analogy). Qi should travel along the meridian pathway, may differ in intensity on the opposite side, and will arrive more slowly or feel less intense where energy is deficient.

Techniques

Waiting for qi by:
Probe for qi by bringing the deeply inserted needle to the epidermis, re-angle, push back into the body, and repeat until Qi is obtained.
Massaging the meridian with thumb or forefinger
Pushing using the fingertips around the acupuncture point
Flick the hand of the needle with the third finger
Bird peck by lifting and thrusting the needle rapidly with small amplitude
Vibrate using lifting and thrusting extremely fast a’la electric stimulator
If all else fails – relocate the needle.

Move qi after obtaining qi by:
Lifting and thrusting
Rotate in one direction slowly to avoid tangling muscle fibers
Swing and scratch by holding the needle and swinging it 45 degrees back and forth like a pendulum then scratch the handle of the needle down to reinforce and upward to reduce
Crank and shake by pushing needle to the maximum depth, withdraw to the muscle level, then bend the needle to 45 degrees and “crank” 3 times around, then swing back and forth – this is a reducing technique
Block the by placing the thumb on the opposite side of the meridian that the qi is intended to travel
Flying away involves rotating the needle 45 degrees once and releasing the handle quickly to reinforce or reduce.

Maintaining Qi by:
Cock the crossbow by grasping the needle and bending the needle backward
Bend the needle forward and perform flying away

Acupuncture and infertility

Although there is not a huge call for infertility in my practice, I have been lucky enough to assist a handful of couples having fertitlity issues and can report the majority were able to conceive thanks to lifestyle changes and Chinese Medicine techniques. It it incredible rewarding as a practitioner to be able to help these couples and to see the pictures of the babies they thought they would never have. Of course, it is heartbreaking when a client turns to alternative therapies as a last resort after exhausting all conventional methods and they find that they are still unable to have a child. As with most other conditions, it is frustrating that we cannot get these couples into the office sooner and be thought of as adjunctive or complementary treatment rather than as a last-ditch effort. I am sure these are obstacles that our Canadian neighbor Lorne Brown encounters daily at his fertility clinic in Vancouver. Check out his story:

It's been used in China for over 2,000 years but acupuncture to help infertility is a new concept in North America.

Dr. Lorne Brown is a doctor of Chinese medicine specializing in fertility. This former Fredericton resident is now living in Vancouver.

Daily, he says, he receives e-mails from around the world from couples who have been unable to become pregnant who want more information on acupuncture as a treatment for infertility.

"We know it increases blood flow to the reproductive organs. The more blood flow to the ovaries the more nutrients and oxygen and balanced hormones. That means, hopefully, better egg quality and also the more blood to the (uterine) lining which means better implantation of the embryo."

Acupuncture has also been shown to reduce the effects of stress which has been proven to impair fertility. If stress and its negative hormones can be lowered and blood flow can be increased, he says, this can help people who want to have a baby.

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Acupuncturists Without Boarders

After Hurricane Katrina, I was searching for volunteer opportunities for nurses as I figured there was nothing I could do as an acupuncturist. I was wrong . . . sort of. Acupuncturists Without Boarders, an organization that provides free community acupuncture in various venues, attempted to render assistance in New Orleans but had to undergo a few rounds of battle with the Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners. In the end, the acupuncturists won out and were able to offer hundreds of free acupuncture treatments to the victims and were able to obtain waivers for out-of-state practitioners. This is a fantastic move forward in spreading awareness not only about acupuncture and oriental medicine, but the role community-style acupuncture can play in traumatology and environmental stressors.

The mission of Acupuncturists Without Borders is to help alleviate suffering of people worldwide in urban and rural communities in need, and to support self-empowerment, through community acupuncture treatment and training. Your support of AWB helps establish and maintain our programs so that the benefits of this beautifully simple and effective treatment can be brought to these communities.

AWB was established to develop and implement acupuncture based programs that help facilitate community and personal healing in the face of large-scale traumatic events and their aftermath. When left untreated, the emotional and psychological consequences of trauma have the potential to compound the damages, further unraveling lives.

Acupuncturists Without Borders (AWB) is devoted to bringing compassionate and effective relief to underserved communities affected by natural disaster, war, conflict and poverty around the world. Utilizing community acupuncture, and working through local alliances, our initial presence in an area is devoted to overcoming the immediate effects of trauma. In some cases where the situation is not acute, but the need is great, we will develop longer term training programs for local professionals in basic acupuncture.


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Acupuncture Research and PTSD

Over the past year, I have been fortunate to have been asked to participate in the creation of a two grant proposals involving the effects of acupuncture on PTSD. University of Louisville's Michael Hollifield MD, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Medical Director of Biobehavioral Oncology, had conducted an initial study in at the University of New Mexico (my alma matter) in 2003. Nityamo Lian DOM (and a fellow alum from the International Institute of Chinese Medicine) helped create a standard treatment protocol that allows for not only a general "point prescription", but also for individual variation. At this time, the results of the study have not been published on-line, but I do have some old links to the research, as well as a link to ongoing clinical trials in the acupuncture world. As for me, at this time both of the proposals received low scores which means more revisions, more resubmissions, and more waiting. With hope, we have funding for both studies in the next few months. Please put out the good vibes for us - having seen some of the patients coming into my mental health facility, we need all the diversity of treatment we can get in helping our soldiers.



Acupuncture for Relief of PTSD Symptoms Studied

Acupuncture Trials

Kentucky Passes Historic Acupuncture Law

Here is a little more on the new KY Acupuncture Bill from acupuncture Today. This was truly a grass-roots campaign with lots of letter writing and phone calls to representatives. This is not the first attempt at regulation, but it is the first one to be written with the help of the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance and NCCAOM certified and Master Degree-level practitioners. Although it will be a year before I can get my hands on an actual license, it is wonderful to be able to advertise and be recognized as a professional by the state government. Now if we could just get NCCAOM certification to be a requirement for ALL people wanting to practice acupuncture . . .

On April 24, 2006, after unanimous passage by the Kentucky Senate and House of Representatives, Gov. Ernie Fletcher affixed his signature to House Bill 17, one of the first pieces of legislation voted on in the 2006 session. In so doing, Gov. Fletcher has made Kentucky the 43rd state in the U.S., and the second state in three months, to enact a law allowing for the practice of acupuncture by nonphysician acupuncturists.

"I've known people who have been helped tremendously with acupuncture," said state Rep. Denver Butler, chair of the House Licensing and Occupations Committee, who introduced the bill and was instrumental in its passage. "Acupuncture has been around for more than 4,000 years in China. The medical doctor may not be able to explain why, but it does help, and I felt that people deserved that opportunity to try it and be helped."

House Bill 17 was introduced in the Kentucky House by Rep. Butler on Jan. 3, 2006, and assigned to the Licensing and Occupations Committee three days later. On Feb. 7, it passed the House 96-0 and was sent to the Senate for review by the Senate Licensing, Occupations & Administrative Regulations Committee. On March 23, the Senate passed the bill 36-0, at which time it was returned to the House, which passed it by a 95-0 vote on April 10. According to the Kentucky Legislature's Public Information Office, the bill will officially go into effect July 12, 2006.

Rather than requiring licensure, HB 17 calls for a certification process, whereby practitioners will be certified by the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure to practice acupuncture. To be certified, applicants must:

submit a completed and board-approved application for certification;
be "of good character and reputation;"
have passed the acupuncture examination administered by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine; and
have graduated from a course of training that has been approved by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and that is at least 1,800 hours in length, including 300 clinical hours.
Applicants who meet these criteria would be allowed to use the "CAc" designation and to call themselves "certified acupuncturists." Certificates will be renewed every two years, with all practitioners required to complete 30 hours of continuing education biennially as a condition of renewal.
For longtime practitioners who might not meet the bill's requirement of 1,800 hours of training, HB 17 includes a grandfathering provision that allows them until July 1, 2007, to achieve certification provided they meet the bill's other requirements. For acupuncturists who currently practice outside of Kentucky and might want to relocate, HB 17 also includes a provision that allows them to be "certified by endorsement" from the state of that acupuncturist's credentialing, provided the state has standards "substantially equivalent to those" of Kentucky.

Acupuncturists practicing in Kentucky will be subject to a somewhat restrictive scope of practice that allows for the insertion of needles "with or without accompanying electrical or thermal stimulation" at certain points or meridians "for purposes of changing the flow of energy in the body." Acupressure, cupping, moxibustion and dermal friction also are allowed. However, acupuncturists will be prohibited from practicing "laser acupuncture, osteopathic manipulative treatment, chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy or surgery." The bill does not specify whether acupuncturists may dispense herbs or recommend dietary supplements as part of their scope of practice.

All certified acupuncturists will be required to develop a written plan for consultation, emergency transfer and referral of patients to appropriate health care facilities or to other health care practitioners. While diagnosis is not included in an acupuncturist's scope of practice, if a patient discloses that he or she suffers from one of several "potentially serious disorders or conditions" during acquisition of the patient's medical history, the acupuncturist must verify that the patient currently is under the care of a physician and consult with the treating physician before performing acupuncture. If the patient refuses to provide a medical history or disclose information regarding any of those conditions, acupuncture treatment shall not be
provided.

In addition to establishing certification standards and a scope of practice, HB 17 requires the Board of Medical Licensure to create an eight-member Acupuncture Advisory Committee, which is charged with reviewing and making recommendations to the board regarding standards of practice, continuing education requirements, renewal requirements, and other matters related to the practice of acupuncture. Four acupuncture practitioners will serve on the committee, with all committee members serving four-year terms.

The passage of HB 17 leaves only seven states (Alabama, Delaware, Mississippi, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wyoming) without regulations allowing for the practice of acupuncture by licensed, registered or certified acupuncturists. Prior to Kentucky, the most recent state to pass an acupuncture licensing law was Michigan, whose governor, Jennifer Granholm, signed Senate Bill 351 into law in February.

Opinion Corner

I recently read a review from www.tcmstudent.com that I would like to share:

WebMD vs About.com - How patients are being advised

Two great resources for information on health are both About.com and WebMD. Recently articles were published on both with Acupuncture as their focus, trying to talk about all the benefits and risks of Acupuncture. What is most notable is the difference between how they advise you to find an Acupuncturist:

WebMD: If you're interested in trying acupuncture, be sure to tell your doctor first. People with bleeding problems, an active infection, and other health problems aren't advised to try it. To find a certified acupuncturist, your doctor may be able to help. Friends may have suggestions. Check with major academic medical centers. Check with the American Academy of Medical Acupuncturists.

A qualified acupuncturist gets thousands of hours of training. A physician with acupuncture training, however, gets only 200 hours or so of training. "There's a big difference," says Wayne. A qualified acupuncturist will be licensed through state and national boards. Ask the practitioner about his or her years of clinical experience -- that also makes a difference.

Note how at first they say, talk to your doctor and go to the underqualified AAMA, and in the next sentence they tell you that the AAMA is far less trained. Totally inconsistent and not good advice.

ABOUT~Ask your doctor. Many doctors are now providing information to their patients regarding alternative medicine and natural therapies. If you are looking for an acupuncture practitioner, ask your doctor to get tips and advice on where to look.

~ Always check with your local acupuncture association. National acupuncture organizations (which can be found through libraries or Web search engines) may provide referrals to acupuncturists. These associations and organizations are there to provide a professional service and usually check the listed practitioners for qualifications and experience before allowing the practitioner to join. You may like to take this opportunity to learn more about this natural therapy through these organizations who are very helpful with information.

Now we're talking. Tell your doc, and then call the state association. Finally good consistent information. I love how they say 'Many doctors are NOW providing info' - cause they sure as hell weren't before.

It continues to astound me that many doctors feel qualified to advise on a modality which the majority know nothing about. Working in the medical field, I see daily that most physicians do not prescribe medications or offer consult beyond the scope of their specialty, yet many have no hesitation educating (ahemm, debunking) on alternative therapies with all the authority of Mao. While I always encourage my clients to consult with their doctor and offer to speak with them if they have questions about acupuncture or herbal treatment, I have yet to receive a phone call from a doctor.

As for the AAMA, don't even get me started. Acupuncture is a specialty, not something you can learn in a weekend and certainly not something that you are qualified to practice just because you are an MD. True, in China, MDs perform acupuncture, but the training is a specialty within the medical schools and TCM is widely accepted in hospitals. If someone told you your cardiologist had a 200 hour residency, would you trust in him or would you run out of the office? Be smart. If you are looking for a qualified acupuncturist, go to www.nccaom.org and find out who is certified in your area.

Neuroscience Therapy Corp receives US approval to market pain-relief device

15 May 2006

Neuroscience Therapy Corp. (OTC: NPYC) has received FDA approval to begin marketing its electronic pain relief device the P-Stim in the United States.

P-Stim, which the company claims has been highly successful in treating pain in thousands of patients in Europe, is now permitted to be marketed in the U.S. It is a miniaturized electro-stimulation device that is placed behind the ear with adhesive. It transmits low frequency electrical pulses via acupuncture-like needles inserted into the ear muscles. The electrical stimulation releases endorphins, which have an analgesic effect. The P-Stim can give continuous pain therapy over several days.

It was stated by the National Institute of Health: “Pain is a critical national health problem. It is the most common reason for medical appointments, nearly 40 million visits annually, and costs this country over $100 billion each year in health care and lost productivity.”
Neuroscience Therapy is now able to enter the multi-billion dollar market for pain releif in the U.S. and plans to begin a nationwide campaign to promote P-Stim.

President and CEO Dr. Randolph A. Turpin of Neuroscience Therapy said: “I’m very proud of our team for enabling Neuroscience Therapy to get to this point. We are now in an ideal position to begin making revenues in this multi-billion dollar market.” The company claims that its product has no known side effects, unlike many pharmaceutical pain relievers.

NCCAOM announces computerized testing

The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), the nation's only organization for certifying acupuncture and Oriental medicine, announced that it is launching a computerized testing administration starting June 19, 2006. According to Dr. Kory Ward-Cook, Chief Executive Officer of the NCCAOM, "The testing vendor, Pearson VUE (www.PearsonVUE.com), was carefully chosen for a number of reasons, including testing accuracy, high security, accessibility (more than 200 locations nationwide), and the fact that Pearson VUE owns and operates all of its testing sites. As a result, all testing sites implement the same standards of practice and equipment."


One of the many benefits of a computer-administered examination is the ability to add flexibility to scheduling an exam. This will open the examination schedule to a new two-week window, which allows test candidates to set their schedules according to their own needs. The June 2006 examination dates fall between June 19 and July 1, 2006.

"We are excited to be able to offer our candidates testing flexibility from a highly respected testing company," said Laura Culver Edgar, NCCAOM's Deputy Director in charge of all testing. "The agreement with Pearson VUE greatly enhances NCCAOM's goal to educate and support Oriental medicine practitioners in achieving their educational and professional goals."

Dates and locations for the test sites are currently available on NCCAOM's Web site at www.nccaom.org. Candidates will be able to register and pay for examination modules beginning June 12, 2006, directly via Pearson VUE online or by calling a toll-free number. Candidates may also sign up for multiple tests during the two-week window. For example, a candidate can choose to take the Chinese Herbology examination module on June 21 and the Biomedicine examination module on June 23. This gives the candidate the option to spread the exams out over a one- or two-week period or to take them all on one or two days. Testing is by individual appointment only. The candidates also have the benefit of selecting from over 200 testing centers so the need to travel distances diminishes.

Each question (item) for the examination modules will continue to be derived from draft questions submitted by NCCAOM-certified Diplomates, validated for content by Exam Development Committees, and psychometrically reviewed. Every Pearson VUE testing center is equipped with state-of-the-art technology to ensure security, which includes the video and audio recording of all examinees and biometrics. All exams will be administered via computer, and each candidate will receive a different form of the examination. Different examination forms will be provided for each module. Scores will be calculated and results sent out two weeks after the testing window closes as compared to four weeks in prior administrations.

All approved candidates will be individually contacted by mail. Detailed registration notices will be mailed on May 15, 2006. Anyone with questions about the upcoming examination or the registration process can call the NCCAOM office at 703-548-9004 or e-mail candidatesupport@nccaom.org.

Charles tells doctors of the world to use alternative treatments

The Prince of Wales will urge doctors to start using unconventional techniques such as chiropractic, acupuncture and herbal medicines to treat serious illnesses, in a speech to the World Health Organisation next week.

Prince Charles will claim that such major chronic illnesses as diabetes and heart disease, which affect tens of millions worldwide, could be successfully treated using complementary medicines and a "whole body" approach to healthcare.

His comments, which will invite fresh complaints from his critics, are to be made in a keynote address to the annual WHO Assembly in Geneva on 23 May, where the Prince will set out his case for "integrated healthcare" to a global audience for the first time.

The Prince is expected to argue that doctors should put less reliance on conventional drug-based treatments and take a more "holistic" view by putting greater emphasis on preventive healthcare, diet and healthy lifestyles.


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If it Looks Like a Duck, Quacks Like A a Duck . . .

. . . but the AMA can't see or hear, than it must be a quack, right? I came across this interview with neurologist Dr. David Buchholz concerning migraines, and it contains some fantastic information about mis-use of current drug therapies, threshold levels and dietart/environmental triggers, and rebound headaches. While full of great information, I found this bit the most amusing:

Q: I have been diagnosed with cluster migraines, and I found no relief, despite heavy use of drugs and bills totaling $5,000. Then I attended acupuncture sessions from a local Chinese school of medicine. After three sessions I began to realize the timing and pain of my headaches were weakening. Today, I am headache free and have not taken anything out of my diet. My question: Why does Western medicine exclude the use of acupuncture? -- James Callender, Austin, Texas


As much as I'm glad you're doing well, and I occasionally hear similar stories, I'm unconvinced that acupuncture is the answer to headaches. I have no strong objection to trying it, except that I worry that going off in such a direction can distract a headache sufferer from successfully addressing what I see as the two key battles: avoiding rebound and reducing exposure to dietary triggers.

What tickles me about that comment is the assumption that, much like western approaches to medicine, and acupuncturist would look at the patient, say "oh, you have migraines," then administer a cookie-cutter treatment the same way an MD would pass out Imitrex or Topamax. Any acupuncturist worth their degree would investigate triggers, patterns, diet, exercise, ect. Last time I checked, that's what being holistic practitioner was all about - root and branch.

That one pet-peeve aside, the interview investigates some through-provoking questions and includes links to selected tables in the good Doctor's book "Heal Your Headache."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5381403

Doctors Use New Acupressure Technique to Lower Cholesterol

EFT, a do-it-yourself acupressure technique alters blood chemistry associated with unhealthy lipid levels (cholesterol and triglycerides). EFT balances the body’s energy meridian system, and in turn lowers harmful LDL cholesterol levels without drug intervention. This self-healing tool reduces triglycerides and improves beneficial HDL cholesterol levels. Furthermore, EFT enhances one’s ability to adhere to diet, exercise and lifestyle changes that are necessary to ongoing cardiovascular health.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) May 12, 2006 -- A new drug-free treatment option is available for the 107 million Americans currently diagnosed with high cholesterol. Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) was initially designed to accelerate and improve the psychotherapy process and it quickly became a popular stress reduction tool. As people reduced their stress levels with EFT, many reported a reduction in their cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Excessive levels of these fatty blood deposits are medically linked to high levels of stress, poor diet and inactivity. All three risk factors can be managed with this universal acupressure tool.

High cholesterol and triglyceride levels significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, America’s leading cause of death. Most doctors recommend a low-fat diet and exercise as the first step in lowering cholesterol, with the next step being medication. More than 30 million prescriptions for cholesterol lowering drugs are prescribed each year as people struggle to overcome this significant health challenge.

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Study examines antidepressant therapies for pregnant women

The glossy images of pregnancy often show a woman radiant with happiness. "There is a belief that pregnancy is a state of bliss," said Rachel Manber, PhD. "That's not necessarily the case."

Indeed, reports show that one in five pregnant women suffer moderate to severe depression during pregnancy, and many mothers-to-be find themselves feeling anxious, dejected and listless.

Manber, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine, and her research colleagues are aiming to combat the problem. They have begun work on a study examining alternatives to antidepressants for pregnant women suffering from depression. During this study - a first of its kind - 180 women will be randomized to receive either acupuncture or massage therapy to assess these alternative therapies' effectiveness in treating depression.

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Neuro Clues to the Mysteries of Acupuncture

Advanced imaging methods may reveal how this ancient healing technique affects the brain.
By Emily Singer
Some people think of acupuncture as a wacky Eastern medicine, without any basis in science, while others consider it to be a crucial alternative to pain-relief medicine. Whatever the perspective, acupuncture use in the United States is on the rise, and the medical establishment has been taking notice. Now scientists are using advanced brain-imaging techniques to study the ancient practice -- and have begun to uncover some tantalizing clues about how it works.

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2006 AAOM Conference & Exposition

October marks the annual AAOM conference and this year in addition to going Oriental, they are adding some Native flair as well. This year the event is located in Litchfield Park, AZ at the Wigwam Destination Resort and Spa. Yes, they have a wigwam, and there will be a special pow-wow on Friday night. Speakers include Dan Bensky (father of our herbal Materia Medica Bible), Bob Flaws (arrogant in person, but you cannot dispute his top-notch assessment approach), Mikio Sankey (if you have not tried some of his esoteric acupuncture approaches, you are missing out on some great tools for your tool box) and a host of other professionals. The conference is scheduled for Thursday October 19 - Monday October 23 and attendees can earn up to 44 CEUs (pending). For more information check out the brochure . . .

http://www.aaom.info/2006_conf_brochure.pdf

Medical Board Bars Ear Stapling For Weight Lossl

Shaveta Bansal - All Headline News Contributor

Jackson, MS (AHN) - A state medical board has ordered 14 weight-loss businesses that perform ear stapling to stop the practice, alleging they are operating illegally.


Mal Morgan, executive director of the Mississippi Board of Medical Licensure, said board investigation into complaints from people suffering from serious ear infections prompted the board to take action.


Ear stapling, a new, popular weight-loss procedure that draws from ancient acupuncture, is cropping up throughout Mississippi.


In Mississippi, only doctors licensed in acupuncture are allowed to perform acupuncture procedures. Other states allow people with certification besides medical doctors to practice acupuncture.


Dr. Aena Payne, a board-certified acupuncturist at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, said acupuncture on the ear can help with weight loss, but does not support ear stapling because of the threat of infection.


She said proper diet and exercise are also necessary.


Comment: In Mississippi there is no legislation or rules authorizing the practice of acupuncture by board certified acupuncturists. All this means is that MDs can practice acupuncture without any training and get away with it while anyone else, qualified or not, runs the risk of prosecution. While I am not a fan of ear stapling for any reason, I would like to know how many of those running weight loss clinics were real acupuncturists (ie: NCCAOM certified) and how their infection rates corrolated with those who were unqualified prectitioners just jumping on a trend.

Electrophysiological Assessment of Acupuncture Points

Kao MJ, et al. From the China Medical University and the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (M-JK); and the Department of Physical Therapy, Hungkuang University, Salu, Taiwan (Y-LH, F-JK, C-ZH).Kao M-J, Hsieh Y-L, Kuo F-J, Hong C-Z: Electrophysiological assessment of acupuncture points. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2006;85:443-448.


OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to assess the occurrence of end plate noise (EPN) in an acupuncture point (AcP). DESIGN: Ten male and 10 female normal volunteers were included in this study. For each subject, mapping of the distribution of EPN loci in an AcP region of Stomach-36 in one leg selected randomly, and also in a nearby non-AcP region in the other leg as a control, was performed with electromyographic recordings.


RESULTS: There were significantly more EPN loci in the AcP region of Stomach-36 than in the non-AcP region near this AcP. Whenever the searching needle approached an EPN locus, the subjects always felt pain, soreness, or an unpleasant sensation. This feeling was rarely reported when no EPN was recorded from any site in either an AcP region or a non-AcP region. After electromyographic study, every AcP was confirmed as a myofascial trigger point.


LIMITATIONS: As is often the case with acupuncture studies, the sample size was to small for the results to be significant. Additionally, this was not a random sample of subjects. However, once again we have a great launchpad for further research.


CONCLUSIONS: Similar to the distribution of EPN loci in an MTrP region, significantly more EPN loci can be identified in an AcP region of Stomach-36 than in a nearby non-AcP site. This study provides additional support to the hypothesis that some AcPs are also myofascial trigger points.Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2006 May;85(5):443-8.
Source PubMed

Acupuncture Enhances Effects of Diet and Exercise in Treating Obesity

In the United States, obesity has been described by some researchers as "a worrisome epidemic." According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of people who meet the definition of obesity has more than doubled over the past two decades. At present, approximately 31 percent of the U.S. adult population has a body mass index of 30 or higher. Based on statistics provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, this would translate into approximately 65 million American adults who could be considered clinically obese; additional evidence suggests that this figure will continue to increase in the foreseeable future.1,2

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NCCAOM

The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), the nation's only organization for certifying acupuncture and Oriental medicine, will be hosting two informative and practical events at the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance (AOMAlliance) 13th Annual Conference & Expo at the Keystone Resort in Keystone, Colo., from May 5-7, 2006. NCCAOM's Chief Executive Officer Dr. Kory Ward-Cook; Director of Communications and Marketing Mina Larson; and Associate Deputy Director Betsy Smith will be conducting a course titled "Making the Most of Your Diplomate Certification" on Saturday, May 6, from 2 to 6 p.m. in Crestone Peak, Room 3.

The course will focus on utilizing NCCAOM resources to assist in promoting the practice of acupuncture and Oriental medicine. Topics will include maximizing the value of NCCAOM certification through effective media and community outreach, working with state regulators, and utilizing NCCAOM resources to facilitate promotion of NCCAOM-certified practitioners.
NCCAOM will also have an exhibit booth at the annual conference for all those who would like to learn more about the organization and the certification process. NCCAOM representatives will be located at Booth #7. Other NCCAOM representatives attending the AOMAlliance Conference are NCCAOM Board Chair Bryn Clark, Board Vice-Chair Weiyi Ding, Board Commissioner Daisy Barquist, and Deputy Director Laura Culver Edgar.

NCCAOM will also feature an "Item Writing Workshop" for all interested Diplomates on Thursday, May 4, 2006, from 8 a.m. to noon in Crestone Peak, Room 3 of the Keystone Resort. Participating Diplomates will receive a complimentary breakfast and four Professional Development Activity (PDA) points.

The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) is a non-profit organization established in 1982. Its mission is to establish, assess, and promote recognized standards of competence and safety in acupuncture and Oriental medicine for the protection and benefit of the public. NCCAOM Certification indicates to employers, patients, and peers that one has met national standards for the safe and competent practice of acupuncture as defined by the profession. Since its inception, the NCCAOM has certified more than 17,000 Diplomates in Acupuncture, Chinese Herbology, Asian Bodywork Therapy and Oriental Medicine.

For more information on the NCCAOM, please visit its Web site at http://www.nccaom.org/.

Acupuncture clinic grows, offers excercise classes

Since first opening its doors in February 2005, AcuWellstream LLC, Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine has grown and recently moved into a larger, more accessible location for customers.

The Concord, Massachusetts-based company's new office contains two treatment rooms, and has a healing atmosphere. The owner Susan J. Colombero has been a licensed acupuncturist for more than four years. Along with acupuncture, she offers a customized herbal medicine formula - usually 15 to 18 different herbal concentrates - put together for a specific individual and his or her unique condition. She also teaches a fun energy exercise class that both relaxes ones mind and increases ones energy. It is designed for most everyone.

Colombero demonstrates how acupuncture clinincs can offer exercise classes to appeal to a wider audience. The result of course is her practice has grown.

NaturalHealers.com signs 1,000th school

NaturalHealers.com announced that it has signed its 1,000th featured school listing, representing more than 79-percent growth in the last 12 months. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reports that more than 62 percent of Americans use alternative medicine to address their health and wellness concerns.

“Every day, more people are turning to natural health and healing practices to improve their lives,” said Blake Luvon, Natural Healers product manager at All Star Directories. “The market is rapidly expanding.”

The Web site allows interested parties to learn more about massage, accupuncture and Chinese medicine schools. All Star Directories also maintains AllNursingScools.com and several non-health related sites.

ACTCM Receives Approval to Offer Doctoral Program

The American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine has announced that its doctoral program has received approval from the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education, making it the first acupuncture school in northern California to have its doctoral program receive approval from both agencies. The program will be offered at the college's San Francisco campus, and is set to begin in October 2006.
ACTCM's doctoral program is a clinically based professional program that emphasizes an integrated approach to patient health, with specializations in pain management and women's health. The program will be offered in four-day modules that meet once a month, and will require approximately two years for completion. Clinical training will be provided at the ACTCM campus, along with off-site facilities at the Osher Center for Integrated Medicine and California Pacific Center. In addition, the program's clinical component will include "capstone" projects for students, which will be published by ACTCM and contribute to traditional Chinese medical literature. Graduates of the program will be awarded a Doctorate of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) degree. For more information on ACTCM's doctoral program and admission requirements, visit www.actcm.edu or call (415) 282-7600, ext. 14.