News & information about acupuncture, TCM, Oriental medicine

Dr. Michael Munzer uses acupuncture, Chinese herbs and other forms of complementary medicine in addition to traditional western veterinary medicine to help his patients heal faster and feel better quicker. Read the whole story over on The Ellsworth American...

New study claims acupuncture may ‘reduce stress, pain and depression’

A new study out of Georgetown University is being described as the strongest scientific evidence to date that acupuncture works. Read the story in The Daily Mail here: http://dailym.ai/1CPJ99Z

Acupuncture’s painkilling secret revealed: it’s all in the twist action

From the journal Nature Neuroscience: Research conducted by neuroscientists at the University of Rochester shows that that acupuncture may activate a number of different mechanisms which diminish and alleviate pain.

Veterenarian combines acupuncture with new treatments

Veterinary surgeon the practices and teaches at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in the Large Animal Clinical Sciences Department has found acupuncture to be an important tool in treating his equine patients. Read the whole story and watch...

AOM Wellness Services to be Made Available to Athletes at the Special Olympics World Games

7,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities and 3,000 coaches representing 177 countries will gather in Los Angeles at the end of July to participate in the World Special Olympics summer games and for the first time at any World Special Olympics games acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM) wellness services will be made available to all athletes and coaches. Organized by Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine, AOM wellness services will be available in the Healthy Athletes area of the Athletes Village on the campus of the University of Southern California (USC).

The World Games will be the largest sports and humanitarian event in the world in 2015, the largest event hosted by Los Angeles since the 1984 Summer Olympics, and the first time the summer games have been held in the United States since 1999.

The Evolution of Alternative Medicine

Via The Atlantic: When it comes to treating pain and chronic disease, many doctors are turning to treatments like acupuncture and meditation—but using them as part of a larger, integrative approach to health. Read the article in The Atlantic...

Cardinal’s left fielder using acupuncture to recover from right quadriceps tear

AOM in Sports

Saint Louis Cardinals left fielder Matt Holliday sustained a tear in his right quadriceps on June 8. He is receiving acupuncture as part of his treatment and he has been able to strengthen the leg. Read the whole story over on the St. Louis...

Exotic pets welcome at new animal hospital in Chicago that performs acupuncture on its patients

Tyrannosaurus rex's and other exotic pets are treated with acupuncture at Chicago veterinary clinic. Read the article in the Chicago Tribune here: http://trib.in/1Ue4qiT

Research links herbal remedies and acupuncture to more live births

A study in the Reproductive Medicine Online suggests that the use of traditional Chinese medicine, including acupuncture and herbs was associated with more live births. Read the article here: http://www.rbmojournal.com/article/S1472-6483(15)00092-9/abstract

California Acupuncture Licensing Exam- March results

AOM Education

The California Acupuncture Board publishes the March 2015 exam results statistics by school. Emperor's College had the highest pass rate among schools that had more than 5 test takers, Nine Star University of Health Science and Stanton University had the highest pass...

Mushroom used in Chinese medicine ‘slows weight gain’

Know Your Herbs

A study, published in the journal Nature Communications, suggests the mushroom Ganoderma lucidum, which is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to promote health and longevity, slowed weight gain by altering bacteria in the gut of mice. The researchers suggested the...

The Future of Medical Science: Western Experts See Integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine with Conventional Western Medicine

Western-based experts see the integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and conventional Western medicine as the future of medical science. Read the whole story over on Yibada here: http://bit.ly/1IfO0xc

Why I Prescribe Acupuncture: A Cardiologist Explains

Although more research is needed, there are five heart conditions that I have seen a response to with acupuncture therapy. -Dr. Joel Kahn, Clinical Professor of Medicine at Wayne State University School of Medicine Director of Cardiac Wellness, Michigan Healthcare...

Komodo dragon receives veterinary acupuncture therapy at the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation

Featured Story, In Practice

Doctors Have a Moral Responsibility to Discuss Alternatives to Conventional Medicine

"Patients want physicians who have time to sit down with them and help them understand the nature of their problems and who will not just promote drugs and surgery as the only way of doing things." A growing number of scientific studies underscore the need for...

Cupping Therapy For Back Pain Relief

Featured Story, In Practice

If you’re suffering from chronic pain—migraines, arthritis, back pain—the ancient Chinese treatment “cupping” may be the answer to your problems. Read the whole article on Back Pain Relief Daily here: http://bit.ly/1JXU8Pi photo by Mark Wexler

The 10 Best Acupuncture Schools in the U.S.

AOM Education

TheBestAcupunctureSchools.com posted the national rankings of acupuncture colleges in the United States. The rankings are based on the results of peer assessment surveys sent to acupuncture school deans, other administrators and/or faculty at academic institutions...

Are you getting everything you deserve from your practice?

In Practice

From a Meager Beginning to a Powerful, Professional Presence Upon graduating from SAMRA University of Oriental Medicine in Los Angeles CA in 1982, I took the California State Board examination and came to the stark realization that my chosen profession was in great disarray. The dismal 11 % pass rate for that examination was an indicator of a major problem of the time. Different factions within the profession

Cosmetic acupuncture explained

Cosmetic Acupuncture

Concentrating on different points on the face, acupuncture works to improve the skin's elasticity and general appearance. Read the whole article over on Xpose here: http://bit.ly/1EtFBFm

Why healers are at war over dry needling

Dry needling is a myofascial trigger point practice that involves the insertion of needles into injured and sore muscles. The muscle twitches then relaxes, decreasing pain. Dry needling and acupuncture look fairly similar in practice, but not in the theory behind...

How Integrative Medicine Empowers Patients To Take Charge Of Their Health

Recent research suggests that an integrative medicine approach may be effective in treating chronic pain, stress and depression, and perhaps most importantly helping people feel empowered to take charge of their health. Read the Bravewell Collaborative report...

Take two ‘doses of nature’ and call in the morning

Numerous studies have confirmed the link between exposure to nature and improved physical, psychological and social well-being. Scientists have even begun to study how to define a "nature dose" in an effort to develop recommendations for minimum levels of exposure....

How could a cup of tea or soup prevent illness?

Long Live Health

– a Traditional Chinese Medicine man says simply Influenza, ulcer, osteoporosis – there is a plethora of ailments which could affect any of us. One practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine believes the answers to many of these could lie in the renaissance in...

7 Ways To Fix Neck And Back Pain…

Acupuncture, yoga, magnesium, swimming, massage, change your bed, stand more and sit less.

Read the whole article over on Bustle and watch a

What Doctors Wish They Learned In Medical School

In Practice

Medical school may cover a lot of aspects of human health, but it doesn't cover everything. Read the whole article on Yahoo Health here: http://yhoo.it/1DYMe1a

A Guide to Proper Hydration

There’s a lot of talk about water lately, especially in California. It’s really a big problem, the lakes and reservoirs which feed our state with water are drying up and the Governor has imposed a mandatory 25% reduction in water use. It’s enough to make anyone feel thirsty. With all this talk of the water crisis, I thought I’d talk a little about dehydration in the body this week.

Bags of Mostly Water

As you’ve probably heard, the human body is mostly water. In fact, an adult human is roughly 65% water. Our blood is 92% water, our brain and muscles are 75% water, and even our bones are 22% water. Water is extremely important to us; we can live for a couple weeks without food, but only about three days without water. Every cell of our bodies needs water, which means that at any moment, there are 70 trillion cells in need of water in an adult human of average weight.

4 Tips: Tai Chi, Yoga, and Other Mind and Body Practices for Common Aging-Related Conditions

According to the National Institute for Health (NIH), many older adults are turning to complementary and integrative health approaches to promote health and well-being. Mind and body practices, in particular, including relaxation techniques and meditative exercise...

5 Common Running Injuries and How Acupuncture Can Help

Whether you’re a casual runner or running in the Los Angeles Marathon, acupuncture can help you stay on top of your running game. From knee and hip pain to plantar fasciitis and fatigue, many ailments suffered by runners can be helped by acupuncture. Read about how...

NIH and VA address pain and related conditions in U.S. military personnel, veterans, and their families: Research will focus on nondrug approaches

AOM in the Military

Thirteen research projects totaling approximately $21.7 million over 5 years will explore non-drug approaches, like acupuncture and Oriental medicine, to managing pain and related health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), drug abuse, and sleep...

Stanford University researchers: post-operative pain reduced with acupuncture

Researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine find that pediatric tonsillectomy patients experienced significantly less pain at various postoperative time points when treated with acupuncture. Read the abstract of the article published in the journal The...

Complementary Medicine in the VA

AOM in the Military

According to a 2011 survey, nearly nine of 10 VA facilities offered at least one CAM therapy. While more CAM studies are needed, research on these practices has been picking up. The research topics reported on include acupuncture therapies, mindfulness-based stress...

The Benefits of Acupuncture For Singers

Acupuncture can be useful for the vocal performer, for several reasons. It often works immediately. When properly done, it has a very low complication rate. It can be repeated as necessary, and, over time, it has a cumulative benefit beyond its immediate effect. It...

8 More Reasons To Try Acupuncture

AOM in the Military, Integrative Health

1. Acupuncture helps you get a good night's sleep. 2. Acupuncture is a well known pain reliever. 3. Acupuncture reduces nausea. 4. Acupuncture can help you chill out. Read Jennifer Dubowsky's whole article over on MindBodyGreen here: http://bit.ly/1a0lRB3 The first...

Veterans in Wisconsin Try Acupuncture as an Alternative to Narcotics

During emotional hearings about the alleged overprescription of narcotics at the Tomah VA hospital in Wisconsin, many who testified noted there are safer ways to treat pain, including treating with acupuncture. NPR reported that Americans in the military are...

Spring Into A Healthier Liver

Long Live Health

Spring is officially upon us, and it is a wonderful time for cleansing and renewal. Spring is associated with the wood element, which governs the liver and the gallbladder. This is the best time of year to focus on balancing and cleansing the liver/gallbladder through acupuncture, herbs, and diet.

Treating Infertility With Acupuncture and Western Medicine

Experts believe acupuncture can increase blood flow to the pelvic area (which could help with embryo implantation), regulate the menstrual cycle, trigger ovulation and reduce the side effects of medications associated with assisted reproductive technology. It also...

7 Signs That You Need Acupuncture This Spring

Acupuncture Everywhere, Featured Story

In acupuncture theory, humans are viewed as microcosms of the natural world that surrounds them. Seasons—particularly the transitional periods, when we move from one season to the next—factor significantly into how we feel. Read the whole article over on...

How hospitals like MD Anderson Cancer Center are changing the way acupuncture is studied

How hospitals like MD Anderson Cancer Center are changing the way acupuncture is studied. Listen to the podcast over on the Yin Yang Podcast here: http://bit.ly/1EIVJ56

A chemical within a traditional Chinese medicine has been found to be effective against Ebola

Know Your Herbs

A chemical found in the Chinese herb known as Han Fang ji switches off the channels which the Ebola virus uses to enter and infect cells, according to research by US and German scientists. Read the whole article on Business Insider here: http://bit.ly/1xBLBc0

Digestive Troubles? Traditional Chinese Medicine may Help!

Featured Story, In Practice

An overview and primer for people with digestive issues that may be find relief with acupuncture and Oriental medicine. Read the article on Elephant Journal here: http://bit.ly/18ToV0O

Can the way doctors talk to patients make patients ill?

A good bedside manner can help heal, but if doctors don’t choose their words carefully, they can also make you unwell. Read the whole article over on the BBC: http://bbc.in/1Ev4Awj

Philadelphia Zoo experiments with acupuncture

Donna Ialeggio, a staff veterinarian at the Philadelphia Zoo, has been trying to cure a black-necked swan's bumblefoot for 3 1/2 years. She's finally found something that seems to be working: acupuncture. Read the whole story over on...

Chinese Herb Kills 12,000 Cancer Cells For Every Healthy Cell

Artemesinin, a derivative of the wormwood plant commonly used in Chinese medicine, can kill off cancer cells. A study by University of Washington researchers and published in Life Sciences, Cancer Letters and Anticancer Drugs, suggest that artemesinin, also known as Qinghaosu, kills cancer cells at a rate of 12,000 cancer cells for every healthy cell, proving to be far more selective than currently available drugs, radiation, surgery and chemotherapy.

Loyola University Health System Doctors Use Acupuncture to Ease Patient’s Debilitating Pain

The organization helped Loyola urologist and medical acupuncture doctor Larissa Bresler, MD, open an acupuncture clinic for men and women with pelvic health disorders in the fall. The clinic uses acupuncture to treat patients with common conditions such as pelvic...

Belief in Acupuncture Key to Effect on Back Pain, Study Suggests

Patients who had low expectations of acupuncture before they began acupuncture treatments gained less benefit than those who believed it would work, according to the researchers at the University of Southampton in England. The findings, published in the March issue of...

Auricular Acupuncture Helps Health Care Workers Relieve Stress and Anxiety, Improves Patient Care

Study shows that auricular acupuncture has a significant impact on reducing anxiety, burnout, and traumatic stress among healthcare workers leading to improved patient care. Read the abstract in The Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing: http://bit.ly/18Girmv

Efficacy of acupuncture treatment for sexual dysfunction caused by the use of anti-depressants

A study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine shows significant improvement among male participants was noted in all areas of sexual functioning, as well as in both anxiety and depressive symptoms. Female participants reported a...

Study Shows Acupuncture Plus Moxibustion Helps Alzheimer’s Patients

Acupuncture benefits Alzheimer’s disease patients. Clinical research published finds acupuncture plus moxibustion effective in improving cognitive function and improving the general quality of life for Alzheimer’s disease patients. Read the abstract in in the Journal...

Acupuncture protects brain neurons against injury in rats following heroin relapse

Acupuncture Everywhere, Integrative Health

Heroin abuse can damage many brain areas, including the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus of the midbrain, the ventral tegmental area, and nucleus accumbens. Persistent use of heroin induced irreversible damage to the nervous system. Research suggests that...

WHO Traditional medicine Strategy

Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM) is an important and often underestimated part of health care. T&CM is found in almost every country in the world and the demand for its services is increasing. TM, of proven quality, safety, and efficacy, contributes to the goal of ensuring that all people have access to care. Many countries now recognize the need to develop a cohesive and integrative approach to health care that allows governments, health care practitioners and, most importantly, those who use health care services

Recovery Melt Down

AOM in Sports

Why the world’s leaders in health, performance and rehab are abandoning ice as a recovery tool. There simply is no evidence that it works. Rest doesn't seem to be the best course either. So much for the R.I.C.E. protocol... but then again, R.I.C.E. is not something...

Nobody Puts Baby In A Corner!

Acupuncture Everywhere, Featured Story

ACUPUNCTURE FOR PTSD, BATTLEFIELD TRAUMA, & CONSCIOUS SURGERY: should acupuncture and Oriental medicine be playing second fiddle to Western medicine? The answer, of course, is a resounding "NO!" Read the whole article over on Natural...

CBS NEWS REPORTS: Pets find pain relief using acupuncture

Animal Acupuncture, Featured Story

More and more veterinarians are opening to the potential of treating their patients with acupuncture. Read the story and watch the newscast over on CBSnews.com here: http://cbsn.ws/16ecCdy

NPR REPORTS: the Academy of Otolaryngology Says Acupuncture May Help With Nasal Allergies

New guidelines from the Academy of Otolaryngology for treating nasal allergies were recently issued. In creating the guidelines, the question of traditional herbal remedies made for a lot of constructive and positive discussion. The committee included not just Ear,...

Singapore zoo heals animals with herbs and acupuncture

Acupuncture for a limping elephant? Herbal tea for a constipated orangutan? The Singapore Zoo has tried it all, and it works. Reuters here: http://reut.rs/1lzETNw (Photos courtesy of the Singapore Zoo)

Should You Trade In your Antiperspirant?

Know Your Herbs

There is a lot of controversy about what really gets absorbed through the skin and how far that absorption actually goes. Our skin has many layers, so yes, it’s a long path into the bloodstream. But when talking about delicate areas like the underarms, that are in...

Acupuncture could help period pain, researchers say

A review of 27 studies suggests acupuncture may be an effective way of easing severe period pain. The analysis by the team from Kyung Hee Medical Centre found that patients with severe period pain reported a greater reduction in their symptoms when using acupuncture...

NFL Great Tom Brady Credits His Resilience To Oriental Medicine

Alex Guerrero, LAc, often referred to as “Tom Brady’s body coach.” Is credited with helping Brady recover and get ready for the 2009 season after suffering a torn ACL/MCL and keeping his body tuned to compete at the highest level. Read the January 26, 2015 New York...

For Runners: Can Acupuncture Help Treat Running Injuries?

Marathoner Deena Kastor is among an increasingly large number of elite athletes that use acupuncture to treat injuries and reduce pain and inflammation. Studies show that acupuncture and Oriental medicine can increase circulation and range of motion and accelerate...

Acupuncture Viable for Pain Relief After Joint Replacement

Acupuncture is a viable adjunct therapy for short-term postsurgical pain management in total joint replacement, according to a study published in the journal Pain Medicine. Read the whole abstract...

Tai chi’s benefits for older women becomes obvious over time

A study published in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine shows that the fitness benefits of tai chi for older women only become obvious if they engage in long-term practice. After four months of exercise, most of the study indexes compared...

Acupuncture significantly reduces pain following C-section

Research shows that acupuncture significantly reduces both pain and painkiller use following surgeries including Cesarean sections. Less painkiller use also meant fewer side effects. Read the whole article over on Natural News here.

Acupuncture in the NFL

Many of the NFL’s toughest players are looking to acupuncture to stay strong and healthy. Read the whole article over on the Men's Journal here. Related: Acupuncturist Treats 40 N.F.L. Players in 4 Cities. Read the New York Times article here.

Patients Benefit From New Acupuncture Program at Seattle Children’s

Seattle Children’s inpatient acupuncture program began as a six-month pilot in January 2014. During the pilot, acupuncturists were available four hours a day, five days a week. Before the pilot, acupuncture was available to outpatients, but only on a sporadic, ad-hoc...

Acupuncture and NFL great Aaron Rodgers

AOM in Sports

Future NFL Hall-of-Famer Aaron Rodgers credits acupuncture as one of the reasons he can continue to play at the high level he does! Watch the report over on CBS58 here.

Acupuncture Point Sensitivity Linked to Menstrual Pain

Current research shows a correlation between Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory and the current research on dysmenorrhea. Read the whole article over on Health CMi here.

Can acupuncture aid performance in endurance sports?

With every aspect of diet and training taken care of, pro teams are increasingly looking towards alternative therapies for an edge. Can acupuncture really help performance? Read the whole story here on Cycling Weekly.

Acupuncture Helps Stanford Intensive Care Infants