acupuncture

acupuncture (14)·body awareness (1)·chinese medicine (5)·interoception (3)·mindfulness (2)·neuroscience (6)·qi (3)

Do you believe you see the world as it truly is? Do you think you know why you feel happy or angry? For centuries, we’ve operated under the assumption that our senses are clear windows to the world and our emotions are primal, universal reactions. But modern neuroscience is dismantling these fundamental beliefs, revealing a… Continue reading Your Brain is Inventing You: 4 Scientific Truths That Redefine Reality

acupuncture (14)·chinese medicine (5)·interoception (3)·mindfulness (2)·neuroscience (6)·qi (3)

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the concept of Qi (氣) represents far more than a mystical life force. It is a language of continuity—a way to describe how breath, emotion, food, and the natural world move through and connect all living things. Recent neuroscience, meanwhile, is beginning to rediscover this internal awareness under a new… Continue reading Qi and the Science of Interoception: Ancient Pathways to Modern Awareness

acupuncture (14)·interoception (3)·moral psychology (1)·neuroscience (6)·research (5)

A recent study published in The Journal of Neuroscience reveals a compelling link between interoceptive awareness—our ability to perceive internal bodily sensations—and moral decision-making. Researchers found that individuals with heightened interoceptive awareness tend to make moral choices aligning with societal norms, even in complex ethical dilemmas without clear right or wrong answers. https://www.jneurosci.org/content/45/23/e1114242025 This study… Continue reading Interoception and Acupuncture: Bridging Ancient Wisdom with Modern Neuroscience

acupuncture (14)·pain (3)·research (5)

In recent years, the scientific community has increasingly turned its attention towards the potential benefits of electroacupuncture in managing various types of persistent pain. Research focusing on the effects of electroacupuncture on inflammatory, neuropathic, cancer, and visceral pain has shown promising results. The way electroacupuncture interacts with the nervous system appears to differ depending on… Continue reading The Power of Electro-acupuncture in Pain Management

acupuncture (14)·neuroscience (6)·pain (3)·research (5)

To continue the series of posts based on quotes from the text Biomedical Acupuncture for Pain Management, let us discuss the concept of qualifying acupuncture points as “latent”, “passive”, or “active”. Latent points are those which are not at all tender to a patient (normal tissue state), passive points are those that when palpated with… Continue reading Neural circuitry: latent, passive, and active acupoints

acupuncture (14)·biomedical (3)·neuroscience (6)·pain management (2)·theory (4)

I have begun reading a new text book, and I thought I would make a series of posts to highlight some interesting quotes: An interesting neurologic fact is that the limbs below the elbows and knees occupy largerareas in the sensory gyrus in the brain. Therefore the acupoints below the elbows and knees also occupy… Continue reading Exploring the Significance of Acupoint He Gu (Large Intestine 4): Bridging Traditional Acupuncture and Modern Neuroscience

acupuncture (14)·biomedical (3)·pain management (2)

I have begun reading a new text book, and I thought I would make a series of posts to highlight some interesting quotes: In our daily lives, if hyperactivity of the sympathetic system persists too long,we become exhausted because of consuming stored energy; our immune system becomes suppressed; we are more likely to get sick;… Continue reading Biomedical Acupuncture for Pain Management

acupuncture (14)·emergency (1)·ER (1)·pain (3)

World’s largest randomized controlled trial of acupuncture in emergency departments finds it is a safe and effective alternative to pain-relieving drugs. Read the full article here: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170618103517.htm

acupressure (1)·acupuncture (14)·chinese medicine (5)·fertility (3)·gynecology (1)·induction (1)·labor (1)

I‘ve found that this site has a clear and friendly explanation of acupressure for labor induction, including images, descriptions, and videos. I am sharing the link here for future reference! How To Induce Labor With Acupressure – Mommypotamus.com If you have not already discovered this, acupuncture and acupressure are useful in various stages of pregnancy: prior to… Continue reading How To Induce Labor With Acupressure

acupuncture (14)·anki (1)·chinese language (1)·pleco (1)·study card deck (1)

When I was in school, we learned all the acupuncture points by numbers…their channel, and number, categories, anatomical location, indications, etc…and the names of only the most important and frequently used points. After studying in China, I realised that the practitioners and students there do not know the numbers necessarily, but they all know the… Continue reading Learn Acupuncture Point Names

acupuncture (14)·herbal medicine (3)·research (5)

Sabhuti Dharmananda is an amazing scholar and his experience is clearly transmitted through his writings. While studying in Portland I had the pleasure of hearing him lecture. Here is a collection that mentions the diagnosis, treatment, and some research on Multiple-Sclerosis in Chinese Medicine. http://www.itmonline.org/arts/ms&tcm.htmhttp://www.itmonline.org/arts/msalsmg.htmhttp://www.itmonline.org/arts/dhea.htmhttp://www.itmonline.org/arts/newscalp.htmhttp://www.itmonline.org/arts/msmodmed.htmhttp://www.itmonline.org/arts/degenerative.htmhttp://www.itmonline.org/arts/millettia.htmhttp://www.itmonline.org/arts/tortois2.htm

acupuncture (14)·metabolism (2)·research (5)

Glutamate is the most abundant neurotransmitter in the vertebrate system, and maintaining the correct levels necessary for normal function depends on the interaction of nerve (neuron) and glial cells (astrocytes). Glutamate plays a role in synapse plasticity, and thus in the brain glutamate is important in learning and memory processes. In a synapse, pre- and… Continue reading Glutamate-Glutamine

acupuncture (14)·FAQ (1)·theory (4)

This question often comes up in the clinic. Frequently, it seems to come up a few minutes after I have put the needles in…perhaps given a few moments to reflect, we become acutely self-aware of subtle changes in the body, awakening mental curiosity?! (This post refers to acupuncture, and not ‘Chinese Medicine’) My answer to… Continue reading How does acupuncture work?

acupuncture (14)·dopamine (1)·endorphins (1)·GABA (1)

Endorphins are peptides that act as neurotransmitters, and belong to the endogenous opiod system. The term “endorphin” is a compound of “endogenous” and “morphine”, referring to a chemical that is naturally produced within the body and that demonstrates effects similar to morphine, in terms of producing analgesia and feelings of well-being. Endorphin production can be stimulated through excitement, pain, exercise, love and orgasm, or even eating spicy foods.