By Jerry S. Y. Wang, M.D. 

Chronic non-cancerous pain, also known as CNP, has been the main concern in the field of pain management. CNP has primarily been treated with pain relief medications. These are Opionoids, including Excodome, Morphine, Methodone, and a variety of Depressants. Opionoids have been very effective in pain relief. At the same time, they also produce feedback situations. In ordinary physiology, the human body produces Endorphins (endogenous morphine) to protect the body from painful situations.

By Diane Joswick 

For some people it is experienced as the uncomfortable sensation of "pins and needles" or burning pain (especially at night) of their hands or feet. Others may suffer even more extreme symptoms such as muscle wasting, paralysis, or organ or gland dysfunction. With more than 100 types of peripheral neuropathies in existence, each with its own characteristic set of symptoms, pattern of development, and prognosis, the symptoms can vary as much as the cause. Nevertheless, Peripheral Neuropathy is a condition that can be treated with Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

By Kathleen Rushall

The year of the Ox is about to commence! The Chinese Lunar New Year is the longest chronological record in history, dating from 2600 BC. The Chinese calendar is a yearly one, with the start of the year based on the cycles of the moon. Therefore, the beginning of the year can fall anywhere from late January to mid February. This year it falls on January 26th, 2009. Chinese New Year starts on a New Moon and ends with the lantern festival on the full moon 15 days later.

By Thomas Kouo, L.Ac.

So I was thinking......admittedly, this is a stretch, but during one morning wake up routine in my half awake / half asleep state of morning hypnosis, I was suddenly awoken by the cold sting of my spray-on deodorant in my underarms. I thought to myself, ‘why do they have to make this stuff so cold?

By Kathleen Rushall

Traditional Chinese medicine includes an array of natural remedies such as acupuncture, massage, herbal treatments, and physical exercises like qi gong and Tai ji. These various ministrations can be applied to a myriad of ailments, from arthritis to restless leg syndrome. However, traditional Chinese medicine also includes an arsenal of healing tips for natural conditions such as pregnancy. Almost every discomfort regarding pregnancy (and infertility) can be assisted with the use of Oriental medicine.

By Lianne Audette

When you think of addiction, what comes to mind? Alcoholism? Injectingheroin? Smoking crack? Alcoholics Anonymous? All true and accurate depictions, but they are just a wee twig of a large tree with enormous, twisty roots. What about video gaming, running, shopping, smoking, sex, eating, gambling, obsessive thinking, compulsive behaviors, hating, despairing, wanting? Do you know that there are 12-step programs for all of the issues above, and more programs springing up all the time? Think about the chronic conditions that many of our patients suffer from, such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, chronic pain, and fatigue. Left to their own devices and desperate to medicate themselves, many people will turn to addictive substances. Some will be bought on the street and some prescribed by their physician. Too often pharmaceuticals are prescribed over and over again, often with little success and with little or no follow up, until the patient is well into the downward spiral of addiction. And, sad to say, the cause of the problem remains untreated.

By Kathleen Rushall

After graduating with his Master's of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine from San Diego's Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, Marc Sklar was on the path to becoming an acupuncturist with a specialty in reproductive health. Marc took that goal a step further and created his own business, The Reproductive Wellness Clinic. With the co-founder, Gerald Williams, Marc has created a beautiful and successful practice located in Mission Valley, San Diego.

By Paul Kempisty, L.A.c

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to explore the similarities between traditional Chinese medicine and contemporary Western medicine in the treatment of cancer. Assessment of hemodynamics lends the context through which to view and correlate clinically useful pharmaceutical and herbal agents known for their anti-cancer properties. The effects of modern drugs are considered through the lens of traditional Chinese medical theory and, thus, offer the clinician a more incisive guideline for choosing medicinal agents in the treatment of cancer.

By Joseph Alban

The sciatic nerve can literally be a huge pain in the butt. It is the largest nerve in the body, which consists of a large bundle of smaller nerves that begin in the lumbar spine, travel down the buttocks, and move through the leg. Technically, sciatica is not a disease, but a group of symptoms that affect the region of the sciatic nerve. Radiating pain is one of the more common and intense symptoms associated with sciatica. There can also be numbness and tingling starting in the lower back radiating down the leg.

By Dr. Greg Sperber

My research about applying evidence-based medical levels to drug-herb interactions has led me to the conclusion that there aren't very many interactions that are above the lowest level of evidence. In fact, out of approximately1,000 drug-herb interactions, I only found 56 that were above "D" level (the lowest level) evidence. A little over a third of these involved Ma Huang (herba ephedra). Only two were "A" level, 18 were "B" level, and the rest were "C" level. Obviously, these numbers are not static and there is always new research, but these at least give us a good feel for what may be an important drug-herb interaction.