Ep. 28: An update on Notes from Your Acupuncturist

Hey podcast listeners, I’m putting an indefinite pause on Notes from Your Acupuncturist. This quick episode talks about why, or you can read the written update on Substack here. Thank you for listening! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit notesfromyouracupuncturist.substack.com

Patients have been asking my opinion on acupressure mats for years. I finally got tired of saying, “I don’t really know,” so I decided to try one out for myself.If you don’t know what an acupressure mat is…picture a thin rectangular mat, like the kind you used to lie on at nap time in kindergarten, and it’s covered with rows of plastic circles, each about the size of a quarter, and each plastic circle has several short plastic spikes sticking out of it, and you lie on it. It’s like a plastic bed of nails.So I bought an acupressure mat, and then I thought…why stop with mats? So then I bought a whole bunch of other acupressure tools and asked my coworkers to test them out and report back.And that’s what we’re diving into in this episode—how these tools work, and why you might want to use them for yourself. You’ll learn:The fascinating history of the acupressure mat, and how I’ve incorporated mine into my daily self-care routineThe principles of acupuncture meridian and point therapeutics that support the use of acupressure matsUses for other acupressure tools such as rings and rollers (including special guest appearances from two of my coworkers, Ali and Sandra!)I’ll be honest…I went into this little acupressure mat experiment a bit skeptical. I’ve seen some pretty grandiose claims on social media. I don’t think acupressure is a cure-all, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how much I’ve come to love my acupressure mat. Acupressure is a safe, easy, inexpensive, and effective form of self-care, so I hope this episode inspires you to try it out for yourself!Get in touch! Send me an email or a voicemailGet the latest updates! Check out my website, and follow me on Substack, Facebook and InstagramShow your support! Buy me a coffee or become a paid subscriber on SubstackLoved this episode? Leave a rating or a review!Check out this episode’s sponsor, Open ACU! Appointment scheduling and EHR software thoughtfully built for acupuncturists, by acupuncturists.Thanks to AudioCoffee for the music in this episode, and endless love and gratitude to my paid subscribers for contributing to the sustainability of my work! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit notesfromyouracupuncturist.substack.com

Have you ever found yourself in a difficult and confusing phase of life, wishing you had a guide—someone to sit you down, pour you a cup of tea, help you make sense of it all and show you the way forward?If you’re navigating perimenopause or menopause, Clarissa Kristjansson is your person.Clarissa is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner, educator, and an internationally recognized expert on perimenopause and menopause. She offers a wealth of practical advice and recommendations for weathering all of the changes that come with this phase of life, and encourages women to view this time as a holistic journey, and an opportunity for renewal and refocusing.In this episode you’ll learn:1. Why menopause is called the Second Spring in Chinese Medicine, and how it offers the perfect opportunity to rest, restore, and reflect on where you want to go2. Why the TCM concepts of Jing (essence) and Ming (destiny) become even more important during this phase of life3. Practical advice to help you feel your best amid the hormonal changes of perimenopause and menopause, including deliberate nutrition, mindful movement, and living in harmony with the TCM body clock4. How to create space for nourishing body and spirit through Yang Sheng Fa or “nourishing life practices”There’s so much good stuff in this episode, and so many moments of gentle wisdom from Clarissa. Even if you’re not a person going through perimenopause or menopause, trust me—there’s something for you here too. As Clarissa reminds us, Chinese Medicine brings you back to the essence of you. That’s something we can all benefit from, in any stage of life.You can find Clarissa online at her website, on Substack, or on Instagram, and listen to her podcast, Thriving Through Menopause, wherever you get podcasts.Clarissa Kristjansson, PhD, has been working as a holistic menopause practitioner for the last 8 years based in Sweden but working worldwide. This followed 28 years in corporate life and an academic background in nutrition and neuroscience. Her approach is rooted in Chinese medicine, Daoism and the practice of self-cultivation. She works works clients to offer a safe and supportive environment for thriving through menopause and stepping into the Second Spring. Her healing tools include Medical Qigong, Chinese food energetics and aroma point therapy to nourish life through food, movement and stillness. Clarissa hosts the Thriving Through Menopause podcast, and offers online consultations and workshops, including Medical Qigong, at her website https://clarissakristjansson.comReferences:7 Times a Woman, by Dr. Lia AndrewsAll About the Chinese Body ClockGet in touch! Send me an email or a voicemailGet the latest updates! Check out my website, and follow me on Substack, Facebook and InstagramShow your support! Buy me a coffee or become a paid subscriber on SubstackLoved this episode? Leave a rating or a review!Thanks to AudioCoffee for the music in this episode, and endless love and gratitude to my paid subscribers for contributing to the sustainability of my work! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit notesfromyouracupuncturist.substack.com

“I have recognized myself—as a professional, as a parent, as a partner—that the better I take care of myself, the more I can be present and connected to those that I care about.” -Jason Moskovitz, L.Ac.One of the things I love about doing this podcast is reconnecting with people I knew years ago, seeing where life and practice has taken them, and hearing some of the wisdom they’ve accumulated in the decades since we first met.Jason Moskovitz is one of those people. We both studied acupuncture at Yo San University in Los Angeles, and in our recent conversation he reminded me of an oft-repeated saying from one of our shared teachers, Master Hua-Ching Ni:“There are no incurable diseases, only incurable people.”And really, that’s what this episode is about: becoming a curable person.Some of the highlights include:1. Expanding our understanding of the concept of root and branch in Chinese Medicine, and why roots of disease often reach far beyond physiological dysfunction, and into a person’s life circumstances, genetics, history and community2. Why relief from suffering is rooted in connection, and how to practice and cultivate connection through self-care3. The importance of asking for help, moving through pain and discomfort, and being both a student and teacher4. How meditation, movement and other self-care practices cultivate intuition, which Jason calls “a truth from inside your own being”You’ll also hear about Jason’s journey of incorporating meditation and movement practices into his own life to show up and be more present as a parent, a partner, and a practitioner. I loved this conversation with Jason, and I hope it can serve as a reminder that we all have the potential to be curable humans.Find Jason online at https://www.newharmonyhealth.comBuy Jason’s book, Arthritis: Secrets of Natural HealingGet in touch! Send me an email or a voicemailGet the latest updates! Check out my website, and follow me on Substack, Facebook and InstagramShow your support! Buy me a coffee or become a paid subscriber on SubstackLoved this episode? Leave a rating or a review!Thanks to AudioCoffee for the music in this episode, and endless love and gratitude to my paid subscribers for contributing to the sustainability of my work! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit notesfromyouracupuncturist.substack.com

In recent weeks a news story has been making the rounds about a woman who suffered a double pneumothorax as a result of an acupuncture treatment. A pneumothorax is just a fancy way of saying a collapsed lung, and although it’s exceeding rare for acupuncture to cause one, it is a possible adverse event. So I thought this would be a good opportunity to talk about the risks, side effects, and safety record of acupuncture.Acupuncture is safe. Really, really safe. But like all forms of medicine, it is not entirely risk-free. So let’s talk about what those risks are, and how worried you should be about them.Episode highlights include:1. Potentially serious, yet extremely rare adverse events that may occur as a result of acupuncture, including pneumothorax, infection, damage to peripheral nerves and blood vessels, and organ damage. Learn about the many safeguards built in to the practice of acupuncture to minimize these risks, including training, testing, licensing, and the universal use of single-use, disposable needles.2. Less serious, slightly more frequent, but still pretty rare potential side effects, including bleeding, bruising, pain at the needle site, temporary worsening of symptoms, lightheadedness, and fainting. Learn why some of these shouldn’t even be considered side effects, and are more likely signs of a positive therapeutic response.3. A little perspective: the potential risks and side effects from acupuncture pale in comparison to other forms of medical care. It truly is one of the safest forms of medicine.4. Not only is acupuncture extremely low-risk, it often produces bonus side benefits such as better sleep, more energy, and a calmer, more relaxed mood.While no form of medicine is completely risk-free, acupuncture comes pretty close. It’s safe, it’s effective, and it might even surprise you with a few happy side benefits. So, now you know the risks…time to go get some acupuncture.Get in touch! Send me an email or a voicemailGet the latest updates! Check out my website, and follow me on Substack, Facebook and InstagramShow your support! Buy me a coffee or become a paid subscriber on SubstackLoved this episode? Leave a rating or a review!Check out this episode’s sponsor, Open ACU! Appointment scheduling and EHR software thoughtfully built for acupuncturists, by acupuncturists.Thanks to AudioCoffee for the music in this episode, and endless love and gratitude to my paid subscribers for contributing to the sustainability of my work!References:Unlicensed Acupuncturist Is Charged After a Patient’s Lungs CollapseAdverse Events of Acupuncture: A Systematic Review of Case ReportsIatrogenic Pneumothorax during Acupuncture: Case ReportSafety of Acupuncture: Results of a Prospective Observational Study with 229,230 Patients and Introduction of a Medical Information and Consent FormA Multicenter Prospective Survey of Adverse Events Associated with Acupuncture and Moxibustion in JapanIncidence of iatrogenic pneumothorax following acupuncture treatments in Taiwan This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit notesfromyouracupuncturist.substack.com

Have you ever had more insomnia during a full moon? Have you ever felt more introspective or melancholy during a new moon? Have you ever wondered if the pull of the moon might be affecting your physical body, your emotional state, and your life? We know the moon affects the tides, and our own bodies contain about 60% water—so why wouldn’t the phases of the moon affect us as well?Licensed Acupuncturist Dr. Michelle Hamilton has spent a lot of time exploring these questions, and has developed a unique treatment approach she calls Lunar Acupuncture, using the energy of the lunar cycles to amplify the effects of her acupuncture treatments, and help patients take a more active role in manifesting their own healing.In this episode, we discuss:How to harness the moon’s cycles to promote healing, set intentions and manifest goalsHow the phases of the moon and astrological cycles correlate with certain physical and emotional changes, and how they can help amplify the effects of acupuncture or other natural healing modalitiesHow non-acupuncturists can apply the principles of lunar acupuncture with non-needling techniques, including acupressure, crystals and essential oils. As Michelle says, “You don’t need to be an acupuncturist to utilize the power of acupuncture.”Traditional Chinese Medicine is rooted in observation of the natural world, and the understanding that our bodies both reflect and respond to the cycles and rhythms of the universe. Our classic texts discuss the relationship between our bodies and seasonal changes, cycles of life and death, and even times of day, but surprisingly make little mention of the lunar phases. So Michelle developed her treatment approach based on insights from her patients, collaboration with other practitioners, and a deep respect for the key fundamentals of TCM.I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation, and one of the things that struck me most about Michelle is her genuine curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, collaborating and sharing. She approaches her work with a deep sense of wonder and a desire to grow and benefit others. It's a reminder for all of us to embrace curiosity in our own lives, and to never stop seeking knowledge and understanding.Dr. Michelle Hamilton is the owner of the Zen Den, a hybrid community style acupuncture clinic and healing center in San Luis Obispo, CA. She’s been in practice for 14 years, and has also developed educational offerings including her Lunar Acupuncture course and Community Acupuncture school. You can learn more about Michelle, her practice, and her courses at her website, https://www.drmichellehamilton.comCurious to learn more about Lunar Acupuncture? Use coupon code NOTESFROMTHEMOON to save $80 off course enrollment! Enroll here!Follow Michelle on Instagram at @dr_michellehamiltonGet in touch! Send me an email or a voicemailGet the latest updates! Check out my website, and follow me on Substack, Facebook and InstagramShow your support! Buy me a coffee or become a paid subscriber on SubstackLoved this episode? Leave a rating or a review!Thanks to AudioCoffee for the music in this episode, and endless love and gratitude to my paid subscribers for contributing to the sustainability of my work! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit notesfromyouracupuncturist.substack.com

“China has had many epidemics over its thousands of years of existence, so Chinese Medicine developed an exquisitely complex and sophisticated understanding of disease, especially epidemics and infectious disease.” -Luriko Ozeki, L.Ac.Licensed Acupuncturist Luriko Ozeki has specialized in pediatrics for many years. But at the start of the covid-19 pandemic, she took on a new role: offering telemedicine services for adults who were suffering from the effects of long covid, and desperate for help. She’s gone on to work with many long covid patients, both adults and children, using Chinese Medicine to help guide their bodies back to a healthy and balanced state.Long covid is estimated to occur in at least 10% of severe SARS-CoV-2 infections, and it’s estimated that around 200 million people worldwide have some form of long covid. And those numbers are likely higher due to undocumented cases. One study published in the Lancet found that two-thirds of long covid patients required a reduced work schedule or weren’t working at all. Even if you haven’t been personally impacted by long covid, chances are you know someone who has.Fortunately, Chinese Medicine offers real help to long covid patients. In this episode, Luriko and I discuss:1. What long covid is, how it manifests in the body, and the physiological systems it affects2. How Chinese Medicine theories of disease progression, including two of our classic texts the Shang Han Lun and Wen Bing, inform an acupuncturist’s understanding of long covid and our treatment approach3. The concept of a latent pathogenic factor, and its relationship to inflammation and the body’s immune response4. Practical tools for helping the body expel pathogenic factors and fortify its infrastructure, so it can be in an even healthier state to fight off future infectionsYou’ll learn about heat pathogens, cold pathogens, latent pathogens, phlegm, dampness, levels of disease and all of the other fascinating topics that Chinese Medicine practitioners love to talk about!As Luriko reminds us, Chinese Medicine has developed over thousands of years against a backdrop of epidemics and infectious disease. So acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and other modalities of Chinese Medicine are uniquely suited to help remind the body of its innate intelligence, and remember how to be healthy again.Licensed Acupuncturist Luriko Ozeki has been in practice in 2008, offering both in-person services at her Los Angeles clinic, and telemedicine services for patients worldwide. She specializes in non-needling pediatrics, women's health, and long covid. She has developed a vaccine preparedness program to help people prepare their bodies to receive and benefit from vaccines while also mitigating side effects.Fullscript - Iyashi Wellness Dispensary: Create an account if you don't have one in Fullscript already and get access to all of Luriko Ozeki's protocols.Iyashi Wellness Vaccine Preparedness Workshop: Take Luriko’s vaccine preparedness course.You can learn more from Luriko and get in touch via her website iyashiwellness.com, or follow her on Facebook and InstagramReferences:Long COVID: major findings, mechanisms and recommendationsCharacterizing long COVID in an international cohort: 7 months of symptoms and their impactViral persistence, reactivation, and mechanisms of long COVIDGet in touch! Send me an email or a voicemailGet the latest updates! Check out my website, and follow me on Substack, Facebook and InstagramShow your support! Buy me a coffee or become a paid subscriber on SubstackLoved this episode? Leave a rating or a review!Thanks to AudioCoffee for the music in this episode, and endless love and gratitude to my paid subscribers for contributing to the sustainability of my work! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit notesfromyouracupuncturist.substack.com

When 李道玲 Camellia Dao-Ling McDermott Lee contacted me about coming on the podcast as a guest, I knew that theirs was a perspective I wanted to hear and share. As a biracial member of the Asian diaspora, and a fifth-generation Taiwanese healer, Camellia has spent years trying to understand why their own Asian family members would express disdain for the ancestral healing traditions of acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. Was it internalized racism? Survival instinct? Perhaps even, love?Camellia's narrative is interwoven with tales of war, empire, and anti-Asian racism that profoundly impacted their family's choices. Their unique academic path, against the backdrop of societal issues of racism, colonialism and systems of oppression, all coalesce into a captivating exploration of identity, heritage, and healing.Along the way, we discuss:1. The history of acupuncture in the United States, the financial barriers to acupuncture education, and its relationship with the broader issues of cultural appropriation, gentrification, violence, and displacement.2. The far-reaching implications of Orientalism on marginalized groups, and the structures of power, money, and domination it reinforces.3. The inherent reciprocity at the foundation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the importance of participating in energetic exchanges on both the individual and community levels.Towards the end of the episode, we talk about Camellia’s new book, Elemental Healing: A 5-Element Path for Ancestor Connection, Balanced Energy and Aligned Life. Camellia shares why they were inspired to write it, and the lessons and guidance it can offer to all of us, regardless of our background.Throughout our conversation, Camellia generously shares their unique perspective on the challenges and rewards of reconnecting with ancestral practices amid a labyrinth of cultural and systemic pressures, while offering a poignant reminder of the necessity to challenge our perceptions and strive for empathy and understanding. This episode serves as a call to action, urging us to consciously dismantle these structures of harm through our interactions and conversations.You can learn more about Camellia’s work and subscribe to their newsletter at https://www.camelliadaoling.comCamellia’s book, Elemental Healing: A 5-Element Path for Ancestor Connection, Balanced Energy and Aligned Life, is available from any bookseller.Follow Camellia on InstagramCamellia’s meditations on Insight TimerReferences:National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA)Tyler PhanGet in touch! Send me an email or a voicemailGet the latest updates! Check out my website, and follow me on Substack, Facebook and InstagramShow your support! Buy me a coffee or become a paid subscriber on SubstackLoved this episode? Leave a rating or a review!Thanks to AudioCoffee for the music in this episode, and endless love and gratitude to my paid subscribers for contributing to the sustainability of my work! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit notesfromyouracupuncturist.substack.com

No, acupuncture is not “just a placebo.” Let’s talk about why.I can’t tell you how many times I and every other acupuncturist I know has been asked, “Isn’t acupuncture just a placebo??” Usually it’s by someone who’s keen to dismiss the legitimacy of one of the world’s most enduring forms of medicine, simply because they don’t understand how it works.First of all, don’t knock placebos. They work. Sometimes they work just as well as the Real Thing. For example, which would you rather undergo: real knee surgery or pretend knee surgery? One study showed that they’re equally effective!And secondly, just because we don’t fully understand how something works, doesn’t mean its effectiveness is solely due to the power of suggestion.Turns out placebos are nuanced and a bit mysterious and actually quite fascinating! Is acupuncture “just a placebo?” Well, no. But…it’s complicated. So let’s dive in.In this episode you’ll learn:1. What placebos are and they role they play in research and development of new medical interventions2. Theories as to how and why placebos work, including by prompting behavior changes, relieving anxiety, and the concept of remembered wellness3. What sham acupuncture is, and why research shows that sham acupuncture and “real” acupuncture have very different effects on the body4. Examples showing how the benefits of acupuncture can’t simply be explained away by the power of suggestionFinally, I think it’s good to remember that placebos help people in very real and measurable ways. They remind our bodies what it is to be well, and can encourage us, in ways both subtle and powerful, to heal and be whole.P.S. This is my 20th episode of the podcast! I’m super excited to hit this milestone, and YOU can help me celebrate by leaving a rating or a review. You can do that on your podcast listening app of choice, or on my website. Thanks!References:Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy versus Sham Surgery for a Degenerative Meniscal TearPlacebos Work Even When You KnowPlacebos without Deception: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Irritable Bowel SyndromePains and needles: brain scans point to hidden effects of acupunctureThe Magic of PlacebosGet in touch! Send me an email or a voicemailGet the latest updates! Check out my website, and follow me on Substack, Facebook and InstagramShow your support! Buy me a coffee or become a paid subscriber on SubstackLoved this episode? Leave a rating or a review!Thanks to AudioCoffee for the music in this episode, and endless love and gratitude to my paid subscribers for contributing to the sustainability of my work! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit notesfromyouracupuncturist.substack.com

Chinese Medicine history, philosophy, and practical advice…all in one episode!What happens when you blend ancient wisdom with modern understanding? Jeffrey Schiffinelli, licensed acupuncturist and practitioner of Chinese medicine, provides an enlightening exploration into holistic disease models, the power of adaptogenic medicine, and the beauty of this ancient practice that views the body as a whole functioning organism, reflecting the natural cycles and biological systems that exist on our planet.In this episode, Jeffrey and I journey through some of the classic texts of Chinese medicine, a few scholarly theoretical concepts (which we try our best to break down into plan English), and a host of philosophical detours!You’ll learn about:1. The foundational concept of the microcosm and macrocosm, how our bodies reflect the natural cycles of the world around us, and the inherent blueprint for health that exists within each of us2. The inclusive, circular nature of Chinese Medicine wisdom, and how it informs patterns of disease progression, differential diagnosis, and a treatment that is always individually crafted to meet each patient’s unique needs3. How acupuncture and Chinese Medicine function an adaptogenic medicine, shoring up the body so it can handle the stresses of life4. The concept of the immune system in Chinese Medicine, and how our Zheng qi or “upright qi” repairs and strengthens the body from within5. How Chinese Medicine continues to evolve and address new and emerging diseases, by encouraging us to live in harmony with nature and trust our instinctsIf you’ve ever wanted to learn more about the unique, circular approach of Chinese medicine, this is the episode for you! Jeffrey shares profound insights into trusting ourselves, aligning with nature, and the resonance of our bodies with the world around us.Jeffrey Schifanelli is a Licensed Acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine practitioner in Savannah, GA, and has been practicing since 2011. His clinic, Savannah Community Acupuncture, is a 501c3 nonprofit clinic that makes Chinese Medicine more accessible.Learn more about Chinese Medicine at Jeffrey’s blogFollow Savannah Community Acupuncture on Facebook and InstagramGet in touch! Send me an email or a voicemailGet the latest updates! Check out my website, and follow me on Substack, Facebook and InstagramShow your support! Buy me a coffee or become a paid subscriber on SubstackLoved this episode? Leave a rating or a review!Thanks to AudioCoffee for the music in this episode, and endless love and gratitude to my paid subscribers for contributing to the sustainability of my work! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit notesfromyouracupuncturist.substack.com