Demystifying the Use of Laser Therapy in TCM Clinics
Your Practice / Business

Demystifying the Use of Laser Therapy in TCM Clinics

A Bridge Between Tradition and Technology

Laser therapy has emerged as a powerful tool in the realm of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This new modality fits beautifully into the toolbox of the modern acupuncturist, as it can be used as a hybrid form of stimulation to acupuncture points, meridians, organs, nerves, and symptomatic areas in a new way that blends both moxa and energetic needle-like responses.

Dustin Dillberg, DACM, LAc, PAS
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Billing / Fees / Insurance
The State of 21st Century Acupuncture in the U.S. (Pt. 3)
The State of 21st Century Acupuncture in the U.S.

Whether you accept it, avoid it or live somewhere in between, insurance coverage has become a defining issue for our profession. Patients increasingly expect to use their benefits, practitioners want to be compensated fairly for their time and expertise, and the system itself remains – at best – fragmented. The encouraging news is that coverage has expanded in meaningful ways. The challenging news is that reimbursement, across the board, remains inadequate.

Clasina (Sina) Leslie Smith, MS, MA, LAc, MD, Dipl. Ac., FAAMA
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Chinese & Asian Medicine
Vesicle Formation After Cupping: Clinical Insights & Management Considerations
Vesicle Formation After Cupping: Clinical Insights & Management Considerations

While the formation of erythema and ecchymosis is an anticipated skin response to cupping therapy, the appearance of post-treatment vesicles remains less discussed in clinical literature. This article presents a case study of vesicle formation following cupping therapy, explores underlying pathophysiology, and offers management guidelines to support practitioners in addressing this phenomenon safely and effectively.

Roman Slavinskiy, LAc
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Acupuncture Techniques
Understanding Facial Spasms and Tics
Understanding Facial Spasms and Tics

Facial movements are essential for communication, expression and function. But when these movements become involuntary, they can lead to conditions that are not only physically uncomfortable, but also socially and emotionally distressing. Today, we’re taking a closer look at three common facial motor disorders – blepharospasm, hemifacial spasm and facial tics – and how both Western medicine and TCM view and treat them.

Michelle Gellis, AP, Dipl. Ac.
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Acupuncture & Acupressure
The Clinical Value of Intentional Points
Intentional Points

There is no perfect formula when determining which specific points / number of points will shift a patient’s pattern of disharmony and suffering. However, it is not uncommon for clinicians and students alike to either fall into a rut using the same acupuncture points over and over in clinical autopilot, or use too many points during treatment, resulting in a “fuzzy” or “cloudy” clinical outcome. The goal of this article is to help avoid these frustrations.

Craig Williams, LAc, AHG
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Billing / Fees / Insurance  |  DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE
Changing Acupuncture Practice Models and Compliance Requirements
Changing Acupuncture Practice Models and Compliance Requirements

As the healthcare industry rapidly evolves, a growing number of acupuncturists who traditionally have used a fee-for-service payment model are investigating novel practice structures, such as concierge and direct-pay care models. What are the legal requirements specific to these practice models, particularly as they relate to HIPAA? 

David Bibbey, Dipl. Ac., LAc
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Women's Health
Forbidden Secrets of Women’s Longevity (Pt. 3)
Forbidden Secrets of Women’s Longevity
Ancient TCM Rituals for Preserving Youth, Vitality and Jing

The ancient physicians of the imperial courts recognized that prolonged emotional distress accelerates jing depletion, leading to hormonal imbalances, premature aging and chronic fatigue. This understanding was particularly important for imperial women, who faced extreme psychological pressures – competition, isolation, and the burden of producing heirs; all of which could rapidly weaken the heart-kidney axis.

Oksana Gryvnak, R. TCMP, RAc
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Featured

Should You Be in-Network or Out-of-Network With Insurance?

A new year is around the corner and many acupuncturists are looking to boost their practices. One of the most common questions I get is: “Do I need to be credentialed to bill insurance, and what are the best plans to join?” This is a loaded question – but one every acupuncturist ponders. The decision comes down to evaluating whether joining a network adds value – or simply limits your income potential.

Samuel A. Collins
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Herbal Medicine
Herbal Management of Lyme Disease: Modern Remedies That Honor Classic Principles (Pt. 2)
Herbal Management of Lyme Disease

A modern herbal formula for Lyme disease must be cognizant of a more complex clinical landscape, addressing both the pathogen and the underlying constitutional shortcomings that facilitate chronic infection. And of course, treating Lyme disease is not just about killing a microbe; it is also about restoring balance to a system that has essentially been hijacked. But we can’t forget it still must specifically and effectively target the pathogen at hand; otherwise our efforts will fall short of achieving our ultimate clinical goals.

Paul Kempisty, LAc
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Vitamins / Supplements  |  DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE
Can Curcumin Aid in Soreness and Recovery After Exercise?
Can Curcumin Aid in Soreness and Recovery After Exercise?

After a strenuous workout, the muscles can feel fatigued and sore. The soreness that occurs a couple of days after exercise is known as delayed-onset muscle soreness, or DOMS. The structural impact DOMS can have on muscles can lead to a decrease in athletic performance. Several strategies have been demonstrated to minimize the impact of DOMS on performance. One such strategy is the implementation of turmeric/curcumin as a supplement. 

Shawn LaCourt, DC, MS, CSCS; Trevor Shaw, DC, MS, DACRB, CSCS; Gregory Cofano, DC, RN, DIBCN
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Lasers & Tens
Modulating the Gut-Brain Axis With Low-Level Laser Therapy (Pt. 1)
Modulating the Gut-Brain Axis With Low-Level Laser Therapy
An Integrative Zang-Fu Perspective

The gut-brain axis (GBA) represents a critical bidirectional communication network linking the gastrointestinal and central nervous systems, a concept increasingly explored in contemporary biomedical research. Multiple recent studies have shown low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is efficacious in modulating the GBA and related mechanisms. Acupuncture and TCM herbal treatments have also been shown to influence many of these pathways and positively impact the GBA.

Dustin Dillberg, DACM, LAc, PAS
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Your Practice / Business  |  DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE
Using Email Marketing to Create Loyal Fans of Your Acupuncture Clinic   
Using Email Marketing to Create Loyal Fans of Your Acupuncture Clinic

Emailing your clients can educate them, but more surreptitiously, you can use it for marketing. It’s (mostly) free advertising that can help you grow your business, if that's something you're interested in doing. Here are my top three takeaways from years of sending weekly emails to my clients.

Nicole Lentfer, LAc
Chinese & Asian Medicine
Opening the Extraordinary Vessels (Pt. 1)
Opening the Extraordinary Vessels

When I was a young student of acupuncture, the channel system I was most intrigued with was the extraordinary vessels. Described as the foundation, I initially wanted to always treat with this channel system. As I matured, I came to see that the extraordinary vessels can be quite demanding. They are difficult to access. They don’t easily “open” for every patient; and once they do, they require a lot.

Nicholas Sieben, LAc