Many aspects of traditional East Asian medicine are thought to increase happiness and health. This article in the Huffington Post summarizes the modern research presented in Ariana Huffington's book Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom and Wonder. It praises practices like acupuncture, meditation and tai chi for their life-extending, healthful benefits.
History of "EAMP"
This link will take you to a PDF version of the Washington State Senate Bill 6280 which passed in April 2010 and went into effect June 10, 2010. This bill created the new title of East Asian Medical Practitioner (EAMP)" which will substitute and/or replace the title of "Licensed Acupuncturist (LAc)." More information on the developments of this bill as it becomes codified into more practical rules or RCWs ("Revised Code of Washington") can be found in at either the following sites: Washington East Asian Medicine Association or Washington State Department of Health: EAMP.
East Asian Medicine
- Walnuts and men's health: Hu tao ren (胡桃仁), otherwise known in English as the common walnut, has been used in East Asian medicine for eons to tonify the root strength of the body (located in the literal and energetic kidney). This energy supports the body physically (knees, lower back) as well as physiologically (lung and intestinal function). From this perspective, it makes perfect sense that Western science has seen effects on sperm quality in men, where consuming 75g daily for 12 weeks appeared to improve sperm vitality, motility, and morphology. For a summary first printed in the Huffington Post click here; for the full study published in Biology of Reproduction, click here.
- Benefits of green tea: This easy-to-brew drink can be delicious if you search out high quality leaves instead of the typically bitter brew from cheaper teabags. Greg personally drinks organic long jing (龙井茶 "dragon well"). The Chinese qualities of green tea are bitter and cooling thus if you drink much of this throughout the day you might find yourself urinating more frequently than if you were drinking plain water. Research has show various health effects of the tea: green tea reduces fasting glucose (in other words, helps control blood sugar levels); green tea helps lower cholesterol levels.
- NPR reports that the FDA has approved a cancer therapy derived from Chinese herbs. Researchers at many prominent cancer treatment centers are investigating it's effects and isolating beneficial compounds from other herbs. Read more about their work on NPR.com here.
- Researchers in China found that a combination of two common Chinese Herb formulas could be just as effective as the preferred antiviral when treating H1N1 influenza. Read the abstract of the article published in the Annals of Internal Medicine here.
- Heat vs. Ice? Eastern medicine promotes heat as a method of healing, especially in the post-acute stages of injury. This study shows how western science has discovered that ice - while useful during the initial traumatic stages of an injury - can actually impede healing if used long term.
Acupuncture
- Acupuncture and the military: Acupuncture is gaining wider acceptance in the Western world, including within military ranks. Click here to read the full article concerning the US Army and Army physicians are using acupuncture as a means to replace widely used but addictive pain medications.
- Researchers in Korea prove that acupuncture, in conjunction with group therapy and other rehabilitative care can help reduce alcohol cravings. See a description of the study published in the Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine here.
Acupuncture and Pain Management
- A study funded by the National Institute of Health, and published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, shows acupuncture provides significant relief from osteoarthritis, migraines and neck and back pain. Read a summary of the findings here.
- Acupuncture has been shown to be effective for treating chronic pain. Read a summary of the metastudy here.
- The University of Maryland School of Medicine found that acupuncture can help increase the success rate of IVF treatment in situations that are least likely to be successful. Here is a press release of their findings.
- How much sleep is enough? Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can help, but here is a study from 2015 published by the National Sleep Foundation which will give you an idea of where you fall within the study's "normal ranges" for recommendations by age: "The panel agreed that, for healthy individuals with normal sleep, the appropriate sleep duration for newborns is between 14 and 17 hours, infants between 12 and 15 hours, toddlers between 11 and 14 hours, preschoolers between 10 and 13 hours, and school-aged children between 9 and 11 hours. For teenagers, 8 to 10 hours was considered appropriate, 7 to 9 hours for young adults and adults, and 7 to 8 hours of sleep for older adults."
- "Dry needling;" You may have heard the term "dry needling" from a non-acupuncturist. Some of you may have even experienced this type of treatment. Dry needling is a term non-acupuncturists have adopted for various reasons, including an attempt to add acupuncture to their scope of practice where they otherwise wouldn't be able to practice. It is a delicate political and medical issue which has many facets. Click here to read through the American Society of Acupuncturists' position paper on the term. You can also read the 9/2018 Dry Needling Facts paper put out by the ASA here. I would be more than happy to discuss the topic with you directly as well if you have questions. If you have visited a non-acupuncturist (non-EAMP) in the state of Washington and you have concerns that they are practicing acupuncture under the guise of "dry needling," you can always contact the Washington State Department of Health to confirm the practitioner is licensed to practice and thus has the credentials to perform acupuncture safely and effectively.
- Facial acupuncture has been shown, in one limited study, to improve facial elasticity: click here to access the study as published in the National Institutes of Health.
Book an Appointment Book your East Asian medical treatment through our online scheduling system. You'll receive an intake form by email once you've scheduled.
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FOSTER WELLNESS
4300 36th Ave. W, Suite 130, Seattle, WA 98199
(206) 856-4096 | info@fosterwellness.com
Hours:
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(206) 856-4096 | info@fosterwellness.com
Hours:
T-W 8am-5pm
Fri 8am - 5pm
Sat 8am - 1pm