252 Considering Acupuncture • Ann Cecil-Sterman
Acupuncture As acupuncturists, we practice our medicine as both a science and an art. Science in the sense of organizing the learned or experiential structure of the lens through which we view imbalances. Art in the sense of recognizing that each individual is a unique,...
251 Medicine, Ethics and Virtue • Sabine Wilms
Cultivation Like everything else, power is a two-sided coin. It can be coercive and oppressive, but it can also be empowering and nurturing. And according to ancient Chinese texts, true authority is based on ethical inspiration rather than coercion. As physicians, we are in a...
250 Moxa to the Rescue, Researching Moxa in the Treatment of Long Covid
Acupuncture Moxa doesn’t just stimulate Qi; it replenishes the vital life force. This Chinese medicine treatment brings nourishment in the form of pure yang that potentially rejuvenates the immune system and restores dysfunctional internal environments. These functions...
249 Character, Nature and Fate— Navigating the Human Realm with Polestar Astrology • Gregory Done
Cultivation Where do we come from, where are we headed and what should we do in the interim? Is the blueprint of our life set in stone, or do we have the free will to control our destiny? It is so very human to contemplate our mortal fate and infinitesimal position in the cosmos....
248 Starting a Free Clinic • Bess Randles & Kyle Yoshioka
Acupuncture The most powerful lessons come not from a school curriculum, but from life. Our world is full of both problems and opportunities. There is what we struggle against, and what we stand for. And the unfolding dance of yin/yang reminds us that everything has aspects of...
247 Menopause, the transformative gateway of connection • Kath Berry
Acupuncture Change is inevitable. Our lives are a series of transitions. Winter blooms into spring. Weekends slow down to Mondays. Puberty arrives and rearranges our psyche, feelings, and sense of self. And for half the population, menopause occurs. Change is constant in life....
246 Tools, Perception, and Attention • Gary Klepper
Acupuncture Our tools don’t just expand our faculties. They change what we can do by training our physical and cognitive senses. They temporarily become part of who we are. In a sense—we are the tool in our clinical work. We act as a kind of both filter and mirror for our...
245 Climate Change and Chinese Medicine • Nishanga Bliss
Acupuncture Yin and Yang flow through every aspect of our lives. Understanding their ebb and flow gives us a glimpse into the nature of the universe, and our place in it. In our formed world forces exist to interact with the other; to maintain balance; to sustain life. This...
244 Gleaning the Spirit of Medicine • David Allen
Acupuncture According to the Chinese philosopher Confucius, “By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” Imitation, observation, and reflection can help...
243 Engaging Vitality- The Practice of Attention, Sensing and Perception • Dan Bensky
Acupuncture When traveling do you turn on the GPS and follow the instructions, look at a map to orient yourself, or do you have a sense of the terrain and the capacity to navigate by landmarks, waterways and a sense of where north lies? In your clinical work, are you orienting to...
242 Acupuncture as Revolution • Beth Sommers & Rachel Pagones
Acupuncture The image of China’s Barefoot Doctors struck a resonant chord with those in the West who were looking for simple and effective means of helping people with medicine that was not tied to an established medical hierarchy. In the late 60’s and early 70’s acupuncture had...
241 What We Learn Along the Way • Jessica Baer
Cultivation Learning is continuous, not episodic. As the Chinese say, 活到老學到老, huo dao lao, xue dao lao, learn throughout your entire life. Resilience and capacity is built through the, at times, curious harvest of our experience. Life’s lessons don’t come with a syllabus....
240 Tools of the Trade • Mark Parzynski
Acupuncture “Using the right tool for the job” may come off as rather clichéd, but it’s true nonetheless. Knowing our tools, and that includes our theory, methods and skills is incredibly important. Our tools don’t inherently make us better at our craft,...
239 The Magic of a Small Successful Practice • Sydney Malawer
Acupuncture Building a successful practice is rewarding, but it’s rarely a smooth ride. It’s a path that takes us beyond our healing work and into the depths of business practices—from marketing to managing finances. Amid the multitude of details that go into running...
238 Burnout, Breakthroughs, and Letting Be • Celia Hildebrand
Acupuncture As practitioners, it’s easy to ignore or fail to take note of the red flags that imply we’re headed for burnout. Not until the billowing smoke of burnout is blocking our view. When you feel burdened by your responsibilities, it’s important to carve out space and build...
237 Polestar Astrology • Anne Shelton Crute
Acupuncture We’ve long turned to the stars for guidance, from foretelling our destinies to celestial navigation. Chinese Polestar astrology was developed as a means to describe our interaction with the cycles of Qi using a system of calculations and imagery, including the 5...
236 Understanding Western Medicine Through the Lens of Chinese Medicine • Dr Wen Hua-Bing
Acupuncture Dr. Wen received his medical degree from the prestigious Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM) in 1987 and graduated with highest honors. This earned him direct entry into the graduate program in Integrated Clinical Medicine where he was awarded “Best Thesis...
235 Reflections on Practice and Business • Cara Frank
Acupuncture Whether you’re a young or seasoned practitioner, opening your own Chinese medicine practice is an exciting , daunting and worthwhile challenge. There’s a lot that goes into being a practitioner—beyond the medicine part of it. You have to learn how to blend...