Acupuncture Today

This article delves into objective indicators of brain changes following acupuncture treatment for neurological conditions, particularly stroke, leveraging functional MRI (fMRI) technology. It highlights that scalp acupuncture has shown clinical efficacy, prompting exploration into its underlying brain mechanisms. Various scalp acupuncture protocols are discussed, integrating traditional methods w...

In a poignant reflection, retired acupuncturist William Prange shares his personal journey as a patient, advocating for a shift in the patient-practitioner dynamic. Grappling with severe spinal pain and a diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis, he experienced a transformative moment with an emergency doctor who asked, "How can I help you? What do you want me to do for you today?". This simple, direct...

Acupuncture has once again secured its place as a covered service within Medi-Cal, California's vital healthcare program, following persistent efforts to preserve its status. This isn't the first time acupuncture faced removal; it was inaccessible to Medi-Cal recipients from 2009-2016, and the profession has fought a "perpetual battle" to maintain its role ever since. Most recently, despite Govern...

The ancient wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) unveils the "forbidden secrets" of women's longevity, rooted in the profound concept of jing (essence), the very foundation of vitality and overall well-being. For centuries, Chinese imperial courts meticulously guarded this knowledge, documented in private medical manuscripts of empresses, concubines, and Daoist priestesses. Unlike modern m...

Acupuncture practices often face a dilemma: juggling vital administrative tasks with the core mission of patient healing. The article highlights how missed calls represent lost opportunities, as potential clients seeking relief might simply move on if they reach voicemail. This underscores the critical need for a professional first impression. Enter the remote receptionist, a game-changing solutio...

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) presents a unique challenge: a neuromuscular condition marked by involuntary, unilateral facial spasms that can begin subtly in the eyelid and progressively involve the entire side of the face, even during sleep. While Western medicine pinpoints vascular compression of the facial nerve as a primary cause, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a deeper understanding, attr...

Acupuncture's profound effectiveness truly unfolds through the "living sequence" of qizhi and deqi, concepts central to its clinical foundation. This approach encourages practitioners to shift beyond mere protocols, focusing instead on engaging the entire person. Qizhi (qi arrival) represents the dynamic initiation and directional movement of qi at a targeted site. Patients often describe qizhi as...

Craig Williams, an acupuncturist practicing in hot Texas, explores how prolonged seasonal heat can profoundly impact mood, leading to what he terms "summertime sadness". Traditional Chinese Medicine recognizes a vast array of heat-related patterns, emphasizing a thorough evaluation of each patient's unique constitution and their "relationship to seasonal heat". This deep inquiry is crucial, especi...

The crucial concept of "deprescribing"—the planned and supervised reduction or elimination of medications—is gaining traction, despite being coined only in 2003. This is vital because polypharmacy, especially prevalent in older adults, leads to increased side effects and poor health outcomes, with many taking multiple drugs, sometimes to counter adverse reactions from others. Older patients are pa...

The article explores how technological innovations are seamlessly integrating with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), not to replace its ancient wisdom, but to support and enhance its practice. For millennia, TCM has relied on refined observational and palpation skills, along with experiential knowledge, to diagnose and treat holistically. However, as healthcare evolves, new technologies are prov...

Long COVID, impacting over 5% of the U.S. population with more than 200 debilitating symptoms like brain fog, chronic fatigue, and shortness of breath, poses a significant societal burden with limited conventional treatments. However, a new case series highlights the potential of classical Chinese medicine (CCM) as an effective approach for resolving these persistent sequelae. This whole-person me...

The article, "The Benefits of Building a Referral Culture in Acupuncture," strongly advocates for licensed acupuncturists to refer patients to trusted colleagues when a case falls outside their area of clinical focus or comfort zone, rather than seeking "case-specific treatment advice" through online forums. The author stresses that reliance on crowdsourced information without a proper patient eva...

Acupuncture, despite its growing recognition as a valuable complementary treatment for conditions like chronic pain, stress, and anxiety, faces significant hurdles in achieving mainstream integration within healthcare. Fifteen years after a roadmap was outlined for its greater recognition and utilization, the profession finds itself largely passed over by mainstream medical and allied health provi...

With cancer affecting a significant portion of the global population, conventional treatments often bring challenging side effects and aren't always fully effective, leading many patients to seek complementary therapies. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and its herbal remedies are emerging as a valuable integrated approach. Research highlights several TCM herbs with anti-cancer properties, poten...

The article details the American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA) celebrating its 10th anniversary with a live in-person conference held April 26-27, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia. Attracting practitioners from across the U.S., Canada, and China, the event centered on the theme “Cultivating Our Future Together”, focusing on advancing the acupuncture profession through advocacy, education, and resear...

Breaking news for chronic spine pain patients and providers: the latest "Rapid Recommendation" from the BMJ strongly advises against several commonly used interventional procedures for chronic spine pain not caused by cancer or inflammatory conditions. An international expert panel, basing their guideline on systematic reviews of trials, concluded that "all or nearly all well-informed people would...

For individuals grappling with Parkinson's Disease (PD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder causing debilitating motor symptoms like tremors and stiffness, conventional treatments often fall short of halting the disease's progression. However, exciting research highlights exercise as a powerful adjunct therapy. Specifically, the article delves into the surprising effectiveness of "forced exe...

Acupuncturists can significantly enhance their practice by incorporating effective Gua Sha treatment, a powerful modality for addressing myofascial issues, pain, limited motion, and overall well-being. The article highlights three key elements for success. First, always obtain informed consent. Explain Gua Sha's action and show patients what the temporary "sha" discoloration will look like, emphas...

There's great news for acupuncturists billing Medicare and the VA: for 2025, there's been a substantial increase in the allowed rates for the initial acupuncture codes, 97810 and 97813. This significant change, described as roughly a 20% increase and the largest change to any code value for 2025, stems directly from increases in the Relative Value Units (RVUs) for these codes. VA rates are specifi...

The article explores the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence in enhancing acupuncture practice. AI can significantly aid acupuncturists by analyzing complex patient data, including electronic health records and genetic information, to improve diagnostic accuracy and identify subtle patterns not immediately apparent. This leads to more personalized treatment plans by suggesting opti...

Treating children of divorced parents presents unique challenges for acupuncturists, carrying significant liability risks. A core issue arises when one parent consents to care, but the other parent, who may share joint custody, demands treatment cease or access to records, having not been informed or consented. Assuming consent from a single parent is sufficient is a mistake, especially in states...

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip, a condition causing significant joint pain, is extensively treated in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Within TCM, OA falls under the category of bi syndromes. Unlike generic supplements like fish oil or glucosamine, Chinese patent herbal medicines offer a more "surgical precision" in treatment by addressing the specific underlying bi syndrome patterns, such as w...

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating condition marked by persistent fatigue and autonomic dysfunction. While conventional treatments focus on symptom relief, a recent randomized controlled trial explored how acupuncture and moxibustion could specifically modulate autonomic function. The study involved 210 participants, primarily those with CFS associated with qi deficiency syndrome, an...

Microneedling is a cosmetic procedure increasingly used by acupuncturists, involving tiny needles to create controlled micro-injuries that stimulate collagen, elastin, cellular turnover, and blood circulation. This process improves fine lines, texture, hyperpigmentation, sun damage, and acne scars. A critical aspect is that these micro-injuries create micro-channels, making the skin highly vulnera...

Fertility is presented not just as a goal for conception but as a vital sign of overall health and well-being. While women are born with a set number of eggs that naturally declines over time, starting from around 7 million before birth to about 300,000 by puberty, and declining more rapidly after age 35, various factors can accelerate this loss and impact reproductive health. Common influences in...