Acupuncture in Wall Street Journal

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This article describes how scientists are using ultra-sound, thermal imaging, and neuroimaging to show the effects of acupuncture. Scientists found that many of the 365 acupuncture points correspond to nerve bundles or muscle trigger points and several meridians track major arteries and nerves. Acupuncture is being used by U.S. Army and Navy doctors for musculoskeletal problems, pain and stress in stateside hospitals and combat zones, and by Acupuncturists without Borders in Haiti after the earthquake. Major medical centers like M.D. Anderson in Houston to Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York use acupuncture to counteract the side effects of chemotherapy.

"Studies at the Martinos Center have shown that patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, a painful compression of nerves in the wrist, have heightened activity in parts of the brain that regulate sensation and fear, but after acupuncture, their brain patterns more closely resemble those of healthy subjects. Brain scans of patients with fibromyalgia show that both acupuncture and sham acupuncture (using real needles on random points in the body) cause the release of endorphins. But real acupuncture also increased the number of receptors for pain-reducing neurotransmitters, bringing patients even more relief."read complete article at Wall Street Journal, Decoding an Ancient Therapynyctcm.edu, Acupuncture in Wall Street Journal, Mar 2010

You should read the whole article.

reBlog from nyctcm.edu: Acupuncture Needle Techniques: Tonifing and Reducing CE

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NYCTCM presents the Continuing Education Course for Acupuncturists - Acupuncture Needle Techniques
Speaker: Grand Master Dr. Yongjiang Xi
When: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM, Sun., 05/23/2010
(NCCAOM PDA Points: 3)

Dr. Xi will discuss needle quality and evaluation of acupuncture manipulations related to tonification and reduction, the relationships between strength of needle manipulation and tonification/reduction, differences between puncturing Qi points and puncturing muscle knots. He will also demonstrate needle techniques for some muscle-skeleton disorders, as well as needle techniques of hot-tonification/cold-reduction in both simple way and complicated ways. His son, Dr. Depei Xi will assist his teaching.nyctcm.edu, Acupuncture Needle Techniques: Tonifing and Reducing CE, Mar 2010

You should read the whole article.

reBlog from nyctcm.edu: Frozen shoulder

I found this fascinating quote today:

Chris Giordano, a student at NYCTCM, gave an overview of Frozen Shoulder from a TCM perspective for his Clinical Acupuncture Practice II class "Treatment of Modern Diseases with Traditional Chinese Medicine". He describes the basic bioscience of frozen shoulder, then tells us the basic TCM knowledge about frozen shoulder, including major pattern differentiation and major treatment points and needle techniques. He gives techniques for prevention of frozen shoulder, then summarizes current research on the treatment of frozen shoulder with Traditional Chinese Medicine. "The cause of frozen shoulder is unknown, but it probably involves and underlying inflammatory process. The capsule surrounding the shoulder joint thickens and contracts. This leaves less space for the upper arm bone (humerus) to move around. Frozen shoulder can also develop after a prolonged immobilization because of trauma or surgery to the joint... The symptoms are primarily pain and a very reduced range of motion in the joint. The range of motion is the same whether you are trying to move the shoulder under your own power or if someone else is trying to raise the arm for you. There comes a point in each direction of movement where the motion simply stops as if there is something blocking the movement. The shoulder usually hurts when movement reach the limit of the range of motion, and can be quite painful at night. Major Treatments or Medications Treatment of the frozen shoulder can be frustrating and slow. Most cases will eventually improve, but it may be a process that takes months. Initial treatment and increasing the range of motion of the shoulder with a stretching program. Anti-inflammatory medications may be prescribed. It is critical that a Physical Therapy program be started and continued to regain the loss of motion. An injection of cortisone and long-acting anesthetic, similar to novocaine, may bring the inflammation under better control, and allow the stretching program to be more effective. In some cases, injecting a long-acting anesthetic along with the cortisone right before a stretching session with the Physical Therapist can allow the therapist to break up adhesions while the shoulder is numb from the anesthetic. If  progress is slow, your doctor may recommend a manipulation of the shoulder while you are under anesthesia. This procedure allows your doctor to stretch the shoulder joint capsule, and break up the scar tissue while you are asleep. In most cases, a manipulation of the shoulder will increase the motion in the shoulder joint faster than allowing nature to take its course. It may be necessary to repeat this procedure several times. Related terms in TCM The first description of frozen shoulder was provided by the French physician E.S. Duplay in 1872. During the 20th century a corresponding Chinese term arose: "50-years shoulder" (wushi jian), referring to the typical age of onset of the disorder; the term frozen shoulder (jianning) is also used in China. While there are numerous references to traditional style Chinese medical treatments for problems of the shoulder area, investigations into the use of the therapies specifically aimed at frozen shoulder have only been described in the last few years. Pathogenesis Traditional Chinese Medicine differentiates frozen shoulder into three types:nyctcm.edu, Frozen shoulder, Feb 2010

You should read the whole article.

Dr. Tung's Acupuncture Continuing Education class

NYCTCM is proud to present the Continuing Education Course "Dr. Tung's Acupuncture" on April 3 & 4 2010. This course represents the culmination of Dr. Young Wei-Chieh's forty years of clinical expertise and his study with Master Tung.

Who is Master Tung

Master Tung Ching Chang has been referred to as The Greatest Acupuncture Master who ever lived. He was born in the Shangdong Province in Northern China. When China was occupied by communists, he moved to Taiwan with Chang Kai-shek's army and settled in Taipei. He was a traditional Chinese physician famous for the miraculous and spontaneous results he would obtain by using few needles. The acupuncture points and techniques he used are unique while in accord to orthodox acupuncture. In most cases, the patient notices instant relief upon insertion of the needle. From 1953-1975, there were over 40,000 patient visits in his clinic.

Master Tung's Points were a treasured family secret, handed down and refined over generations. Master Tung was benevolent that he aimed at mass patients' benefits and decided to reveal his secret acupuncture system. He was the first one to break his family tradition and began to teach his acupuncture system to outsiders. He selected all his students, 73 of them, without any charge. He even offered boarding for those students if in need. Dr. Young, Wei-Chieh is one of the 73 students. Master Tung passed away in 1975. He left behind his point book and his legacy. 

For details about this CE class for acupuncturists, visit NYCTCM CEU page. 

reBlog from nyctcm.edu: TCM in America

I found this fascinating quote today:

Kelsey Dixon, a NYCTCM graduating acupuncture student, wrote on how she will contribute to the future of Chinese medicine in an American culture which is so different from the Taoist principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. nyctcm.edu, TCM in America, Jul 2009

You should read the whole article.

TOEFL� Go Anywhere Website Now Available in Chinese

Online English-Language Resource Designed Specifically 

for Chinese Students

Beijing, China (January 6, 2010) —

This press release is also available in Chinese (PDF).

Educational Testing Service (ETS) has launched a new Chinese-language version of the TOEFL® Go Anywhere website to assist students in preparing for the TOEFL® test, the most widely accepted English-language assessment worldwide. The newly released TOEFL Go Anywhere website, available at www.toeflgoanywhere.org/cn, presents an informative overview of the TOEFL test, valuable test preparation tips, and user-friendly academic tools for students.

Created specifically for Chinese students, the interactive portal serves as an effective planning tool and comprehensive resource to address frequently asked questions regarding the TOEFL test. Through the site’s multimedia platforms, students also have the opportunity to learn best practices and study tips from English-language teachers and international students around the world.