Chinese Herbs Can Be A Blessing For PMS

I know that many of you have questions about herbs - the content of tablets and the quality control of ingredients, in particular. Good. It is important to be particular. That is one reason why people need to work with a skilled practitioner. I've investigated many brands and varieties of herbal formulas and have found companies and people who I can depend on. Cathy Margolin, L.A.c., a

Virgos Need Not Apply

It’s a good thing that my mother has a career because, being a Virgo, she would be excluded from some jobs in china. No kidding. I just read an article that appeared in The Telegraph which said that people who were born under the signs Scorpio and Virgo need not apply! Why? Because they have strong personalities, are too moody and critical.

Since I know that you will want to forward this to

Happy Thanksgiving!

A little Monday Morning Advocacy from the Coalition for Safe Acupuncture Practice

I received this in an email newsletter this morning and I believe it is important to get this information out. While crossover practice exists in multiple western medicine disciplines, proof equivalent training is always part of the equation. I have long maintained there is a problem with MDs, DOs, DPTs, and DCs being able to take a quick (if any) course of acupuncture and have it fold into their scope of practice. Stating that techniques like dry needling are not TCM and therefor do not require TCM theory is fine, however there is ample training in technique and clinical supervision that is necessary regardless of the guiding theory. By that rational, anyone who draws blood, administers injections, pierces body parts, gives tattoos, or otherwise has a needle meeting skin as part of their discipline should be eligible to take a course for a few hours and hand their shingle. If that does not sound like a good idea, neither should this . . . 

Please join us in responding to Dry Needling...  

Dry Needling for Pain Management, as developed by Yun-Tao Ma, PhD., is a 24 classroom hour work-shop designed for Physical Therapists who wish to use Dry Needling in their patient practice. After completion of Dry Needling for Pain Management, Physical Therapists are encouraged to insert needles into their patients as part of their treatment protocols. Dry Needling is,by definition, the insertion of solid, acupuncture-type needles into body tissue. Dry Needling technique is acupuncture technique.  

Training in Dry Needling, as provided to Physical Therapists, does not include the 6 hour Clean Needle Technique safety course and Clean Needle certification exam that all Acupuncture students must complete and pass. Training in Dry Needling, as provided to Physical Therapists, does not include the 150 hours of clinical observation plus 118 hours of needling technique classroom instruction required of all Acupuncture students prior to beginning their clinical internships. Training in Dry Needling, as provided to Physical Therapists, does not include the Illinois state mandated additional 660 hours of needling and acupuncture technique practice that all present Acupuncture students must complete while being supervised by Illinois State licensed acupuncturists at an ACAMO-accredited and Illinois state approved educational institution.  

The Coalition for Safe Acupuncture Practice (CSAP) seeks to bring attention to the inadequacy of clinical, classroom and Clean Needle Technique instruction received by Physical Therapists who are using Dry Needling in their treatment practices. Please read the CSAP mission statement at end and consider joining us so that we may bring social awareness to this public health issue.

CCAOM Position Paper on Dry Needling 

American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Position Statement of Acupuncture Trigger Point Dry Needling and Intramuscular Manuel Therapy 

Another NBA Star Turns To Acupuncture

I imagine that when you are an NBA star and have a contract worth millions, you take your injuries seriously and are willing to be open to new therapies. Certainly, that is the case with Mickael Pietrus, the famous NBA player for the Phoenix Suns who sought treatment at the Shaolin Temple in China. This Temple is well known for it's Eastern medicine approaches. While he was there he received

Food As Medicine Is Common Sense

Here in the U.S. and in most Western countries, we think of food as food and medicine as medicine; rarely linking the two. Many countries understand that food IS medicine. I found a particularly useful article in a Bangkok paper (applause for the internet) that explains food as medicine and want to share it with you.

"Traditional Chinese medicine has been practised for 5,000 years, so it's no

Thank You!

Repeatedly, in psychology, researchers have linked the experience of being "grateful" to mental health and well-being. Here is an informative summary of the findings from some researchers in the field of gratitude.

"Grateful people report higher levels of positive emotions, life satisfaction, vitality, optimism and lower levels of depression and stress. The disposition toward gratitude appears

Eyes On The Prize

''Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.'' 
Henry Ford

Acupuncture Explained?

I am often asked to explain acupuncture in Western medical terms. I clearly understand the desire to fit a new idea, treatment or event into our existing schemas - I feel the same way, but it isn't always possible. Sometimes we have to let go of old ways of thinking or perceiving in order to be receptive to new ways. The following article is a thoughtful commentary trying to grapple with the

5 Cold Prevention & Treatment Tips

During this last month, I have had so many people coming into my Chicago acupuncture office complaining of colds, that I thought I’d post some good tips on how to avoid and treat the common cold.
Huang qi/Astragalus - I have written about this herb many times on my blog and with good reason. It stimulates the immune system; therefore it is often used to treat and prevent the common cold, sinus

‎"Melting You Icebergs"

A Facebook professional contact posted this recently and I thought it was worth sharing because, chances are, you are reading this on a computer and susceptible to frozen icebergs!  

Shoulders.

You keyboard right?  

Midway between the far end of your shoulder and your spine there is a gathering point for stress. It feels both good and bad whenever someone presses on it. 1 iceburg on each shoulder. Not quite as bad as Atlas.  So let's melt them.

Push your shoulders up to your ears or as far as they will go. Then let them fall slowly and SOFTEN. Think of hot butter. Think of ice melting. Move your right hand to your left shoulder and gently GRAB that point and squeeze, not like you are wrestling with an enemy, but like you are embracing a wounded loved one. With care. And work out sone of that tender stiffness. Do the same with the other hand and shoulder.  Then make some really REALLY BIG circles with your shoulders. All the way up back down forward, and around and around.  

W O R K I T O U T.

Now step away from your computer and do something else for a while. Take care of you!

Qi Gong Unites Good Intentions With Results

I think the Huffington Post is starting to take notice of Eastern health practices. Earlier this year they published an article on Chinese Medicine for insomnia and now Arthur Rosenfeld has written an article about Qi Gong.

"If you've traveled to China, you've likely encountered senior citizens flapping their arms early in the morning in public parks, or perhaps squatting, walking, singing or