Obituary of an Acupuncture Hero

I came across this lovely story and thought I would share.Peter Wang, 88, acupuncturist who bridged cultures: A Life StoryTeacher, author helped Chinese newcomers settle in NE OhioMonday, August 27, 2007Alana BaranickPlain Dealer ReporterAt his Chester Township acupuncture clinic, Peter C. Wang helped folks quit smoking, relieved their arthritis pain and immersed them in Chinese culture.The former Gates Mills resident, who died July 26 at age 88, opened the clinic with his wife, Rose, in the late 1970s."[Acupuncture] was something you didn't talk about then," said Ann Volk, who was Wang's patient in the late 1980s. "It had not gained the status that it has today. He gave successful treatments for weight loss, smoking, drinking. I had a cyst on the back of my knee. He helped me immeasurably."Wang,...

A Sign of Things to Come?

As the country moves toward self-funded insurance while listening to presidential candidates debate the merits of everything from national healthcare to requiring all employers to provide coverage, it is hard to predict where intergrative modalities will fit in. But they say everything starts at the coasts and moves inland. As usual, California is at the forefront of advancing coverage, and therefore legitimacy, of acupuncture practice.Bill would require insurance to cover acupunctureBy Hector Trujillo/Staff WriterA bill requiring health-care service plans and health insurers to provide coverage for acupuncture under a group plan or policy is being considered in the Legislature.Assembly Bill 54, introduced by Mervyn Dymally, D-Compton, creates new coverage requirements on health-care service...

Acupuncture for Weight Loss

While I give dietary recommendations to the majority of my clients, I do not do a lot of acupuncture for weight loss as a stand alone treatment. I advise patients to speak with a nutritionist, preferably holistic, to devise a solid meal and activity plan. Here is an article from the ShanghaiDaily.com that gives an informative break-down with some free dietary advise - I would skip the "downward purging" though!TCM take on fat: Vent your spleenBy Zhang Qian 2007-8-15If you want to fight fat the TCM way, you should eat foods to promote a healthy spleen — like Chinese pearl barley, known as Job's tears — and drink lots of Pu'er tea. Both are also diuretics, writes Zhang Qian.A sun top, miniskirt and high-heel sandals - that's the outfit that catches men's attention and other girls' envy on the...

What's In A Name?

There has been some debate lately on the name "alternative medicine." Much of the head-butting between Western and Eastern styles of practiced had diminished as more and more primary health care providers are suggesting massage, yoga, and acupuncture. "Complementary medicine" has been the preferred term over the past few years, however that does not tell the entire story either. The new title seems to be "integrated medicine" which doesn't make any one therapy primary and allows for a broad range of therapies to be considered legitimate. Guess I am going to have to change the wording in my website!Integrating alternatives into Western medicineAmyGillentineAugust 10, 2007Alternative medicine isn’t really “alternative” any more — in fact, the medical community isn’t even using that term.Now...

Dynamic Duo

Several years ago a Mexican friend and I were discussing acupuncture when the subject of cupping came up. He exclaimed "my mom did that to us on our backs when we were sick as kids - it's a Mexican thing!" It is also an Oriental Medicine "thing." Imagine - two toatally different cultures developing the same type of treatment oceans apart. Now there is a deeper cross-cultural sharing as acupuncture sweeps Mexico thanks to an educational exchange with Viet Nam.Viet Nam, Mexico pin down acupuncture education deal(31-07-2007)HA NOI — Viet Nam and Mexico inked an agreement in Ha Noi yesterday to develop acupuncture education and exchange between the two countries.The plan, which will see Viet Nam help train Mexican doctors in acupuncture and set up a drug rehabilitation centre in Zacatecas, was...