"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...

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 26/05/2006Healing hands: Nina Wilson believes that complementary therapies could save the NHS money By Pamela McGowanHealth reporterTHERAPISTS 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...

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.Read...

Needle Works: Obtaining Qi

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

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....

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...

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...

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...

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 advisedTwo 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...

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

15 May 2006Neuroscience 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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Neuro Clues to the Mysteries of Acupuncture

Advanced imaging methods may reveal how this ancient healing technique affects the brain.By Emily SingerSome 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.Read m...

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...

Medical Board Bars Ear Stapling For Weight Lossl

Shaveta Bansal - All Headline News ContributorJackson, 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...

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:...

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.1,2Read m...

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....

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...

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 sit...

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....