Acupuncture on Children

Just from my brief time during clinicals at Kosair Children's Hospital, I had the chance to see children undergo nurmerous types of therapies. By and large, they adapt well even if it does involve needles. I know men in their 50's who refuse to take their own blood sugerbecause they are afraid of the "stick" while a 7-year old will say "look what I can do" and lancet their fingers without a problem. It is not a far reach to believe that kids could embrace acupuncture . . . especially if it means less "yucky medicine."Dec 26, 2006 3:32 pm US/EasternUsing Acupuncture To Help Children HealDr. Mallika Marshall Reporting(CBS4) BOSTONAcupuncture is one of the oldest forms of healing. Now local doctors are using it to help treat children.Sandra Kean suffers from migraines as well as severe abdominal...

BUSTED!

Having seen more than a few examples of insurance fraud in the hospital (some doctors bribe patients with free samples of medications and then don't see them, but bill for an office visit!), it is gratifying to see people get busted. I am all for lower health care costs, and this kind of behavior is one of the major elements that keep driving it up. It is disappointing to think that an acupuncturist would be engaged in this kind fraud, but if they are guilty, then I hope the government will be able to recap its losses.2 acupuncturists charged with fraud3:52 PM December 20, 2006Star reportTwo Carmel residents have been charged with health care fraud, U.S. Attorney Susan W. Brooks announced today.Wei Chen Yang, 44, and Horng Shao, 40, were charged following an investigation by the U.S.Department...

Care can be pricey

The other day, one of my patients commented to me, "acupuncture is covered in Canada, it stinks that we don't get that." Cost often keeps people away - I have received several "Thanks, bye" from potential patients inquiring about fees. While some insurance, health savings, and flex-spending plans help defray the cost, acupuncturists are largely cash and carry. Monday, 12/18/06Integrated care more mainstream, but many patients still foot the billBy JOY BUCHANAN Staff WriterJust because people like integrated medical care, that doesn't mean insurance will cover it. Most people using complementary therapies pay out of their own pockets, and prices vary widely."My patients are consistently frustrated that the things they do with me are not covered by insurance," said Dr. Stephen Reisman, owner...

Complementary medicines are useless . . .

and dangerous, says Britain's foremost expertBy BARBARA ROWLANDS Last updated at 08:53am on 12th December 2006at least acupuncture isn't dismissed . . . totally.A lot of complementary medicine is ineffective, and some positively dangerous. Meanwhile, alternative treatments that promise to cure cancer 'are downright irresponsible, if not criminal'.These are the views not of an old-school doctor dismissive of alternative therapies, but of Professor Edzard Ernst, Britain's first professor of complementary medicine and, you would have assumed, its greatest champion.Acupuncture gets the thumbs up. It's good for pain, particularly back pain, though it has nothing to do with mysterious energy flows, as many therapists claim. 'Acupuncture works in a physical way: it's nothing to do with yin and yang,'...

My Patient Speech

One of the frustrating things about "selling" acupuncture to clients is that it does not work as quickly as taking a Lortab - you have to be patient and diligent in the treatment to see long lasting results. The good (and bad) news in complementary medicine is that people typically come to us as a last resort and willing to do almost anything for relief. Back pain is always in the top 3 of reasons why people come to see me. The inevitable question "how long until I see results" typically arises during the initial phone conversation, and it would seem that my "speech" mimics that of the one below. Thursday, December 7, 2006Alternative Medicine: Acupuncture treats low back painLow back pain is one of the most common health complaints in the country today, and acupuncture can be a very effective...