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What’s Holding Acupuncture Back in 2025?
News / Profession

What’s Holding Acupuncture Back in 2025?

Instead of gaining traction and progressing as a profession in the past decade, needle acupuncture has become the darling of complementary medicine, while acupuncturists are being largely passed over by mainstream medical and allied health providers, regulators, legislators, insurance plans, and governmental agencies. Understanding the profession’s role and responsibility for this outcome is necessary to charting a course correction.

David Bibbey, Dipl. Ac., LAc
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Sports / Exercise / Fitness
Stationary Bike Riding for Management of Parkinson’s Disease
Stationary Bike Riding for Management of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder affecting nearly 1 million Americans. Current research confirms that PD is an incredibly complicated condition, and while researchers attempt to unravel the best pharmacological and surgical interventions for PD, there is strong evidence that a well-designed exercise program would be of benefit to almost everyone affected with this frustrating condition.

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Thomas Michaud, DC
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Health & Wellness / Lifestyle
A Few Good Eggs: TCM for Fertility and Reproductive Health
A Few Good Eggs: TCM for Fertility and Reproductive Health

Traditional Chinese medicine has been used for centuries to support fertility by improving egg quality, balancing hormones and enhancing overall vitality. Whether a patient is actively trying to conceive or simply looking to support long-term reproductive health, understanding these natural approaches can help them maintain wellness at any stage of life.

Daoshing Ni, DOM, LAc, PhD, Dipl. CH
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Acupuncture Techniques
Acupuncture’s Role in Stimulating the Vagus Nerve
Acupuncture’s Role in Stimulating the Vagus Nerve

One of the longest nerves in the body is known as the vagus nerve (VN). The VN is the 10th pair of cranial nerves that originates at the brain stem in the medulla oblongata. This nerve is part of the parasympathetic nervous system, which is a part of the ANS. Research suggests ear acupuncture can activate the VN.

Amanda Archuleta, DAOM, LAc
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Sports Injuries
An Acupuncturist's Guide to Treating Tennis Elbow
An Acupuncturist's Guide to Treating Tennis Elbow
How It Develops, What to Look for and the Best Ways to Treat It

Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) is a common injury caused by overuse of the tendons and muscles in the elbow as a result of repetitive motion. Despite its name and the fact the term was originally coined in 1873 as “lawn tennis elbow,” the condition has been known to affect far more than just tennis and racket sport players.

Michael Zakko, LAc
Herbal Medicine
The Perfect Fit for the Perfect Pattern
The Perfect Fit for the Perfect Pattern
Two Patients With Cough – Which Formula Works for Each?

A long-term patient recently called me with an interesting question concerning herbal formulas. The patient, a 73-year-old female, asked why a formula that is helping her 35-year-old son does not seem to be helping her. “It’s really helping my son, but does not seem to be helping me. Actually, it seems to be aggravating my cough, I’m confused."

Craig Williams, LAc, AHG
Chronic / Acute Conditions
Strep Throat Can Be More Than a Sore Throat: Herbs for Guttate Psoriasis
Strep Throat Can Be More Than a Sore Throat

It’s that time again, when sniffles, coughs and sneezes abound, plaguing our children and of course, parents, teachers and caregivers, too. As we enter the cold and flu season, parents should consider herbal medicine, not only in the anticipatory stocking of the family medicine cabinet, but also in finding a practitioner licensed with their state’s board of medicine who can recommend specific herbal remedies.

Carol Goldman, DACM, L. OM; Samantha Burris, LAc
Featured

NCCAOM Finalizes Name Change

The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) has announced it has formally adopted a new name, effective January 2026: the National Certification Board for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (NCBAHM). The organization’s Board of Commissioners voted to adopt the new name after considering input from diplomates and other stakeholders, provided during the public comment period earlier this year.

Acupuncture Today Staff
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Chronic / Acute Conditions
Hemifacial Spasm: Understanding and Treating a Complex Neuromuscular Disorder
Hemifacial Spasm: Understanding and Treating a Complex Neuromuscular Disorder

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a neuromuscular condition characterized by involuntary muscle spasms on one side of the face, most commonly the left. Unlike facial or eyelid tics, which can occur on either side and typically cease during sleep, HFS spasms can persist throughout the day and continue during rest. This condition affects approximately 11 in 100,000 people, with a higher prevalence in middle-aged women and individuals of Asian descent.

Michelle Gellis, AP, Dipl. Ac.
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Senior Health
It’s Hip to Treat OA With Acupuncture
It’s Hip to Treat OA With Acupuncture
Point Prescriptions to Help Patients With Hip Osteoarthritis

Hip pain due to osteoarthritis is an extremely common condition for an acupuncturist to encounter in a clinical setting. I see this condition quite frequently in my clinical practice and treat it typically with a combination of acupuncture, herbal medicine, and physical therapies. In this article, let’s focus on acupuncture, which can be extremely effective in not only reducing pain, but also preventing the further acceleration of the hip arthritis.

Craig Williams, LAc, AHG
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Billing / Fees / Insurance
Understanding Acupuncture Visit Limits
Understanding Acupuncture Visit Limits

When an insurance plan allows 24 acupuncture visits per year, does this allow the patient to use 24 visits automatically? This is an often-confusing statement from an insurance plan and in terms of how it is interpreted by the patient. They see they get a set number of visits and assume this allows them to use the visits at their discretion. This is not the case.

Samuel A. Collins
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
Your Practice / Business
Demystifying the Use of Laser Therapy in TCM Clinics
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
Chinese & Asian Medicine  |  DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE
Exploring the Concept of Souls in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Exploring the Concept of Souls in Traditional Chinese Medicine
A Comparative Analysis With Yogic Koshas

Traditional Chinese medicine and the Vedic traditions both offer rich frameworks for understanding human health, emphasizing the balance of physical, mental, and spiritual aspects. The concept of "souls" or spiritual components in TCM, namely Hun, Po, Shen, Yi, and Zhi, bears significant similarities to the yogic concept of koshas. Their similarities and differences provide insights into how these systems contribute to holistic health practices.

Oksana Gryvnak, R. TCMP, RAc