The Future of Acupuncture News

The likelihood of my posting an article from the Las Vegas Review Journal is rather minute, but just in case, Acupuncture News will continue the tradition of writing comments about news and supplying a portion of the article with a link to the original report.

Why this announcement? Wired online reports that Steve Gibson, CEO of Righthaven, has begun acquiring copywrite rights to several publication for the main intention of to suing bloggers for re-posting articles. Not the friendliest solution to save the ever-diminishing cash flow of the newspaper industry, but since it is cheaper to settle than to battle, the strategy may work out.

In the meantime, more research and programs are opening up around the country using auricular acupuncture to treat out veterans suffering with PTSD. Check these out:

Research Call: Treating PTSD-related insomnia with auricular acupuncture

Bay Area Veterans' Acupuncture Clinic

Acupuncture Can Help Patients Going Through Cancer Treatments

Not only is it tough to get a diagnosis of Cancer but the treatment for it can be difficult and painful. Acupuncture is a wonderful complementary therapy; it can help ease many of the side effects caused by chemotherapy, as well as reduce pain, stress and improve your quality of life. Acupuncture Shows Promise in Cancer TreatmentBy: Acufinder.comThere have been many advances in the early

Herbal Coolers To Quench Your Thirst This Summer

It has been very hot and humid here in Chicago as in many other parts of the country. We can't change the weather but we can change what we put in our bodies. In this post Cathy offers up two great cooling drinks which are healthier than your average sports drink or lemonade.

From Pacherbs
By Cathy Margolin

Summertime is upon us and it’s heating up out there. Forget the lemonade and the

Happy Couple Credit Acupuncture For Helping Them To Conceive

I often write about the benefits of Chinese Medicine for fertility. Both Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture can have a profound effect on improving fertility. I was happy to read this story of a very happy couple who have conceived twice despite the odds with the help of acupuncture.From NBC MiamiBy

Where is Your Mind Today?

"Where the mind goes, the Qi goes. Where is your mind today?"

The Chicago Sunday Tribune Featured My Acupuncture Practice

Acupuncture jobs on point: Chicago acupuncturist strongly believes in ancient approach By Christopher Nelson, Tribune Media ServicesJuly 12, 2010 Most professions don't let you stick sharp objects into others. Some exceptions to this rule would be tattoo artists, would-be assassins and those doctors who give rich,

Acupuncture Can Improve Exercise Tolerance in Patients With Heart Failure

A German study has found that acupuncture can improve exercise tolerance in patients suffering from chronic heart failure. Dr. Johannes Backs, is the study director at Heidelberg University Hospital in Germany. Dr. Backs said: ‘ This is the first indication that acupuncture may improve exercise tolerance in CHF patients- when given in addition to optimised standard heart failure medication.’

Weight Loss & Sugar Cravings

 I've recently worked with several clients seeking help with weight loss. One in particular had sugar cravings, specifically, strong cravings for carbonated sodas. The sweeteners and artificial ingredients from the beverages created additional cravings for sugar as well as inflammation in her abdomen.

We decided to apply a acupuncture protocol often used for tobacco or drug addictions. It includes auricular needles with a small electric stimulation that is completely safe and comfortable. The result was amazing. My patient completely lost interest in sodas and sugar and is now happily drinking water with lemon. It was a natural transition from a state of imbalance to a more healthy state of harmony where the body craves what benefits it and dislikes that which is artificial or harmful.

I researched the topic and found this article to share.


I'm thrilled to help patients with their weight loss goals. The addiction protocol is simple, quick and effective and is certainly worth trying if you are struggling with unhealthy food or tobacco cravings.

I Don't Miss High School

Soon I will be talking to students from the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The topic is Chinese Medicine as a career option. What I find particularly funny is that when I was in high school I didn't even know it was an option! I'm lucky I figured it out! To learn more about this program that "Introduces outstanding high school students to

Happy Mommies, Happy Babies

Given the length of time it takes most anti-depressants to work and the growing body of research that indicates their use yields little effect in mild to moderate depression, it is great to see more investigation into non-pharmaceutical management of prenatal and antenatal depression. Acupuncture has helped a number of my clients taper off their medication while trying to conceive and assist them in managing symptoms of depression during the three stages of pregnancy. Many have been able to get through the postpartum period without having to resume their medication either! With hope, there will be more comparative studies that demonstrate the efficacy of TCM and other CAM therapies in the next few years.

Acupuncture Benefit Seen in Pregnancy

By Shirley Wang

Acupuncture designed to treat depression appears to improve symptoms in pregnant women, suggesting it as an alternative to antidepressant medication during pregnancy, a study found.

The study, published Monday in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, is the largest to date examining the effectiveness of acupuncture to treat depression in pregnant women. It was funded by a grant from the government's Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. "Acupuncture that we have tested works for pregnant, depressed women," said Rachel Manber, a study author and professor at Stanford University. However, "no single study is enough to make policy recommendations," she said.

Depression in pregnancy is a risk factor for postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is associated in some studies with poorer cognitive and emotional development in children. Some have linked depression in pregnancy and low birth weight.

As many as 14% of pregnant women are thought to develop a significant depression at some point during their pregnancy, according to the study authors, comparable to numbers who suffer from postpartum depression. Antidepressants are generally considered safe for use in pregnancy, but research has been limited and concerns continue to grow, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. One study showed that the risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension, a potentially serious lung condition, is significantly greater in newborns whose mother took antidepressants later in pregnancy. The Food and Drug Administration recommends that patients and physicians "carefully consider and discuss together" the benefits and risks taking antidepressants during pregnancy."Antidepressants are not an attractive option for many women," said Dr. Manber. "Many women are concerned about using antidepressant medication during pregnancy."

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U.S. Department of Defense Gives $1.2 Million Grant To The New England School Of Acupuncture For Research

Great News From Acufinder.com$1.2 Million Grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to Study AcupunctureBy: New England School of Acupuncture NEWTON, MA (June 23, 2010) - The New England School of Acupuncture (NESA) is the recipient of a $1.2 million U.S. Department of Defense grant to fund a first-of-its-kind clinical trial: the Effectiveness of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Gulf War

Happy 4th of July !

Have a safe and happy Independence Day

Happy 4th of July!

For those planning to celebrate this Independence Day with traditional grill outs, booze, and intense audi-visual stimuli, we will be here to help! Check out the new research showing how acupuncture helps increase exercise tolerance in heart disease.

Acupuncture ups exercise tolerance in heart patients

ANI, Jul 2, 2010, 10.00am IST

A new study indicates that acupuncture can improve exercise tolerance in patients suffering from chronic heart failure.

Dr. Johannes Backs, physician and study director at the Department of Internal Medicine III (Cardiology, Angiology, and Pneumology - Medical Director: Professor Dr. Hugo Katus) of Heidelberg University Hospital conducted the clinical pilot study.

Patients with this disease suffer from shortness of breath and fatigue brought on by physical exercise.

The needles do not increase the heart’s pump function, but they seem to have an influence on skeletal muscle strength and thus can increase the walk distance that heart patients can cover.

In a study where patients were given ten sessions of acupuncture on points that boost general strength according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the results showed that these patients could walk longer distances, recovered more quickly and tended to feel subjectively less exhausted.

The scientists now plan to study whether relatively low-cost acupuncture can improve the prognosis for cardiac patients over the long term.

The findings have been published in the medical journal Heart .

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