NBC 'Chicago Med' Episode Outrages Acupuncturists Nationwide
News / Profession

NBC “Chicago Med” Episode Outrages Acupuncturists Nationwide

Chicago’s Angela Lorbeck, DACM, LAc, was one of many acupuncturists around the country horrified by a scene involving excessive needling during the March 18th episode of the popular NBC show “Chicago Med.” For those who enjoy the show and range of unusual medical case studies, it was still a shock to watch a woman wheeled into the ER with dozens of needles sticking out of her back like a porcupine. She was in distress after apparently falling on her back (highly unlikely) following needling.

Pam Ferguson, Dipl. ABT (NCCAOM), AOBTA & GSD-CI, LMT
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Acupuncture & Acupressure
Open the Orifices: Point Combinations for Allergy Presentations
Open the Orifices: Point Combinations for Allergy Presentations

Acupuncture can be highly effective in cases of nasal congestion so common in allergy presentations; so much so that I often treat such issues using acupuncture protocols alone. In cases of seasonal allergies with highly predictable causes such as obvious elevations of environmental allergens, I use a skeleton acupuncture prescription that can easily be fleshed out to target potential underlying patterns and effectively customized to the patient.

Craig Williams, LAc, AHG
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Lasers & Tens
The Laser Learning Curve for Light-Based Fertility Treatments
The Laser Learning Curve for Light-Based Fertility Treatments

Low-level laser therapy is having a moment in acupuncture circles for good reason. With a growing body of research supporting its role in reducing inflammation, enhancing circulation and stimulating mitochondrial activity, more practitioners are exploring its application in fertility care. But in the nearly 20 years I’ve used laser therapy in clinical practice, I’ve seen a wide range of outcomes. It’s not because laser therapy doesn’t work. It’s because many of us don’t realize how much the details matter.

Marcy White, LAc, Dipl. Ac., MAc, CFMP
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Evidence / Research / Science
TEAM Dietary and Herbal Therapies for Cancer Patients
TEAM Dietary and Herbal Therapies for Cancer Patients

“Integrating Traditional East Asian Medicine Dietary and Herbal Therapies for Supporting Cancer Treatment and Survivorship in the West,”published in Perspectives on Integrative Medicine (2025), provides a detailed exploration of how traditional East Asian medicine (TEAM) can support cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. This article summarizes findings from the two case reports included in the study.

John Chen, PhD, PharmD, OMD, LAc
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Healthcare / Public Health  |  DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE
From Needle to Knife
From Needle to Knife
My Metamorphosis From Acupuncturist to Colon and Rectal Surgeon via Hand Yangming

Chinese medical theory details each meridian’s functions and associations, which can be extrapolated for metaphorical significance. For example, the Large Intestine (LI) meridian expels physical and emotional waste, supporting systemic purification and renewal. Its anatomical trajectory, which traverses the index finger, upper extremity, shoulder, neck, and terminates at the contralateral nasolabial groove, also serves as a narrative metaphor, eloquently illustrating my journey from acupuncturist to colon and rectal surgeon.

Vanessa Hortian, DO, MS, LAc, CHSE
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Chinese & Asian Medicine
Facing a Challenging World Through Empowerment & Insight: The Yang Wei Vessel
Facing a Challenging World Through Empowerment & Insight

Collectively, much of the population has been struggling with a form of “heart pain”: difficulty managing events occurring in the external world. COVID was one example of this; climate change is another; and let’s not overlook geopolitical and social upheaval. We can term this “difficulty with the ‘global palace’ of the heart.” The Extraordinary vessels can be a powerful way to work with the “palaces” and their heart pains.

Nicholas Sieben, LAc
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Health & Wellness / Lifestyle
Cultivating the Empowered Patient: Help Them Commit to Their Own Process
Cultivating the Empowered Patient: Help Them Commit to Their Own Process
True Healing Starts From Within

The most important relationship I seek to nurture in the treatment room is the one a patient has with their own body. We live in a culture that teaches us to override pain, defer to outside authority, and push through discomfort. Patients often arrive hoping I can “fix” them, but the truth is, we can’t do the work for them. We can offer guidance, insight and support, but healing requires their full participation.

Aiden Jakob Seraphim, DACM, LAc
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Featured

Food Therapy for the Lungs and Stomach

One of the most important aspects of my clinical practice is teaching patients the importance of food therapy for both prevention of and recovery from health challenges. Chinese medicine in particular has unique perspectives on food therapy, which can help inspire patients to see the kitchen as a sacred space for cultivating health. With that said, let’s discuss four foods I use to help patients prevent lung issues and stimulate recovery from lung issues when infections resulted in antibiotic use, which damaged the spleen.

Craig Williams, LAc, AHG
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Acupuncture & Acupressure
The Earth Element and the Pelvis
The Earth Element and the Pelvis

When out of balance, the earth element can jolt the whole system from its axis. This can lead to one being ungrounded, anxious, worried, and constantly seeking something outside of oneself. When considering treatment of the pelvic floor with acupuncture, the earth element can serve as a beacon light upon the balance point between the tangible-physical and spiritual-emotional. 

Krystal Lynn Couture, DPT, LAc
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Healthcare / Public Health
Bridging the Gaps in Integrative Oncology
Bridging the Gaps in Integrative Oncology
Clinical Experiences and Tips

Those of us who survive metastatic cancer through various forms of integrative medicine welcome working with colleagues with hospital experience, eager to address gaps in training at both undergrad and CE levels. To this end, I’ve been brainstorming with Steve Rogne, Dipl. ABT (NCBAHM), AOBTA-CI, director of Zen Shiatsu Chicago; Chicago-based acupuncturist Angela Lorbeck DACM, MSTOM, MPH, LAc, FMCHC; and Pa.-based shiatsu therapist and certified integrative cancer coach Wayne Mylin, Dipl. ABT (NCBAHM), AOBTA-CP. 

Pam Ferguson, Dipl. ABT (NCCAOM), AOBTA & GSD-CI, LMT
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Anti Aging / Healthy Aging
Face Diagnosis: The Face as Microcosm
Face Diagnosis: The Face as Microcosm

Our face is an outward manifestation of our inner world. According to the traditional concept of biao li, everything we see on the outside is a representation of what is happening on the inside. The character biao (表) represents the outer appearance of a garment; li (裏) refers to its lining or that which is hidden. The biao faces toward the exterior and can be seen, whereas the li faces toward the interior and cannot be seen.

Michelle Gellis, AP, Dipl. Ac.
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Evidence / Research / Science
Acupuncture and Moxibustion for IBS-D
Acupuncture and Moxibustion for IBS-D
Restoring Gut Function Via Microbiota Rebalancing

Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) causes chronic diarrhea and abdominal discomfort that significantly impacts quality of life. Current pharmaceutical treatments have limited efficacy. Recent research highlights the role of gut microbiota in IBS-D development and recovery. This study compared how acupuncture and moxibustion at a single acupoint perform against pharmaceutical treatment in restoring bowel function and rebalancing gut microbiota.

Simone Ormsby, BSc, BHSc, PhD; Sandro Graca, MSc, Lic TCM, FABORM
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