According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the human body is a collective of interrelated yin-yang systems. When these different yin-yang systems are in harmony, the body is healthy, but when there is disharmony, illness arises. There are three major yin-yang systems that are crucial to health known as the Functional Entities: … Read More

Yin-Yang in Traditional Chinese Medicine | Acupuncture School Blog Just like rationalism forms the basis for Western medicine, the Taoist philosophy of yin-yang forms the basis for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). While many people have heard the term yin-yang or know it's famous symbol, few understand what yin-yang truly is, and even fewer people outside of our Florida acupuncture school know how it relates to Traditional Chinese Medicine. The typical yin-yang sign shows the interconnected duality of opposite forces. In Chinese philosophy, Yin-yang, which translates into “dark-bright,” describes the notion that everything in nature consists of two paradoxical phases or energies. … Read More

Over the past few weeks, we have been covering the history of acupuncture in the West. In the last article, we covered the early history of acupuncture in America. We concluded with James Reston’s 1971 New York Times article that was responsible for generating a public interest in acupuncture. In this article, we’ll cover the history of acupuncture in the US from the 70’s until today. … Read More

In the last blog, we covered the history of acupuncture in the West. In this article, we'll cover the early history of acupuncture in America. Acupuncture was first introduced in the US during the 1800s. While it is impossible to say who the first American to practice acupuncture was, one man, Dr. Franklin Baché, is credited as being the first American medical physician to practice and document his clinical experiences with acupuncture. Dr. Baché was an accomplished surgeon and great-grandson of Benjamin Franklin. … Read More

For the past several weeks, we have been discussing the ins-and-outs of pursuing a career in acupuncture. However, while writing these articles, I thought it would be important to briefly discuss the history of acupuncture in the United States. … Read More

What is Tuina? What can it treat? | AMC Acupuncture School Blog | Miami, FL In the last article, we discussed that tuina was a form of Asian Bodywork Therapy (ABT) that originated in China several thousand years ago and is the oldest codified system of medicine in the world. Like the other Traditional Chinese Medicine modalities, it utilizes a TCM view of the body and uses an acupoint model to locate the points of healing. However, unlike acupuncture and Shiatsu, Tuina includes a variety of techniques that are similar to the ones found in Swedish Massage, including rolling, kneading, and pinching. Tuina plays an important role as part of our acupuncture school program and while tuina sounds great in theory, is there any evidence that it is an effective treatment? In this article, we will evaluate tuina as medical treatment in a clinical setting. … Read More

What is Electroacupuncture? In previous articles, I have cited studies that utilized electroacupuncture, but I have not explained this modern version of acupuncture. Electroacupuncture is a modern variation of acupuncture that adds electricity to its needles. At an initial glance, it seems that modern technology and a 2,500-year-old system of traditional Oriental medicine would little in common. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) by its very name is, well, traditional. Tradition and change are mutual opposites, yet inseparable, like … Read More

Editor's Note: The following is a fictional story and is not meant to portray any actual people nor to give medical advice. Dolores is a 34-year old married mother in Miami with 3 children. Recently, she lost her job and is stressed about her family being able to pay bills. She needs a new job, but knows she lacks the skills that will make her competitive in the job market. She’s not sleeping well and begins having arguments with her husband, which only makes her feel worse. She has also been overeating and spends a large part of her day on social media, instead of actively looking for a new job. Eventually, she just spends as much time in bed as possible. Dolores’ husband definitely notices the mood change and suggests that she should go see a doctor. Dolores knows she has the option of seeing either Dr. West or Dr. East. The two doctors are smart people, but have different approaches to treatment: … Read More

Memory loss can occur for a variety of reasons. A large percentage of adults experience memory loss due to stress, anxiety, depression, fatigue and insufficient sleep. Short-term and long-term memory loss may also be caused by conditions like Alzheimer’s disease or neurodegenerative illness. Viral infections and medications might be behind your forgetfulness as well. Fortunately, holistic medicine offers natural methods of treating memory loss. … Read More

Mood swings may have several causes that include chemical and hormonal imbalance, stress, PMS, medication usage, and diet. Various types of physical illness can also cause mood highs and lows. Acupuncture has been shown to stabilize mood by treating hormone imbalance symptoms. … Read More

Holistic health: It's a growing field and you want to get into it. How do you decide what specific careers in holistic health to consider when so many exist? Part of your decision might depend on your personal passion. But you also should take into consideration things like the time and money you have to spend on training or educational programs needed to practice. Find out what steps to take to explore careers in holistic health. … Read More

Holistic health is more than just a way to treat illness or improve your wellbeing, it's a way of life. You may wonder what the path to holistic health looks like, given that it comprises every aspect of your being, including mind, body and spirit. It also involves more than visiting a holistic health practitioner — it involves taking charge of your own health and wellness. … Read More

Editor's Update-Dec 2017: We have an updated and in-depth blog series on Alternative, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine. Holistic medicine is an ancient system of health care that dates back thousands of years ago, however the expression is of much more recent vintage. The word "holism" was coined by Jan Christiaan Smuts in 1926 to describe the concept that living beings are "greater than and different from the sum of their parts.” The word "holistic" wasn't widely used until the 1970s. … Read More

Have you ever been in a conventional medical setting and got the feeling that you weren't being considered as a whole person? That your mental and spiritual needs weren't being factored into your health diagnosis, treatment, and overall health? If so, you may have sought out or wondered about holistic medicine. … Read More

Are you considering training for a job in massage therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic care or a related field, but want to learn more? Holistic medicine careers have numerous benefits that make them attractive to those who are looking to start down a professional path or switch their focus mid-career. … Read More