The Michael J. Fox Foundation Is Funding An Acupuncture Study

Another reason to be inspired by Michael J. Fox! The actor, has received a lot of press for having Parkinson's Disease and for his attempts to raise money and bring attention to finding a cure. His Foundation has awarded a $350,000 grant to a study that seeks to learn whether acupuncture can help patients sleep better and reduce their symptoms. The research is being led by Dr. Benzi Kluger,

Pain Relief for Veterans

For several years, the military has recognized the benefit of incorporating acupuncture therapy in a holistic treatment plan for PTSD and substance abuse issues, even if they generally do not used trained, qualified, and licensed acupuncturists to perform it. As miffed as I am that they allow the "jab-and-go" providers instead of hiring people with an actual degree in the medicine (yes, I am jealous . . . and available for collaboration), at least they recognize the contribution of the modality. Our soldiers and veterans are returning with some interesting autoimmune and auto-inflammatory diseases at a rate higher than the general population. Rheumatoid arthritis,  scleroderma, pernicious anemia, chronic recurrent multifocal osteomylitis - whether contracted by inhaling burning trash, as result of traumatic-brain injury, excessive vaccination (double vaccination in the cases where they lost a soldiers records "just in case") or physical manifestation of a psychological malady, there is no denying many of our vets are in physical and emotional pain. And so, I put aside my professional irritation and offer nothing but praise for using acupuncture as an adjunct for pain control in our wounded warriors.

Army looks toward new ways to fight the pain

Soldiers are getting alternative medicine.

By Sig Christenson
sigc@express-news.net

Published 01:55 a.m., Monday, September 26, 2011

Sgt. 1st Class Jennifer Wright used to jog, walk, lift weights and ride her Harley-Davidson Fat Boy, the motorcycle she bought after serving in Iraq.

Today, she's among a growing legion of war veterans suffering from scleroderma, a painful and potentially fatal disease. Wright, 40, feels pain in her face, joints and toes. She's lost some of her hair, and her toenails fell off.

“It's to the point I want them to deaden the nerves in my face. But (the doctor) said if you do that you take a chance of developing muscle atrophy, Bell's palsy with the real bad facial droop, no muscle control,” she said. “I said I'm willing to take my chances. Just do something about it. It's just consumed me, and I'm miserable.”

Pain pills are part of the treatment, but in her case they don't last long, so an orthopedic physician's assistant last week performed an acupuncture treatment, injecting small gold needles into selected parts of her ear.

Her care is part of the Army's fledgling complementary alternative medicine program, which is testing new therapies, some of them unproven and one literally out of this world.

It's another option for GIs who have returned from combat with pain from a variety of wounds and illnesses, for whom the Army has spent billions on drugs that have resulted in complications, dependency, abuse and even accidental deaths and suicides.

Read more 

The Lesson Of Autumn

Let it go! How many times a day do you say that aloud or silently to yourself? Quite often, I bet. I certainly do. Letting go is not easy, but at least in Autumn you have nature on your side. According to Chinese Medicine, the Fall season is the time to let go. In this season, nature releases its abundant creations of the past year and marks the end of the growing season. The harvest has passed

Jessica Simpson "Loves" Cupping

I Just found this article US magazine did last year about Jessica Simpson. Apparently she  spent some time doing a "clean" diet (yes that sounds suspect to me too, but it's what SHE said). During this period she experienced cupping therapy and loved it, so whatever her diet I am glad Chinese Medicine has another Celebrity fan. Check out the article here.

5 Fellow Chinese Medicine Bloggers I Follow

All of the blogs listed below regularly provide great health tips and are written by Licensed acupuncturists from around the country. These bloggers provide interesting and useful information about Traditional Chinese Medicine and it's many health benefits. Be sure to check them out.

*Cultivating Health With Chinese Medicine ~ Kath Bartlett, LAc

*HealthFocus Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine ~

Chicago Acupuncture ;)

"If you don’t think you have power as 1 person trying to make a powerful change, then you’ve never tried to fall asleep with a single mosquito in the room."
Chicago Acupuncture

Feeling Irritable? Acupuncture Can Help

*This article is from acufinder.com

Everyone suffers from irritability and moodiness from time to time, but if you find that a short temper and frustration are becoming a constant issue for you, then acupuncture may be able to help.

Often irritability and moodiness are the consequence of chronic stress in your life. Over time these emotions can progress into more serious emotional conditions

Electro-Acupuncture to Treat Parkinson's disease

Here is an interesting study from China that reports electro-acupuncture, on the acupuncture points Spleen 6 and Stomach 36, has a neuroprotective effect on the brain because it is antioxidant. This is particularly useful in treating Parkinson's because evidence shows that oxidative stress contributes to the progression of Parkinson’s disease.  Read more here.

Eat To Beat Your Cold - Foods To Help With Cold Symptoms

*This Article is From Acupuncture.com

To help reduce the severity of a cold, the best foods to eat are ones that are packed with beta-carotene, vitamin C, and zinc. They boost immunity and help with cold symptoms. Especially around this time of year, these nutrients can also help prevent you from catching colds in the first place.

Foods such as horseradish, garlic, and chili peppers move mucus

911

"Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it."

Helen Keller June 27, 1880 – June 1, 1968 author, political activist and lecturer

Can Something In Dirt Kill Cancer Tumors??

I am always interested in treatments that are natural because the side effects and other complicating factors can be lower than using conventional drugs. This story seems a bit far out right now but I'm posting it because, if the line of research works out, we will see some wonderful results with cancerous tumors. Here's an excerpt ~

"Researcher Aleksandra Kubiak just presented the startling

A Vaccine For Breast and Ovarian Cancer?

Treatment for breast and ovarian cancer improves every year and that is a reason to be grateful. But the goal for disease is always prevention and we may be getting one step closer.  The Mayo clinic has received FDA permission to begin clinical trials on a vaccine that could prevent breast and ovarian cancer recurrences. Read about the study here.

Have You Been Working Too Hard?

Have a Very Happy Labor Day Weekend!

A Short History of Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been used by the Chinese and other East Asian cultures as a system of healing for over 2500 years. Originally, needles were fashioned from stone or bone because these were available and could be fashioned into ‘needles’. These early implements are known as bian and are the origin of the acupuncture treatments used today. Eventually, needles made of bronze and iron were substituted