Michigan Associates of Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine

The Eight Parameters of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Julie Silver — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 20:39:06 +0000

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a unique way of understanding health and disease. Rather than isolating one part of the body from another, TCM views the body as an interconnected whole and seeks to understand where and how balance has been disrupted.

The closer we can bring the body back toward balance, the more likely it is to function optimally and heal effectively. It is important to note that there is no perfect state of balance—everyone experiences imbalances from time to time. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine work to identify these imbalances and support the body’s natural ability to restore harmony.

One of the primary diagnostic frameworks used in TCM is called the Eight Parameters (also known as the Eight Principles). These consist of four pairs of opposites that help practitioners evaluate the nature, location, and progression of a condition:

Interior vs. Exterior
Deficiency vs. Excess
Cold vs. Heat
Yin vs. Yang

Interior vs. Exterior

This comparison helps determine where a condition is located within the body and whether it is remaining on the surface or moving deeper.

Exterior conditions are generally more superficial and often occur in the early stages of illness. Examples include the beginning of a cold or flu, chills, body aches, headaches, or stiffness in the neck and shoulders.

Interior conditions involve deeper structures such as the organs, blood, and bones. They often indicate a more chronic condition or one that has progressed beyond the initial stage.

Differentiating between Interior and Exterior patterns helps us understand the progression of disease and determine the most appropriate treatment approach.

Deficiency vs. Excess

A Deficiency pattern may develop due to a weak constitution, prolonged illness, overwork, aging, or depletion of the body’s vital energy, known as Qi. Common signs of Deficiency may include:

Low energy
Pale complexion
Feeling cold
Dizziness
Weak digestion

An Excess pattern, on the other hand, reflects the presence of a pathogenic factor or blockage within the body. Excess patterns often present with symptoms such as:

Constipation
Irritability
PMS symptoms
Distention or bloating
Fixed or persistent pain

Many people exhibit both Deficiency and Excess patterns simultaneously. However, one pattern is usually more dominant and helps guide treatment.

Cold vs. Heat

Cold and Heat describe the nature of a condition and are essential in determining how it should be treated.

Cold patterns are often characterized by:

Feeling cold or chilled
Cold hands and feet
A preference for warmth
Low energy
A desire for warm beverages

Heat patterns indicate an excess of heat within the body and may include symptoms such as:

Fever
Red face or eyes
Constipation
Hot flashes
Irritability
Elevated blood pressure

Identifying whether a condition is predominantly Cold or Heat allows practitioners to choose treatments that restore balance rather than further aggravate the imbalance.

Yin and Yang

Yin and Yang provide the overarching framework through which all health conditions are understood in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The other six parameters—Interior/Exterior, Deficiency/Excess, and Cold/Heat—can all be viewed through the lens of Yin and Yang.

Yin represents the body’s cooling, nourishing, restorative, and substantive aspects. It is associated with:

Body fluids, blood, and essence
Rest, stillness, and sleep
Cooling and moistening functions
Structure and nourishment

Yang reflects the body’s active, warming, and dynamic qualities, including:

Metabolism and energy production
Movement and circulation
Heat and transformation
Function and activity

Health is not about maintaining a perfect 50/50 balance between Yin and Yang. Rather, it is about the body’s ability to continuously adapt and adjust according to its needs. Just as day naturally transforms into night and activity gives way to rest, Yin and Yang are constantly shifting in response to our environment, lifestyle, and stage of life.

Bringing It All Together

The Eight Parameters provide acupuncturists with a roadmap for understanding what is happening beneath the surface of symptoms. Two people may experience the same complaint—such as headaches, fatigue, or digestive issues—yet have very different underlying patterns of imbalance. By identifying whether a condition is Interior or Exterior, Deficient or Excess, Cold or Heat, and understanding its Yin-Yang nature, treatment can be tailored to address the root cause rather than simply manage symptoms.

This individualized approach is one of the reasons Traditional Chinese Medicine has remained relevant for thousands of years. By recognizing patterns and restoring balance, acupuncture supports the body’s innate ability to heal, adapt, and thrive.

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Tongue and Pulse Diagnosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Editor — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:33:52 +0000

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) takes a whole-body approach to understanding health. Instead of looking at a single symptom, a practitioner considers how different signs, patterns, and body systems connect. Two important assessment tools often used in acupuncture and TCM are tongue diagnosis and pulse diagnosis.

These methods help practitioners gather information about your body’s internal balance, energy, circulation, digestion, stress response, and overall wellness. While they may seem simple from the outside, both tongue and pulse assessment are detailed practices that generations of healers have used to guide personalized care.

What Is Tongue Diagnosis?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, practitioners view the tongue as a reflection of your internal health. During an exam, your acupuncturist will look at several features of the tongue, including its color, shape, size, moisture, coating, and texture.

The tongue offers valuable clues about digestion, hydration, circulation, energy, and internal balance. Practitioners look for specific signs, noting whether the tongue appears swollen, pale, red, dry, cracked, or marked along the edges.

In TCM, different areas of the tongue link to different meridians and organ systems. This does not mean the tongue diagnoses diseases the way a Western lab test would. Instead, it helps the practitioner better understand your body’s unique patterns and how those patterns relate to your current symptoms, lifestyle, and health history.

What Does a Healthy Tongue Look Like?

A balanced tongue is typically pink, moist, and proportionate in size, with a thin white coating. It should not look overly swollen, deeply cracked, extremely red, very pale, or excessively dry.

Your tongue naturally varies from day to day. Food, beverages, sleep, stress, illness, hydration, and oral hygiene all affect its appearance. For this reason, practitioners treat tongue diagnosis as one part of a larger assessment rather than a standalone conclusion.

If you want to check your own tongue, look in the mirror first thing in the morning. Checking it before you brush your teeth, drink coffee, or eat breakfast gives you the clearest view of its natural state.

Why Tongue Diagnosis Matters in Acupuncture Care

Tongue diagnosis allows your practitioner to observe changes over time. Your tongue may shift in color, coating, moisture, or shape as your treatment progresses. These visual shifts provide great insight into how your body responds to care.

At Michigan Associates of Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine, we use tongue assessment alongside a deep conversation about your symptoms, health goals, and medical history. We also discuss your lifestyle, digestion, sleep, stress, pain, and emotional well-being to create a complete picture of your health.

What Is Pulse Diagnosis?

Pulse diagnosis serves as another vital tool in Traditional Chinese Medicine. While Western medicine checks the pulse primarily for rate, rhythm, and strength, TCM pulse assessment goes much deeper. It evaluates specific qualities such as depth, speed, force, width, and overall texture.

Your practitioner will feel the pulse at three different positions on each wrist and at varying levels of pressure. Each position provides information related to different meridian and organ system patterns. This helps the practitioner pinpoint where imbalances occur and how they affect your body.

Key Pulse Qualities in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Pulse diagnosis is a complex art, but practitioners generally focus on three primary qualities: rate, depth, and force.

Determining Pulse Rate

The rate refers to how quickly the pulse moves. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, practitioners evaluate speed in relation to the body’s overall patterns. A fast pulse often suggests heat or excess activity in the body, whereas a slow pulse typically points toward cold, deficiency, or sluggish internal movement.

Sensing Pulse Depth

Depth refers to how heavily the practitioner must press to feel the pulse wave. When a practitioner feels the pulse strongly with light touch, it suggests a surface-level or exterior pattern. Conversely, if they must press deeply to find the rhythm, the underlying pattern lies deeper within the body’s core.

Assessing Pulse Force

Force describes how strong or weak the pulse feels against the practitioner’s fingers. A weak or soft pulse usually suggests low energy, depletion, or reduced vitality from a TCM perspective. On the other hand, a strong, tight, or wiry pulse frequently signals tension, stress, chronic pain, or energetic constraint.

Practitioners never interpret these qualities in isolation. They look at the complete pulse picture alongside your symptoms, your tongue, your history, and your current wellness goals.

How Tongue and Pulse Diagnosis Work Together

Tongue and pulse diagnosis deliver the best results when used together. The tongue reveals highly visible patterns related to moisture, color, and coating. Meanwhile, the pulse offers dynamic information about movement, strength, and depth.

Combined with a full intake consultation, these tools guide a highly personalized acupuncture treatment plan. They also help your practitioner track your physical adjustments and improvements as care continues.

A Personalized Approach to Whole-Body Wellness

Traditional Chinese Medicine is never a one-size-fits-all solution. Two people may arrive with identical symptoms but possess entirely different underlying patterns. Tongue and pulse diagnosis help the practitioner uncover those subtle differences and tailor the treatment accordingly.

This customized focus is exactly why acupuncture care feels so highly individualized. Your practitioner does not just ask where you feel discomfort. They evaluate how your body functions as a whole system—including your sleep, digestion, mood, stress, circulation, energy, and recovery.

Schedule an Appointment

Tongue and pulse diagnosis belong to a thoughtful, whole-body approach to Traditional Chinese Medicine. If you want to learn more about what your body is communicating, our experienced team is here to help.

Schedule your visit with Michigan Associates of Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine today.

Visit acupunctureinmichigan.com or call (248) 737-7126 to book your appointment.

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Tending the Soil: Fertility and Chinese Medicine

Julie Shindler-Cohen — Wed, 27 May 2026 20:45:07 +0000

Chinese medicine (CM) views the human body as a microcosm of nature. To achieve a proper state of balance, all aspects of a person must find alignment. This includes the mind, body, and spirit.

When treating fertility, acupuncture and Chinese medicine focus on harmonizing your internal climate. Specifically, CM brings balance in seemingly small ways that have a profound impact on your health.

For example, sleep might not seem related to fertility. However, it plays a vital role from a CM perspective.

A Gradual Approach to Lifelong Healing

The practice of Chinese medicine takes a gradual approach, especially when compared to Western medical treatments. Most of us are used to a quick fix. We expect an antibiotic for an infection or an NSAID for fast pain relief.

Chinese medicine, on the other hand, takes time. A common analogy explains that CM “tends the soil” so that life can grow.

This process regulates the menstrual cycle and improves digestion. Additionally, it creates a deep state of calm that lasts long after you leave the treatment room.

Nourishing the Mother’s Entire Lifestyle

Tending the soil literally means nourishing the source of life—the mother! This involves more than just looking at the egg, uterus, and sperm. It encompasses a woman’s entire lifestyle.

In this framework, diet does not just refer to the food you consume. It also includes:

The ideas we choose to believe
Our daily responses to stress
How we reframe difficult situations

Of course, healthy food choices still matter. However, shifting your daily habits takes time. These mindful changes deeply affect your internal climate and your overall well-being.

Why Acupuncture Requires Consistent Sessions

Acupuncture works best as a weekly therapy. Think of it like going to the gym. If you want to get into great shape, one gym session every few weeks will not get you there.

Each acupuncture treatment sends a vital message to the body. These sessions move stagnant energy, support deficiencies, and clear away resulting pathologies.

Newer clinical studies show that acupuncture is “dose-dependent.” Consistent treatments yield the best results for pregnancy and live births because they systematically address your unique internal landscape.

Western medicine understands that hormones naturally pulse. Acupuncture successfully redirects this hormonal pulsing into a healthy, predictable rhythm. When your body finds true balance, optimal function becomes possible.

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What does the research say about acupuncture?

Monica Mae Leibson — Wed, 27 May 2026 17:52:14 +0000

After 20 years in practice, I’ve seen firsthand how acupuncture can truly change lives. I regularly work with patients dealing with chronic pain, stress, anxiety, hormonal imbalances, and digestive concerns. Again and again, patients walk into my office feeling frustrated or exhausted and leave feeling more balanced, hopeful, and supported.

However, over the years, I’ve noticed an important shift. More patients want to understand why acupuncture works, not just whether it works. They look for research, evidence, and reassurance that their treatment choices rest on science as well as clinical experience.

That’s why I highly value the work of Evidence Based Acupuncture (EBA).

Bridging Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science

While practitioners have used acupuncture for thousands of years, modern healthcare depends heavily on clinical studies and measurable outcomes. For many practitioners, including myself, scientific research strengthens the value of traditional medicine rather than diminishing it.

Evidence Based Acupuncture beautifully bridges the gap between ancient healing wisdom and modern scientific understanding. Their organization gathers and summarizes acupuncture research into accessible insights for both practitioners and patients.

Instead of sorting through hundreds of complicated medical studies, readers can explore clear summaries on vital health topics:

Chronic pain and osteoarthritis
Anxiety and stress management
Menopause symptoms and hormonal balance
Allergies and pediatric care
Pregnancy and cancer-related support

The Biology of Healing: How Acupuncture Works

Healing is both an art and a science. Acupuncture provides individualized care by listening to the body and supporting its natural healing ability. While clinical experience guides daily treatment, growing acceptance from the broader medical community stems from high-quality, emerging studies.

According to research highlighted by EBA, acupuncture directly influences the body’s internal systems through clear biomechanical mechanisms:

Balances the Nervous System: The autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulates internal homeostasis through the sympathetic (fight-or-flight) and parasympathetic (relaxation) systems. Studies show that acupuncture effectively influences both branches to restore internal balance.
Improves Stress Resilience: Heart Rate Variability (HRV) measures the body’s ability to cope with stress. Higher HRV correlates with better mental health and lower anxiety. Acupuncture directly improves HRV, helping the body manage daily stressors.
Calms the Brain’s Stress Response: When stress triggers the hypothalamus to release excitatory neurochemicals, acupuncture calms this reaction.
Triggers Natural Pain Relief: Acupuncture increases the release of endorphins the body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals. These endorphins play a massive role in regulating physical pain, heart rate, blood pressure, and digestive health.

Moving the Healthcare Conversation Forward

Conventional anxiety treatments primarily rely on a combination of pharmacological and psychological interventions. By making clinical research transparent and accessible, organizations like Evidence Based Acupuncture help expand these options.

The more we educate patients, collaborate with healthcare providers, and support clinical research, the more accessible and respected integrative medicine becomes.

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Managing Stress, Mood, and Anxiety with Acupuncture

Monica Mae Leibson — Thu, 14 May 2026 20:10:58 +0000

With over 20 years of clinical experience specializing in mental health, I have seen firsthand how chronic stress and anxiety can impact every system in the body. Patients often arrive feeling overwhelmed, fatigued, and disconnected—seeking relief beyond conventional approaches alone. Acupuncture offers a clinically grounded, holistic method to help regulate the nervous system and restore emotional balance.

A Nervous System Approach to Healing

From both a traditional and biomedical perspective, acupuncture works by influencing the central and peripheral nervous systems. By stimulating specific points, we can help shift the body out of a chronic “fight-or-flight” state and into a more restorative parasympathetic mode. This transition is critical for patients dealing with persistent anxiety, mood instability, and stress-related disorders.

Regulating Mood and Emotional Resilience

In my practice, I commonly treat patients experiencing anxiety, irritability, and low mood. Acupuncture has been shown to support the modulation of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine—chemicals essential for emotional regulation. Over a course of consistent treatments, many patients report improved mood stability, reduced reactivity to stressors, and a greater sense of calm and clarity.

Addressing the Physical Manifestations of Stress

Stress and anxiety are not purely psychological—they often manifest physically as muscle tension, headaches, digestive disturbances, and sleep disruption. Acupuncture allows us to address both the emotional and somatic components simultaneously. By releasing tension and improving circulation, patients frequently experience relief not only in their mood but also in their physical symptoms.

Sleep as a Foundation for Mental Health

One of the most significant improvements I observe is in sleep quality. Many patients with anxiety struggle with insomnia or restless sleep, which further exacerbates emotional imbalance. Acupuncture helps regulate sleep patterns by calming the mind and supporting the body’s natural rhythms, creating a foundation for improved mental health outcomes.

A Personalized, Integrative Treatment Plan

No two patients present the same way. Effective acupuncture treatment requires an individualized approach that considers each person’s unique pattern of symptoms, lifestyle, and health history. I often integrate acupuncture with lifestyle guidance, breathing techniques, and, when appropriate, collaboration with mental health professionals to ensure comprehensive care.

Long-Term Benefits and Preventive Care

While some patients experience immediate relaxation, the most meaningful results develop over time. Regular acupuncture sessions can build resilience, helping patients better manage stress and prevent recurrence of anxiety symptoms. In this way, acupuncture serves not only as treatment but also as preventive care for long-term emotional well-being.

After two decades in practice, I continue to value acupuncture as a powerful tool for supporting mental health. By addressing both the physiological and emotional aspects of stress and anxiety, it provides patients with a pathway toward greater balance, stability, and overall quality of life.

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Spring Salads and Herbs

Julie Silver — Thu, 14 May 2026 17:30:33 +0000

Spring Salads in Traditional Chinese Medicine focus on supporting the Liver Functions and boosting energy. TCM views spring as a time for “upward moving” energy (like the growth of plants at this time of year). Greens during the springtime help to provide a natural cleanse and detox support after a long winter. The flavor associated with the Liver is sour. Incorporating tart fruits like grapefruit, rhubarb, lemon and limes and fermented vegetables like sauerkraut and kimchee during the spring. In addition, bitter greens like dandelion and kale and herbs like milk thistle and turmeric can be incorporated into amazing recipes to help with our help and our palate.

Here are a couple favorite spring recipes. I hope you enjoy!

Kale Kimchi Salad

5 cups kale – ribbed
½ avocado
2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
¼ tsp sea salt
1 cup cooked chickpeas
1 roasted/steamed sweet potato or delicata squash, diced small
1 cup kimchi
3 Tablespoons toasted pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds or walnuts
Optional: dash of fennel, black sesame or other seeds

Place the chopped kale into a large mixing bowl. Add the avocado, lemon juice, and sea salt. Using your hands, massage the avocado into the kale until tender (about 2 minutes).

Add the kimchi, chickpeas, sweet potato/squash, and seeds. Season to taste with more sea salt. This salad can be eaten right away or once prepared, allow time for the ingredients to integrate.

Recipe Courtesy of Jenny Breen from the Mill Street Farmers Market

Basic Lemon and Grapefruit Vinegarette

¼ cup of fresh grapefruit juice (I like red grapefruits)
2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice
½ cup fresh extra virgin olive oil
Teaspoon of local honey (or more if desired)
1 tsp of Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste

Whisk together and serve fresh over any salad

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The Art (and Science) of Chinese Herbal Medicine

Julie Shindler-Cohen — Mon, 11 May 2026 14:15:06 +0000

In a modern world full of dietary supplements and herbal remedies, Chinese herbal medicine offers a time-tested, ancient practice that is still relevant! Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an umbrella for acupuncture, Chinese herbs, dietary and lifestyle habits. Acupuncture is the most common practice of all, however Chinese herbs are an often overlooked and important aspect to achieve the best results.

Traditional preparation of Chinese herbs involves boiling a mix of herbs, which can be roots, flowers, berries or seeds, and drinking the tea. Thanks to modern invention, herbs are now offered in more convenient methods of preparation, including pills, powders and tinctures. The formulas used today were written thousands of years ago and are still relevant in modern treatment! Let’s take a closer look at Chinese herbal formulas…

The Building Blocks: Individual Herbs

At the heart of every formula are individual herbs, each with its own unique properties. In TCM, herbs are classified in several ways to guide their use.

First, herbs are grouped by category, based on their primary action in the body. Some herbs tonify (or supplement), while others drain, move, or disperse. These categories help practitioners determine how to restore balance within the body.

Next, each herb is assigned a temperature and taste, both of which influence its therapeutic effect. In Chinese medicine, flavor is more than sensory—it reflects function:

Sweet herbs tend to nourish and tonify
Bitter herbs drain and clear heat
Sour herbs astringe and stabilize
Pungent herbs disperse and promote movement
Salty herbs soften and dissolve

Many herbs possess more than one taste, contributing to their complexity and versatility. No two herbs are exactly alike, which allows for highly customized treatment approaches.

Finally, herbs are associated with specific channels (or organ systems), meaning they have targeted effects within the body. This allows practitioners to direct treatment precisely where it is needed.

The Elegance of Herbal Formulas

While individual herbs are powerful, they are rarely used alone. Instead, they are combined into carefully balanced formulas designed to address specific TCM patterns of imbalance.

It’s important to note that TCM does not treat diseases in the same way as conventional medicine. Rather than prescribing a formula for a named condition like PCOS, practitioners identify underlying patterns—such as “damp accumulation” or “blood deficiency”—and select formulas that address those patterns.

What makes these formulas so sophisticated is their structured design. A classic Chinese herbal formula is composed of four roles:

Chief (Jun): The primary herb, used in the highest dose, which addresses the main condition
Deputy (Chen): Herbs that support the chief or help address secondary concerns
Assistant (Zuo): Herbs that balance the formula, reduce potential side effects, or moderate harsh properties
Envoy (Shi): Herbs that guide the formula to specific channels or areas of the body

This layered approach ensures that formulas are not only effective but also balanced and gentle. For example, if a formula includes very “cold” herbs to clear heat, other ingredients may be added to protect digestion and prevent unwanted side effects.

A Tradition That Endures

Chinese herbal medicine is both an art and a science, refined over thousands of years. Its strength lies in its ability to treat the body as a whole, focusing on restoring balance rather than simply addressing symptoms. In a modern healthcare landscape, TCM offers a rich and complementary approach to wellness. When used alongside conventional treatments and guided by a trained practitioner, Chinese herbal formulas can support the body’s natural healing processes in a thoughtful and individualized way. As more people seek holistic and integrative care, this ancient tradition continues to prove its value—bridging the wisdom of the past with the needs of the present.

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What is Cupping?!

Julie Shindler-Cohen — Mon, 11 May 2026 14:14:45 +0000

Cupping therapy, easily recognized by the circular marks it leaves on the skin, is an auxiliary technique used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for a variety of therapeutic purposes. The practice involves placing specialized cups on the skin to create suction, which is maintained for a short period of time. While cupping is most commonly used today to address musculoskeletal pain, it has a broader range of applications within the traditional framework.

Cupping for Early-Stage Illness in TCM

In classical TCM, practitioners use cupping to “release the exterior.” This concept refers to treating early-stage illnesses such as colds and the flu. In TCM, external pathogens cause these conditions. Practitioners usually place cups on the upper back, neck, and shoulders to help vent those pathogens from the body. This approach reflects the traditional view that these invasions are yang in nature and tend to affect the upper body.

Cupping for Muscular Tension and Pain

TCM also uses cupping to relieve muscular tension and discomfort. In this system, pain often comes from stagnation in the flow of qi (energy) and blood. The suction from the cups aims to pull that stagnation outward and improve circulation. After treatment, the skin often shows discoloration. In TCM, practitioners interpret darker marks as a sign of more severe stagnation. With repeated treatments in the same area, those marks often appear lighter over time.

Static and Sliding Cupping Techniques

Cups come in different sizes and practitioners use them on many muscle groups. In static cupping, they place the cups on a specific area and leave them there for several minutes. In sliding cupping, they first apply oil to the skin, then place the cup and gently move it across the body, often along a muscle group. This method can cause mild discomfort, but many people compare it to a deep tissue massage. It often creates noticeable relaxation in a short amount of time.

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Acupuncture for Chronic Pain

Julie Shindler-Cohen — Thu, 07 May 2026 15:24:47 +0000

My Dad’s Experience with Acupuncture

My dad had chronic low back pain throughout my childhood. He’d come in and out of flares as pain management tools accumulated in our home: massage tables, inversion tables and pungent pain ointments. During one period of acute pain, his chiropractor told him to try acupuncture. My dad almost crawled into his first session and walked out completely upright. The next day, he rode his bike for 30 miles. Of course, this story is unique in the speed and entirety of his healing, but many people turn to acupuncture to treat both chronic and acute pain conditions.

How Acupuncture Fits into Pain Relief

Although acupuncture has been practiced for over 3,000 years, modern medicine still struggles to understand how it fits into the current model. When can it be used? How is it used? For what?

Most people seek acupuncture treatment for acute and chronic pain. One of the strengths of acupuncture is that it offers another method of pain relief. After traditional imaging has ruled out a serious structural abnormality or another condition contributing to the pain, acupuncture can offer therapeutic support. It does not regenerate nerves or restructure the body, but it can help reduce inflammation and release endorphins. Some people may call it “magic,” but it is energy.

Understanding Qi and Pain

Coming back to basic acupuncture principles, energy, or qi, flows through the body at all times. Health and wellness depend on the free flow of qi. When that flow becomes obstructed, it can cause pain. The main treatment principle for pain conditions is to promote the free flow of qi throughout the body.

Personalized Treatment for Chronic and Acute Pain

There are many different acupuncture techniques used to support pain relief. Some people respond well to one type of treatment, while others may respond better to another.

For example, using local points is common for pain. If there is back pain, needles may be inserted into the back. However, other acupuncture approaches may never place a needle in the affected area, instead using points on the arm or leg that energetically correspond to the painful area.

This is one of the strengths of Chinese medicine. There is no single “right” or “wrong” way to do acupuncture. Treatment is truly tailored to each person.

Patience During the Healing Process

A challenge of working with chronic pain is understanding the course of treatment. Especially when someone has suffered for a long time, healing often takes time. A general rule of thumb in acupuncture is that the length of the condition is often proportional to the length of treatment.

Having grace, compassion and patience, both as a practitioner and as a patient, is an important part of supporting the healing process.

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American Society of Acupuncturists yearly conference update

Monica Mae Leibson — Thu, 07 May 2026 15:14:51 +0000

(Picture of myself & Stephen Durell)

As the Vice President of the Michigan Society of Acupuncturists, I was able to attend the yearly conference of the American Society of Acupuncturists this month in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Stephen Durell (MiSA President) & I had an amazing weekend there! Here are some key take aways:

Friday – We met with the ASA Reps from each state. This was an invigorating meeting, discussing where each state is individually and where we are headed nationally. It was so comforting to know that we are all dealing with similar concerns due to the challenges our profession is facing. Conversely, there were so many WIN’S and it was great to hear that people are having successful fundraisers, working well with legislators, and being leaders in our field!

Saturday – I started the day with 7:30 am Qi Gong! Stephen had breakfast with the reps from Wisconsin.

Saturday Presentations on the following:

Integration & Collaboration – How acupuncture can Impact Healthcare Delivery & Contribute to New System Models of Providing Care
Technology in Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine Panel
Classical Medicine with Modern Conditions
AI for Marketing

On Saturday night, we went to a dinner with an amazing 5 piece jazz band. Got to talk shop with other practitioners & enjoy some downtime!

From Brehan Crawford, I got the following TCM nugget:

Brain waves & Their Corresponding Elements – TCM Analogues to Neuroscience

Delta – Water – Deep dreamless sleep, capacity to recover, brain is the sea of marrow

Theta – Wood – Emotional processing, vision, imagination with no direction, natural state of toddlers

Alpha – Earth – Centered awareness, relaxed focus, friends/community, safety

Beta – Metal – Discernment, ability to say no, self editing

Gamma – Fire – Hearts radiance, divine inspiration, ability to bring heaven to earth

Sunday Presentations on the following:

Integrative Acupuncture in Obstetric Care
Research Panel – As much as we know our TCM language, to gain credibility & visibility in our healthcare paradigm, we need to speak THEIR language which is RESEARCH. I’m going to include links below to great sites that can be so supportive in our practices.
NIH National Centers for Complementary & Integrative Health Updates
Jin Golden Panel

Acupuncture Research Websites

https://www.evidencebasedacupuncture.org/

https://www.convergentpoints.com/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39403098/

https://www.acu-track.org/

https://www.acupunctureresearch.org/

https://www.pcori.org/

The Goal of the ASA is as follows

“Advancing the profession practice of acupuncture as a whole system of medicine through advocacy, education and research”

I feel so proud of this volunteer organization and how they are elevating our career to the next level!

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