Acupuncture-Curious? Here's a Great Podcast

As I’ve mentioned before, the podcast Qiological by Acupuncturist and Podcast Host Michael Max is one of my favorite podcasts in any niche. Now that I’m running more (and longer 😮‍💨) I need a lineup of really good podcasts to get me through it.

And Qiological falls into the “really good podcast” category because it’s about more than just acupuncture. It touches on some important, and even controversial topics, in healthcare and in life in general.

I don’t do this often — and now that I’m thinking about it I should leave a 5-star podcast review too — but I reached out to Michael Max directly via email this week and told him how much I appreciated the conversation between him and Julian Scott in this episode:

Michael was so kind to write me back with a few thoughtful and specific replies to my original message within a couple of hours of me submitting the contact form on his website. What I really like about him is his commitment and contagious enthusiasm toward lifelong learning.

Did You Know the Ear Is a Microcosm of the Body?

The phrase "The Ear Is a Microcosm of the Body" in the context of auriculotherapy refers to the concept that the entire body is represented on a smaller scale within the ear itself. Each point on the ear corresponds to a different part or function of the body. Stimulating these points through auriculotherapy can influence various physical conditions and bodily functions, as if the ear serves as a control panel for the rest of the body.

Discover the power of your body's microcosm with Auriculo 360, developed by Miridia Acupuncture Technology. This advanced 3D ear model provides an interactive guide to understanding how each point on your ear connects to different aspects of your health. With Auriculo 360, you can master the art of auriculotherapy to enhance well-being, target specific health issues, and support overall health from the palm of your hand.

Whether you're a practitioner aiming to refine your therapeutic techniques or a health enthusiast interested in the wonders of alternative medicine, Auriculo 360 offers the tools to unlock the secrets held within your very own ear. Explore a world where every point is a pathway to better health, and see how auriculotherapy can complement your health regimen effectively and naturally.

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Expecting a Quick Fix from Acupuncture?

Here’s the reality:

Also, here’s your friendly reminder to let the acupuncturists do their jobs.

As patients, we want to get the “biggest bang for our buck” and therefore tend to think more is better when it comes to the number of needles inserted.

But over-needling is a real thing (and not always a good thing), and sometimes less is more for progression and healing.

Dry Needling vs. Acupuncture: What’s the Big Difference?

Dry needling and acupuncture are both practices involving the insertion of needles into the body, but they differ significantly in their approach, philosophy, and regulation, according to what I’m reading on the internet.

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine technique with a history spanning thousands of years, focusing on balancing the body's energy flow, known as Qi, through pathways or meridians to promote health and well-being. It is typically performed by licensed acupuncturists who have undergone extensive training in Chinese medicine. Acupuncture practitioners often attend formal education programs lasting three to four years and must pass national certification exams.

On the other hand, dry needling is a relatively modern technique used primarily by physical therapists to relieve muscle pain and stiffness. A more targeted approach based on Western medical principles, it targets specific anatomical points known as trigger points, aiming to release muscle tension and improve function. Dry needling is usually part of a broader physical therapy treatment plan and is often not regulated as strictly as acupuncture. Physical therapists can perform dry needling after a much shorter training period compared to the extensive education required for acupuncturists.

While both methods involve needles, acupuncture is recognized for its holistic approach to treating various health issues, including chronic pain, stress, and allergies, whereas dry needling is specifically focused on musculoskeletal problems and is generally seen as a supplement to other physical therapy techniques.

Acupuncture for Detox & Recovery: New Pilot Program at WV Hospital

William R. Sharpe, Jr. Hospital in West Virginia is set to introduce an innovative acupuncture detoxification therapy pilot program aimed at aiding patients during their detox process.

Spearheaded by Theresa Hoskins, MSN-RN, a certified AcuDetox Therapist, the program is designed to alleviate anxiety, stress, and other withdrawal-related behaviors through a series of acupuncture sessions.

Set to launch by August 1, 2024, this initiative will initially cater to patients on Hoskins’ unit, utilizing a repurposed visitation room to create a calming environment for 45-minute sessions.

Key aspects of the program include:

• Therapeutic Approach: Following the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association’s guidelines, the treatment involves inserting five needles into each ear, which research suggests can reduce relapse rates significantly.

• Program Schedule: The initial treatment spans three days, with potential for patients to continue therapy to further decrease their chances of relapse.

• Evaluation and Expansion: Post-treatment assessments will determine the program's impact on patient behavior and medication use, deciding its future at the hospital.

• Cost Efficiency: The acupuncture services are included in the patients' overall care plan without requiring additional funding.

This pioneering approach not only offers a non-pharmacological option to support detoxification but also aligns with the hospital’s commitment to enhancing patient care through holistic methods.

Acupuncture Acceptance Among Older Adults with Chronic Pain: A Clinical Study Overview

In a recent study¹ focusing on the elderly population dealing with chronic low back pain (cLBP), intriguing findings surfaced regarding their experience with and attitudes towards acupuncture.

Conducted as part of a broader clinical trial, this study revealed that a significant portion of participants aged 65 and older had previously tried acupuncture for pain relief. Surprisingly, 65.6% of those surveyed reported past acupuncture treatments, primarily for pain-related conditions, though most had fewer than 10 sessions in their lifetime.

Key points from the study include:

• Widespread Acceptance: A substantial majority of elderly participants had previously used acupuncture, indicating a greater acceptance and utilization of this treatment than perhaps previously recognized.

• Limited Differences Among Participants: The study found minimal differences in demographic or clinical characteristics between those who were new to acupuncture and those who had previous experience, suggesting that prior acupuncture exposure does not significantly impact the baseline conditions of participants in such studies.

• Implications for Future Research: These findings suggest that researchers may need to reconsider how they define 'acupuncture-naïve' participants in future studies, potentially broadening this definition to include individuals with minimal prior exposure.

This study underscores the potential of acupuncture as a well-accepted complementary treatment among older adults for managing chronic pain, and it highlights the importance of considering patients' previous acupuncture experiences in clinical research.

Sources:

¹Wang, P. Z., Pressman, A., Sanchez, G., Aparicio, C., Nielsen, A., & Avins, A. (2024). Prior acupuncture experience among elderly participants enrolled in a clinical trial of acupuncture for chronic low back pain: Implications for future trials. Integrative medicine research, 13(2), 101042. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imr.2024.101042