A just published acupuncture research article concluded that acupuncture improves osteoarthritic knee pain symptoms above ’sham’ acupuncture.    Granted the research group was small, only 34 active acupuncture subjects and there is no such thing as true ’sham’ acupuncture, but the methodologies of this pilot study were sound as they used pain as the endpoint measurement which showed significant difference. (more…)

Another recent acupuncture research article demonstrated that acupuncture can be effective for people whose salivary glands are damaged by radiation or chemotherapy.  In this study the acupuncture point Large Intestine 2 (LI 2 on the index finger just distal to the knuckle) was stimulated (the only point that was used!) to determine if it increased saliva production over ’sham’ acupuncture. (more…)

A recent review study showed that acupuncture in conjuction with in-vitro fertilization improved the chances of a rates of pregnancy and live births.   (This really shouldn’t come as a surprise since there have been many studies showing that acupuncture helps couples conceive.)   This study was a review of 7 trials and over 1300 women undergoing IVF, so it wasn’t just a small pilot study, it did have some significance. (more…)

A recent review study looked at fish oil supplementation as a primary prevention method of age related macular degeneration. Age-related macular degeneration : An eye disease with its onset usually after age 60 that progressively destroys the macula , the central portion of the retina , impairing central vision . (more…)

A recent study looked at the effect of adding acupuncture to a standard migraine medication Rizatriptan protocol. The study had four groups (all groups received the Rizatriptan) 1) a group that received TCM acupuncture 2) a standard mock acupuncture protocol 3) an accurate mock acupuncture healing ritual 4) no acupuncture. (more…)

I enjoy treating women with PMS and other menstrual symptoms because both acupuncture and dietary modification can eradicate a large majority of the symptoms. (more…)

Acupressure is a treatment modality using finger, hand, or elbow pressure on acupuncture points. One major acupuncture point known as “Inner Gate” is on the anterior forearm between the 2 tendons (palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis) 3 finger widths from the wrist crease. You find it by having your palm point upwards, then have the index, middle and ring finger of the opposite hand touch each other so they are sitting flat. Place the ring finger on the wrist crease of the hand pointing upwards. “Inner Gate” (or Pericardium 6, PC6) is where the middle knuckle of the index finger meets the forearm and between the two tendons so it is approximately in the middle of the forearm. (Is that confusing enough? The study has a picture that shows exactly where the acupuncture point is located). (more…)

Below is my powerpoint presentation I gave to the Uveitis foundation on November 29th 2007. I most definitely feel that acupuncture can be a powerful adjunct therapy to ocular inflammation. There are numerous studies that show it can help with many of the secondary diseases that occur with uveitis. References for these studies are listed on the powerpoint. I also have the full text articles for most of these studies. If you would like to receive any please email me and I’ll send you a copy. (more…)

Well it has been a while since I’ve written. Summer vacation, procrastination, enjoying the warm months. Now the new school year has begun and Boston has changed dramatically with the return of the student population.

Here is a recent paper showing the benefit of acupuncture for insomnia. In particular this paper looked at auricular (ear) acupuncture so no body points were used. (more…)

Two recently published acupuncture studies for osteoarthritic knee pain showed promising results. Both studies were randomized control trials (RCT) - A University of Maryland study (more…)