Acupuncture Today

The article highlights the fascinating ways individuals integrate their previous careers and diverse skills into the practice of Asian medicine, enriching their diagnostic abilities and client interactions. Far from being discarded, prior experience becomes a valuable asset. Former engineers find it easy to grasp qi and structural issues. Those from Western medicine, especially physical therapy, b...

The 2024 NCCAOM Job Analysis, as highlighted in Acupuncture Today, provides compelling insights into the evolving landscape of acupuncture and herbal medicine practice. A significant majority of practitioners receive patient referrals from physicians (65%), chiropractors (53%), and massage therapists (53%), underscoring a growing recognition of acupuncture's value within the broader healthcare com...

Emerging as an unconventional yet intriguing approach to the persistent challenges of Long COVID, low-dose nicotine patches are being explored as a potential integrative treatment. The rationale lies in nicotine's ability to compete with SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins at receptor sites, potentially restoring homeostasis. Furthermore, nicotine acts as an agonist of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAC...

High-impact athletes are increasingly turning to acupuncture to gain a competitive edge and maintain peak physical condition. This ancient practice offers a multifaceted approach to athletic well-being, enhancing performance by boosting explosive force and speed through increased carnitine and ATP production. Acupuncture also positively impacts the mental state by reducing anxiety and stress, fost...

This fascinating article explores the powerful synergy between Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and modern Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) in modulating the intricate gut-brain axis. It highlights how TCM views organs like the spleen and stomach as central to postnatal qi and cognitive stability, the liver as governing qi dynamics and emotional balance, the heart as housing the shen and connectin...

Discover the power of skull palpation, a unique acupuncture technique developed by Dr. Clayton Shiu over 20 years of treating stroke and neurological patients. This method, technically scalp palpation but distinct from scalp acupuncture, allows for the rapid assessment of neurological conditions by identifying specific skull patterns correlated with TCM, neurological, and scientific principles. Dr...

Recent research has illuminated how acupuncture alleviates knee osteoarthritis (OA) symptoms by targeting key pain and inflammation pathways. A study involving rabbits with induced knee OA revealed that daily 20-minute acupuncture sessions at specific acupoints, including Neixiyan, Dubi, Xuehai, Zusanli, Hegu, and Yanglingquan, over 28 days significantly improved pain scores, joint swelling, and g...

Discover the potential of acupuncture for hip osteoarthritis (OA)! This common condition, often seen in people aged 50-70, causes pain that can radiate into the groin or lower back, typically worsened by activity and relieved by rest. The good news is that acupuncture can be extremely effective not only in reducing pain but also potentially preventing the acceleration of hip arthritis. In Traditio...

George Washington University (GWU) Division 1 student athletes have gained access to acupuncture through an exciting new partnership with the Virginia University of Integrative Medicine (VUIM). This wellness initiative, launched in April, offers GWU athletes a safe and non-invasive approach to managing pain, accelerating injury recovery, enhancing flexibility and circulation, and promoting mental...

"The Wood Element and the Pelvis" by Krystal Lynn Couture explores the intricate relationship between the wood element in Chinese medicine and the pelvis, highlighting the essential balance between strength and flexibility for optimal posture and function. The article draws parallels between the wood phase and the energetic burgeoning of spring, symbolizing the transition from yin to yang and the...

Clinicians may face a significant ethical dilemma: whether to plateau and profit by continuing treatment for a patient whose clinical progress has stalled, or to release and replace that patient. This situation becomes complex because the "devil is in the details" of the medical business. Factors such as the financial health of the practice, insurer reimbursement rates (especially high ones), and...

Discover the fascinating connection between your gut and brain! The gut-brain axis (GBA) is a critical bidirectional communication network linking the gastrointestinal and central nervous systems. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has long understood this profound relationship through concepts like Zang-Fu organ theory. However, modern research is now highlighting the importance of a well-functio...

The "Acupuncture for Our Seniors Act" (H.R. 1667) has been reintroduced by U.S. Representatives Judy Chu and Brian Fitzpatrick in the 119th Congress, aiming to expand senior citizens' access to acupuncture for pain management. While Medicare already recognizes the value of acupuncture and covers it for chronic low back pain since January 2020, acupuncturists currently face supervision requirements...

The NCCAOM 2024 Job Analysis offers a comprehensive snapshot of the acupuncture and herbal medicine profession, revealing key insights into practitioner and patient demographics. Notably, nearly half of practitioners work in suburban settings, while urban areas also host a significant portion. Interestingly, part-time practice has increased, now representing the majority, while full-time work has...

Discover a powerful, integrative approach to tackling complex TMJ disorders using advanced acupuncture techniques. This article delves into how combining scalp acupuncture, which targets brain areas for facial movement and pain reduction, with facial motor-point therapy to rebalance overactive jaw muscles like the masseter and temporalis, offers immediate symptom relief. Furthermore, submuscular n...

This article from Acupuncture Today explores the essence of acupuncture through the lens of classical Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) texts, particularly the Ling Shu. The author, a U.S.-trained practitioner, addresses the common questions of young acupuncturists regarding the power and efficacy of acupuncture, and the reasons behind the variability of acupuncture point effectiveness. The piece...

This article from Acupuncture Today explores a new mechanistic insight into how electroacupuncture (EA) may benefit Parkinson's disease (PD). While conventional PD treatments focus on dopamine, this research highlights EA's potential as an adjunctive therapy by demonstrating improvements in motor function in a PD rat model independent of dopamine restoration. The study, which induced a PD-like sta...

Acupuncture, an ancient pillar of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is embracing the future through the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics. This innovative fusion is poised to revolutionize healthcare by enhancing patient outcomes and precision care. AI-powered diagnostic tools are augmenting traditional methods by analyzing extensive datasets to personalize treatment...

This article highlights acupuncture as a promising and effective treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), moving beyond traditional methods like psychotherapy and medication. Recent research, including a 2024 study on combat veterans, demonstrates that verum acupuncture significantly reduces PTSD symptoms and improves fear extinction compared to sham acupuncture. Another pivotal 2014 st...

Bowed legs, a condition often naturally correcting in toddlers, can persist into adulthood due to early walking. This tibial varum creates increased compressive forces on the medial knee joint, inhibiting growth and worsening the bowing. Over time, this amplified pressure significantly accelerates the development of medial knee osteoarthritis. Even a slight 5-degree bowing can shift the knee's loa...

As a qi gong teacher, the author of this article observes spring's influence on the liver organ and meridian in Chinese medicine, noting its crucial role in qi regulation. While Xiao Yao Wan is often considered for liver qi stagnation, the author, Craig Williams, LAc, AHG, finds it frequently overused for more nuanced presentations. He emphasizes that liver qi stagnation often intertwines with liv...

This article from Acupuncture Today presents an intriguing case where acupuncture successfully treated Bell's palsy in a 60-year-old woman who had recently undergone Botox injections around her eyes for cosmetic purposes. The case was unusual because the muscle-relaxing effects of Botox conflicted with acupuncture's goal of stimulating nerve and muscle recovery. Botox, by temporarily paralyzing mu...

The number of cancer survivors in the U.S. has dramatically increased, reaching over 18 million in 2022, a testament to advancements in treatment. However, many survivors live with the constant fear of recurrence, as conventional medicine often lacks a clear understanding of cancer's root causes. This article explores how Chinese medical theory offers an empowering perspective, identifying six "ca...

In January 2025, Los Angeles experienced two devastating fires, the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire, which significantly impacted the community, causing widespread evacuations and structural damage. Following this catastrophe, patients at the Yo San University Community Clinic reported new breathing difficulties and a resurgence of previously managed conditions. In response to the collective tra...

This article from Acupuncture Today explores a fascinating intersection of Western diagnostics and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) by detailing how specific blood pressure measurements can be correlated with distinct TCM patterns. Tina Chen, LAc, outlines five different blood pressure types (6 through 10) beyond typical high or low readings, each offering a nuanced perspective for TCM diagnosis...