Dr.Arthur Yin Fan’s academic bibliography in National Library of Medicine

My academic bibliography in National Library of Medicine in this URL:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/bibliography/arthur%20yin.fan.1/bibliography/public/

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How Much Does Acupuncture Cost

Info from: https://www.daocloud.com/acupuncture/cost

As you can imagine, the cost of acupuncture varies from city to city and from one acupuncturist to the next. In this article, we’ll explore the kinds of costs you can expect when you seek treatment, the types of discounts you may be eligible for, how to find low-cost acupuncture using community clinics, and acupuncture costs in some of the major cities.

If you’re looking to use insurance, we’ll reveal which insurance companies will pay for acupuncture treatment, And if you’re looking for a specific treatment for weight loss, back pain, infertility, or migraines, we’ll also give you an idea of what you can expect to pay for those treatments.

Contents

1. How Much Does Acupuncture Cost?
2. Typical Costs
3. Discounts
4. Total cost
5. How to find low cost acupuncture (please consider the quality before consider low cost)
6.  Which insurance companies cover acupuncture?
7.  Acupuncture Cost by City
8.  Cost by treatment type
9.  For infertility
10.  For Weight Loss
11.  For Back Pain
12.  For Migraines
13.  Additional costs to consider
14.  Tips for shopping for acupuncture
15.  Frequently Asked Questions
16.  Does medicare cover acupuncture?
17.  Does medicaid cover acupuncture?
18.  Do Medicare supplemental insurance plans cover acupuncture?
19.  Will my insurance cover acupuncture?

Typical Costs

Fees for your first session of acupuncture may include an initial consultation, medical exam, and acupuncture treatment. This will cost between $120 to $240. Additional visits may cost $75 to $160.

Discounts

Many acupuncturists offer a discount when you purchase multiple treatments. So for example, if you were to purchase one session at $150 or six sessions at $600, bringing the price down to $100 per session.

Other popular discounts are:

• Student discounts
• Senior discounts
• Child discounts

Ask your acupuncturist if they offer any of these discounts to get a better price on your treatments. For example, in Atlanta, an acupuncture treatment will cost $120, but a student discount brings it to $85, and for a child, it’s only $65.

Total cost

According to consumer reports , people spent more than $200 out of pocket over the course of their full treatment for acupuncture and almost one in four spent $500 or more.

How to find low cost acupuncture

Non-profit community acupuncture clinics are gaining popularity. These clinics, like Phoenix Community Acupuncture , offer low cost acupuncture on a sliding scale, $17-$35. Look for a community acupuncture clinic in your area to find low cost acupuncture.

Which insurance companies cover acupuncture?

The following insurance companies may cover your acupuncture, depending on your plan. Be sure to check with your insurance provider to verify coverage before seeking treatment. Your acupuncturist may also be able to assist you.

• Aetna
• Blue Cross/Blue Shield
• Cigna
• Humana
• Johns Hopkins EHP
• Kennedy Krieger’s Core Source
• Landmark
• Optum
• United Health Care

Acupuncture Cost by City

Methodology

These prices estimate the costs you may expect to pay for acupuncture without insurance. To determine these prices, we sampled acupuncturists listed in the Google business directory in each area.

Cost by City

City	Acupuncture Session Cost
Atlanta	$80
Austin	$85
Baltimore	$90
Boston	$100
Charlotte	$80
Chicago	$95
Cincinnati	$100
Cleveland	$85
Columbus	$75
Dallas	$85
Denver	$125
Houston	$160
Indianapolis	$95
Kansas City	$75
Las Vegas	$70
Los Angeles	$120
Louisville	$85
Memphis	$75
Miami	$120
Milwaukee	$90
Minneapolis	$120
Nashville	$100
New Orleans	$85
New York	$300
Oklahoma City	$75
Philadelphia	$95
Phoenix	$75
Portland	$150
Raleigh	$75
Richmond	$90
Salt Lake City	$75
San Diego	$108
San Francisco	$150
San Jose	$85
Seattle	$135
St Louis	$60
Tampa	$125
Washington DC	$160

Cost by treatment type

For infertility

If you suffer from infertility, plan to pay a lot of money to increase your chances of getting pregnant. A typical acupuncture program for fertility might last three to six months, with treatments every week. Plan for a major portion of your expenses upfront with various diagnostic tests running from $160 to $325, which may include:

• Male hormone panel
• Female hormone panel
• Estrogen ratio test
• Adrenal salivary index
• Salivary food sensitivity panel

Sample infertility costs

Initial Visit $150

Female hormone panel $325

Estrogen ratio test $200

Herbs ($150 monthly) $900

Weekly acupuncture for 6 months $1,680

___________________________________________________________________

Total Cost $3,255

For Weight Loss

If you need to lose some weight, acupuncture could help. Weekly acupuncture was shown to improve weight loss in this study. If you figure three months of acupuncture to accompany your exercise regime, you’d spend $840 or more depending on the per session cost.

For Back Pain

If you consider testimonial and anecdotal evidence, some people have used acupuncture to become free from pain in has few as 24 sessions. If you figure on a cost per session of $70 to $150, that amounts to $1,680 to $3,600.

However, some research suggests the effects of acupuncture on pain are temporary. In this case, you might need weekly acupuncture on an ongoing basis, resulting in a cost of $280 to $600 monthly for your back pain.

For Migraines

The same situation is true from migraines as back pain. Considering that you may need ongoing acupuncture treatment to relieve the pain associated with you migraines and keep them at bay, you may need to plan on spending anywhere from $280 to $1200 for weekly or bi-weekly acupuncture treatment.

Additional costs to consider

Here are some additional costs you may need to consider before purchasing an acupuncture treatment.

• Herbs and supplements. Many acupuncture clinics will recommend patients take Chinese herbs or other supplements as part of their treatment program. These will always cost additional money above and beyond your acupuncture treatment, ranging from $30 to $150 monthly.
• Tui Na. Your treatment may begin with an optional Tui Na session. This is similar to massage, but with a therapeutic emphasis, rather than relaxation. You may be charged extra for Tui Na.
• Gratuity. With most bodywork, you may be expected to leave a tip for your practitioner; somewhere between 10-20%. Some clinics encourage gratuity while others discourage it.

Tips for shopping for acupuncture

1. Ask your friends for a recommendation.
2. Research online.
3. Read online reviews.
4. Understand the practitioners training and specializations.
5. Call and ask for an introductory session. (Don’t forget to ask about what insurance they take)
6. Go to your first appointment and evaluate the doctor and the office.
7. Make a decision to return or keep looking for an acupuncturist you like.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does medicare cover acupuncture?

No. Medicare does not cover acupuncture.

Does medicaid cover acupuncture?

No. Medicaid does not cover acupuncture

Do Medicare supplemental insurance plans cover acupuncture?

Some Medicare supplemental insurance plans provide coverage for acupuncture treatment but most don’t offer coverage.

Will my insurance cover acupuncture?

While many insurance companies are beginning to cover acupuncture, most plans that do are higher cost plans. If you have had chronic pain for six months and the traditional forms of treatment, like drugs or physical therapy have been ineffective, there’s a higher chance your insurance will cover your acupuncture treatments.

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Auricular Interventions in Neurology: the Vascular Autonomic Signal challenge

Auricular Interventions in Neurology: the Vascular Autonomic Signal challenge

Quah-Smith, Im M.D. PhD

AURICULOVASANDNEUROLOGY-ICMOBM2

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Our article has been selected as one of ten articles for the November 2017 Elsevier Atlas Awards Nominations : “Acupuncture’s Role in Solving the Opioid Epidemic: Evidence, Cost-Effectiveness, and Care Availability for Acupuncture as a Primary, Non-Pharmacologic Method for Pain Relief and Management–White Paper 2017”

Great news! This month our article”Acupuncture’s Role in Solving the Opioid Epidemic: Evidence, Cost-Effectiveness, and Care Availability for Acupuncture as a Primary, Non-Pharmacologic Method for Pain Relief and Management–White Paper 2017″ 1 (Arthur Yin Fan is the first author, and Dr.David Miller is the correspondence author, our colleague Sarah Faggert also a co-author-there are 14 authors across the United States) has been selected as one of ten articles for the November 2017 Elsevier Atlas Awards Nominations.

As is stated on the Elsevier Atlas Awards homepage: “Each month the Atlas Advisory Board are sent a selection of 10 articles to choose their winning Atlas article. The articles are shortlisted by Elsevier from across journal portfolios based on their potential social impact. We are delighted to present the entire monthly shortlist and congratulate the authors of the nominated articles.” While the voting is still in progress, we are still very excited to even be nominated. This marks the first time that an acupuncture article has been nominated for the Elsevier Atlas Award.You may click on the following link to take you the Elsevier Atlas Nominations page: https://www.elsevier.com/connect/atlas/nominations.

We will let you know should our article win!

Nominations

Each month the Atlas Advisory Board are sent a selection of 10 articles to choose their winning Atlas article.

ELSEVIER.COM

Reference:

1. Fan AY, Miller DW, Bolash B, Bauer M, McDonald J, Faggert S, He H, Li YM, Matecki A, Camardella L, Koppelman MH, Stone JA, Meade L, Pang J. Acupuncture’s Role in Solving the Opioid Epidemic: Evidence, Cost-Effectiveness, and Care Availability for Acupuncture as a Primary, Non-Pharmacologic Method for Pain Relief and Management—White Paper 2017. J Integr Med. 2017; 15(6): 411–425.

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Dr.Arthur Yin Fan is on News Yesterday-Beijing TV, Morning News(11/27/2017)

Acupuncture is good for changing American Opioids Epidemic, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ug3e0FzSRAI

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针灸在美国被点赞 中药科研亟须提上日程（新华社记者 林小春）

http://www.chinanews.com/m/life/2017/09-22/8337856.shtml

2017年09月22日 15:56 经济参考报

　　针灸在美国被点赞 中药科研亟须提上日程

近日，第三届美国中医药大会在美国首都华盛顿举行，来自美中等国的300余名中医药专家参会。

中医在美国的发展现状如何？面临着什么样的机遇和挑战？带着这些问题，《经济参考报》记者采访了与会专家。

针灸发展形势良好执照医生约4.5万人

本次会议主办方是全美中医药学会与美国中医校友联合会，两个协会的会长均由曾就读于北京中医学院(现北京中医药大学)的田海河担任。

田海河对记者介绍说，自美国前总统尼克松访华把中医带回美国，至今已45年。目前，中医在美国有了长足发展，已有46个州和华盛顿特区完成了针灸立法，目前各类有执照的针灸医生约有4.5万人。

“这是一个很好的发展形势，但是学术水平良莠不齐，中医尚未进入医学主流体系。”他说，“就像美国人选择餐馆时还是以喜欢吃西餐为主，喜欢中餐的人虽有，但仍占不是占多数。要想怎么把中医带入美国主流社会，我们还有很多工作要做。”

田海河说，作为外来医学，中医在美国“还是经常会受到一定排挤和否定”，虽然临床、科研及发表的文章为针灸提供了一些有效果的证据，但证据还不是显得非常充足，“需要我们更有效地开展临床科研工作，提供更有说服力的证据，以此来说服民众、媒体、立法、保险公司等更进一步认可中医，接受针灸。”

他表示，针灸是个好东西，确有疗效，很多人都认识到它的价值，近期出现了一些其他行业想染指针灸，“我们的态度很明确，欢迎更多的人来做针灸，惠及民众。但一些其他行业人只接受了很少的训练，就提供针灸服务，还有人把针灸改成‘干针’，试图绕过法律和各行业的执业范围限制去做针灸，非但没效，更对病人造成安全隐患。所以，我们要抗争，并教育、帮助们民众找到一个合格的针灸师。”

“我们需要对民众的安全负责，对针灸的名誉负责，需要对我们中华民族文化保护。因为‘干针’本来就源自于针灸，他们把针灸改头换面，不认祖归宗了，反倒说跟中医无关，这是一种剽窃行为。”田海河说。

针灸临床研究正规范望入美主流医学体系

谈到美国中医药大会，田海河说，该会每年举办一次，今年是第三次，美国、中国以及其他一些国家的中医领军人物都来了，几乎所有以西人为主的全国性中医组织的主要负责人也来了，参会的还有美国食品和药物管理局及美国国家卫生研究院官员，美国针灸执照考试委员会、美国中医高校联合会及资格鉴定委员会等机构的主要负责人也都到场。

“这次大会的目的是要团结更多的华裔和非华裔针灸师，大家聚集到一起共同探讨如何抓住机会，面对挑战，并同时提升整体学术水平，引领美国中医药的正确发展方向。”他说。

会上，世界针灸学会联合会主席、中国针灸学会会长刘保延教授做了题为《针灸临床疗效研究的思考与实践》的主题报告。他指出，疗效是针灸发展的根本，虽然针灸临床研究论文在1992年以后快速增长，但过去一直没有形成系统的临床评价方法，缺乏高质量研究数据，为此中医学界制定了或正在制定针灸临床研究和技术操作等一系列规范，希望按照国际通行标准，“推动针灸堂堂正正进入主流医学体系”。

大会期间，全美中医药学会副会长、美国执照针灸师樊蓥做了题为《假针灸真是假的吗？》的学术报告，对一些结论认为针灸无效的论文的研究方法提出质疑。

樊蓥在接受记者采访时解释说，美国顶尖医学期刊《美国医学会杂志》近年来发表7篇针灸研究论文，最近的一次是今年6月发表两篇论文，其中刘保延负责的一项研究显示针灸治疗女性压力性尿失禁确实有效，而另6篇临床研究结果都是阴性(无效)结论，这可能与研究方法有关系。

樊蓥说，西医的临床研究要求随机、对照、双盲，对针灸而言，随机和对照没有问题，但双盲是有问题的，因为假针灸很难瞒过针灸师和病人，造成了所谓“真针灸不真、假针灸不假”的问题。

美国国家卫生研究院的夏月博士探讨了大数据对针灸科研的指导意义，希望美国和中国在中医科研方面加强对接。

中药尚处灰色地带科研亟须提上日程

田海河强调，中医不仅是针灸，还包括中药，但因为针灸首先进入美国，所以针灸在美国成了中医的代名词。目前，中药在美国未被列入药物范畴，只能归类为食品补充剂，不能宣传治疗效果，所以还处于灰色地带，这限制了中药在美国的广泛应用和发展，“要把中药发展提到日程上来，包括推动在州层面甚至联邦层面立法。当然，这需要一个漫长的过程。”

他举例说，包括麻黄在内，有几个中药因为安全性问题被美国食品和药物管理局禁用，“因此，有些人经常拿这些药说事，说中药不安全。我担心这类事件发生多了后，对在美国开展中药工作会有负面影响。所以，我们需要做一些科研，了解中药的毒副效应，保证民众的安全服用。如果只有针灸，而没有中药，不是一个完整的中医概念。”

会上，中国国家中医药管理局政策法规与监督司原司长、世界中医药学会联合会秘书长桑滨生解读了中国中医药立法及对海外的影响。桑滨生说，《中医药法》是中国中医药领域的一部综合性、基础性法律，不仅对中国中医药发展具有里程碑意义，而且对各国中医药和传统医学立法起到引领和借鉴作用。

美国药管局植物学评审组官员李静介绍了该机构有关植物新药的评审情况。她指出，截至去年年底，共有超过650种植物药物提出或通过“新药临床试验申请”，其中绝大多数处于二期临床试验阶段，但只有2种获准上市。如果把植物药物按全新成分的药物看待，这个通过率“还不错”。

另外，还有十多位中美知名针灸专家和科研教育领域的学者做了学术报告。大会主要赞助企业同仁堂也介绍了其国际化之路，表示已在纽约、旧金山和洛杉矶开设分店，要让更多美国人知道同仁堂这个品牌。记者 林小春

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News Analysis: Is spring coming for acupuncture amid U.S. opioid crisis?

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-09/28/c_136643669.htm

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) — Although traditional Chinese medicine as a whole is struggling in the United States, acupuncture itself is in a much better situation.

The ancient Chinese practice involving the insertion of fine needles into the skin was generally thought to be brought to America in the early 1970s, thanks to then-President Richard Nixon’s ice-breaking visit to China.

About 45 years later, over 46 U.S. states have legalized acupuncture, and the number of licensed acupuncturists in the country has grown to around 45,000.

BIGGER ROLE

Now, local acupuncturists expressed hope that the ancient art of healing could play a bigger role in solving the ongoing U.S. opioid epidemic, which claims 91 American lives every single day.

“Acupuncture is an effective, safe, and cost-effective treatment for numerous types of acute and chronic pain,” wrote a white paper released this week by several organizations that promote the practice in the United States.

“Acupuncture should be recommended as a first line treatment for pain before opiates are prescribed, and may reduce opioid use.”

The white paper came about a week after the U.S. National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) sent a letter to America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), asking its insurance company members to review their payment and coverage policies in order to promote alternatives to opioids, such as acupuncture.

Cathryn Donaldson, director of communications and public affairs for the AHIP, a trade association representing 1,300 health insurers, told Xinhua that they have responded to the NAAG letter, which was signed by 37 state and territorial attorneys general.

“Plans are exploring and improving access to non-pharmacologic pain treatments that have been proven effective in reducing pain,” Donaldson said in an email.

“Depending on the individual patient, therapies like acupuncture, mind-body interventions (yoga), psychological interventions (cognitive therapy), and exercise can be an effective first line of treatment for many before moving on to pharmaceuticals when necessary,” she said.

BIG DEAL

Although millions of Americans use acupuncture each year, the practice was considered primarily to be a complementary health approach.

As a result, many American acupuncturists were excited by the NAAG letter, which was virally spread and heatedly discussed in the social media. One of them, Fan Ying, whose clinic is based in the state of Virginia, called it “a big deal” for the industry.

“The spring of acupuncture might have come,” said Fan, one of the authors of the white paper.

“The U.S. opioid crisis will allow non-pharmacologic therapies, including acupuncture, chiropractic care and medical massage, to have a place in the U.S. healthcare system,” he said, but cautioned that “we can’t say there will be no spring chill in the future.”

Li Yongming, a licensed acupuncturist in the state of New Jersey, called the U.S. fight against opioid abuse and addiction “a new opium war.”

“Acupuncture is the most effective in all kinds of non-pharmacologic therapies for pain relief and management,” Li said.

“So the opioid crisis provides the best opportunity in decades for our industry to develop and even become more of a mainstream healthcare option. This may represent a new era of acupuncture.”

Tian Haihe, president of the non-profit American TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) Association, noted that the NAAG letter is only a proposal, but it may indeed mean a turning point and that the next question could be how to grasp it.

“We must demonstrate to patients that we can help relieve their pain, so they will have no reason or excuse to use painkillers and thus avoid being addicted,” Tian said.

“Even if the NAAG proposal is adopted, we should know that many private clinics that offer acupuncture treatments are still out of the insurance system, a problem we should worry about and think how to solve.”

“If acupuncture is covered by health insurance eventually, it’s way too good, but it should be a long process,” Tian said. “We can’t just wait. We need to provide scientific evidence to prove that acupuncture is safe and effective.”

GENERALLY CONSIDERED SAFE

So, how does American academia think about the practice of acupuncture?

“Acupuncture is generally considered safe when performed by an experienced, well-trained practitioner using sterile needles. Improperly performed acupuncture can cause serious side effects,” the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) wrote in an article posted on its website.

“Results from a number of studies suggest that acupuncture may help ease types of pain that are often chronic such as low-back pain, neck pain, and osteoarthritis/knee pain. It also may help reduce the frequency of tension headaches and prevent migraine headache,” the NCCIH said.

What’s more important, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released a draft proposal in May recommending that doctors learn about acupuncture and other non-pharmacologic therapies for pain management.

Actually, a 2015 study conducted by Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, found that of more than 6,000 chronic pain patients who responded to a questionnaire, 32 percent reported acupuncture use, 47 percent reported chiropractic use and 21 percent reported using both.

The peer-reviewed work, published in the American Journal of Managed Care, included members of Kaiser Permanente health plan only.

“There is a growing body of scientific evidence which supports the use of acupuncture for pain management. Often the medications we use don’t work well, or have too many side effects. Thus both doctors and patients are eager for alternatives,” Charles Elder of the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, the paper’s first author, told Xinhua.

“It would make sense that the role of acupuncture should continue to grow in the context of managing chronic pain within our health care system,” he said, citing as an example the state of Oregon where complementary medicine approaches including acupuncture are required to be covered for back pain patients of Medicaid — a joint state-federal health care program.

“My guess is that we will see more of this in the future,” Elder said.

KEY WORDS:acupuncture,health,pain,effective,American,opioid

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针灸在美迎来发展好时机 (新华社记者 郭一娜 林小春 胡友松)

新华社华盛顿１１月２０日电通讯：针灸在美迎来发展好时机　　新华社记者郭一娜　林小春　胡友松

http://us.xinhuanet.com/2017-11/21/c_129746359.htm

莎伦又一次躺在熟悉的床位上，针灸师樊蓥轻、稳、准地在她肩部和颈部的重要穴位扎上了细细的针。莎伦的耳边响起了柔和温馨的轻音乐，她慢慢闭上眼，呼吸均匀，心情平和，享受着４５分钟的美好时光。

樊蓥是美国弗吉尼亚州与华盛顿特区持照针灸师，他的诊所——美京中医院位于弗吉尼亚州梅克林小镇。３００平方米左右的诊所内共有１５个床位。身为一名职业律师的莎伦·希普勒已经忘了这是她第几十次来到诊所接受治疗。

喜欢运动的莎伦今年６０岁，她与针灸的缘分始于３年前。当时她得了肌腱炎，西医告诉她最快也要几个月才能恢复。有朋友向她推荐了樊蓥，后者仔细查看了腿伤后告诉她：“两周来做一次治疗，３次后就能康复。”

西医的数个月康复和针灸的３次就好，这差距大得让莎伦有些不敢相信。面对莎伦的怀疑，樊蓥只是笑笑说，咱们试试看吧。

出乎莎伦意料，一个疗程下来，肌腱炎竟奇迹般康复，她矫健而轻盈的身姿很快又重现跑道。

“太神奇了！”她在接受新华记者采访时禁不住多次感叹。此后，莎伦对中医从信赖到依赖，身体稍有不适，首先想到的就是看中医。

律师工作压力大，导致莎伦睡眠不好。多次针灸后，她感觉睡眠明显改善；每次莎伦感觉有感冒前兆，或者美国将有流感，她就赶紧来找樊蓥。莎伦相信，针灸疗法帮她提高了免疫力。最近她肩部受伤，又是针灸让她免受了手术折磨。

如今，莎伦不仅是针灸的粉丝，更成了针灸的传播者。亲朋好友生病了，她会向大家推荐中医。８５岁的老母亲经常背疼，她正力劝母亲尝试针灸疗法。

莎伦对中西医治疗差别感触很深。“樊蓥和他的助手对我十分耐心、细致，我感到很放松，恢复得也快。如果是去看西医，幸运的话，医生会给我１０分钟，然后就开药，或安排更多检查。看到我肩痛或脚痛，西医会给我打止痛针。我可不喜欢打针和手术。所以，我会来针灸诊所。我虽不知道针灸原理，但我知道它有效。”

“美国的医疗体系有很大问题，”莎伦说，“不少人在寻找替代疗法。我坚信今后会有越来越多人看中医。”

正如莎伦所说，当前，美国阿片类止痛药物滥用与成瘾危机日益严重，在这方面针灸大有可为。

阿片类止痛药包括杜冷丁、吗啡等，镇痛作用强大，但有极强成瘾性。官方数据显示，每天平均有９１名美国人死于过量服用阿片类药物，年均超过３万人。１０月底，美国总统特朗普向阿片滥用现象宣战，称“阿片类药物滥用是美国历史乃至全世界范围内最严重的药物危机”。

严峻现实迫使西医接受非药物疗法。而在各种非药物疗法中，针灸以有效和廉价脱颖而出。中国数十年来持续进行的中医机理研究形成大量成果，此时成为有力佐证。美国国家科学、工程和医学学院７月发布题为《疼痛管理与阿片类药物流行》的报告指出，近几十年来针灸止痛已成为普遍做法，包括针灸在内的一些非药物干预手段是止痛的有力工具。

不少旅美针灸师预感，针灸在美国可能迎来了发展的好时机。目前，经过业内人士长达４０多年的努力，美国５０个州中有４６个州以及华盛顿特区已立法让针灸行医合法化。而在这个过程中，樊蓥的诊所，从１５年前的无人问津到如今每周稳定在１５０位左右病人。个中改变，反映了针灸在美国从举步维艰到逐步受到认可的历程。

正是看到针灸治疗的良好效果和较大的市场空间，美国一些理疗师也开始学习针灸，但这也带来了一些干扰。美国的针灸与东方医学硕士需要学习２０００小时以上，而美国部分理疗师将针灸改成“干针”，只需学习５０个学时就可行医，且未接受中医针灸的完整训练，更缺乏中医针灸处理多科疾病的全能知识和技能储备。所谓干针是指理疗师用针头对激痛点进行针刺的方法。

“美国国内一些理疗师的做法是在混淆视听，给针灸在美发展带来挑战。”谈起这些“干扰”，樊蓥皱起眉头。

目前，莎伦所参加的医疗保险覆盖针灸治疗，可报销８０％。１０月，美国参众两院议员同意在老年人与残疾人联邦医保的一个补充项目中包括针灸。如果该法案最终通过，相信将进一步推动针灸在美国的发展。

１１月，多个美国中医针灸团体在学术期刊上正式发布《针灸应对阿片类药物危机白皮书２０１７》，樊蓥也是作者之一。这份白皮书被送交美国卫生与公众服务部，并得到积极回复。

也是在初冬，作为全美中医药学会（ＡＴＣＭＡ）副会长的樊蓥参加了首次在美国国会举办的针灸推介会，向议员推荐和介绍针灸在止痛与治疗阿片类药物滥用与成瘾方面的作用。现场气氛热烈，４０多人还尝试了耳针。“在国会和联邦政府层面，我们还将继续推动，为针灸在美迎来真正春天不懈努力。”樊蓥说。

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针灸莎伦樊蓥美国华盛顿

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新闻分析：针灸看到了被美国主流医学接受的机遇(新华社记者 林小春）

http://news.xinhuanet.com/overseas/2017-09/27/c_1121734808.htm

如果说传统中医作为一个整体在美国还处境艰难，那么针灸的命运要好得多。经过业内人士长达４０多年的努力，美国５０个州中有４６个州以及华盛顿特区已立法让针灸行医合法化。由于美国阿片类止痛药物滥用与成瘾危机日益严重，针灸在美国面临着大发展乃至被主流医学界所接受的良机。

一周前，美国３５个州、华盛顿特区以及美属波多黎各的检察长联名发出公开信，呼吁美国健康保险计划联合会的１３００个会员公司修改保险政策，将针灸等非药物止痛疗法纳入在内。此前，美国马里兰州、华盛顿州、阿拉斯加州等已将针灸纳入医疗保险体系。

美国针灸界２６日发表一份２１页的英文白皮书，列举一系列科研证据，表明针灸能作为一线疗法安全有效地治疗急性与慢性疼痛。

“针灸的春天也许来了，”在华盛顿特区从业的执照针灸师樊蓥对新华社记者说，“这次美国的阿片类药物危机，将让非药物疗法正式有了一席之地，包括针灸、整脊和医疗按摩，但也不能说没有春寒。”

自去年３月时任美国总统奥巴马提出止痛药物滥用问题，在新泽西州行医的执照针灸师李永明就意识到“这或许是一个针灸新时代的开始”。他第一个提出，美国正在开展“新鸦片战争”，这个说法在华人针灸师内部得到广泛认同。

“在各种非药物疗法中，针灸治疗疼痛效果最好，对替代阿片类止痛药最具特异性，所以这对针灸界无疑是个好消息和发展机遇，几十年不遇，为针灸进入主流医学提供了良机，”李永明说。

对于美国各州检察长的呼吁，他乐观地认为，美国保险公司照办的概率很大，一个原因是针灸成本不高，而“阿片类药物中毒急诊住院治疗平均每次９万多美元。够一个针灸师一年的工资。保险公司是要算成本的”。

全美中医药学会会长田海河强调，美国各州检察长的公开信只是一个提议，采纳与否不知道，但这确实可能意味着针灸在美国大发展的机遇即将来临，接下来的问题是怎么抓住机遇。

田海河说，目前美国有４．５万名针灸师，首先技术一定要过硬，能有本领去帮助病人止痛，使病人没有理由、没有借口去用止痛药，也就不会成瘾。“我们要有这个金刚钻，才能揽这个瓷器活。”

他还提醒，即使各州检察长的提议被接受，美国还有很多提供针灸治疗的私人诊所与个体医生并不在医疗保险体系内。保险体系内的一些医生也提供针灸服务，但称之为“干针”，认为这与中医无关。“干针”反而有可能抢先利用这个机遇，这是需要针灸师们解决的问题。

“如果针灸能被纳入医保范围内，这太好不过了。但这将是一个漫长的过程。结果不是等来的，需要我们提供科学证据，证明针灸止痛安全、有效，”田海河说。

对于各州检察长的提议，美国健康保险计划联合会通信与公共关系主管凯瑟琳·唐纳森告诉新华社记者，他们已在探索加强使用已被证明有效止痛的非药物疗法。

唐纳森说：“对于许多患者而言，诸如针灸、瑜伽和锻炼等疗法都是有效的一线疗法，但这视患者个体的不同情况而言，必要时再改而使用药物疗法。”

那么，美国学术界目前到底怎么看待针灸呢？

美国国家补充和综合健康中心官网在对针灸的介绍中指出，只要由有经验的、受过培训的针灸师施针，针消过毒，总体是安全的，但不当施针能引发严重副作用。一系列研究表明，针灸可能有助减轻腰痛、颈痛和骨关节炎疼痛，也有可能帮助减少紧张性头痛发生频率并预防偏头痛。

美国国家科学、工程和医学学院也于今年７月发布一份题为《疼痛管理与阿片类药物流行》的报告指出，近几十年来针灸止痛已成为普遍做法，包括针灸在内的一些非药物干预手段是止痛的有力工具。

２０１５年，美国医疗保健机构凯泽·珀默嫩特公司曾在６０００多名会员慢性疼痛患者中开展问卷调查，结果发现，３２％的患者接受了针灸治疗，４７％的患者接受了整脊治疗，２１％的患者说同时使用这两种疗法。

研究第一作者、凯泽·珀默嫩特公司健康研究中心的查尔斯·埃尔德对新华社记者说，针灸是帮助治疗慢性肌肉骨骼疼痛的一种重要手段，有越来越多的科学证据支持使用针灸止痛。因为慢性疼痛很难治疗，所以针灸治疗就显得很重要。

“通常我们使用的药物效果不佳或者副作用太大，所以医生和患者都期待替代疗法，”埃尔德说，“针灸的作用应该在我们的医保体系里继续增强，这将很有意义。比如，俄勒冈州现在要求医疗保险覆盖包括针灸在内的补充医学方法治疗背痛患者。我预计我们将来会看到更多这样的要求。”

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46 Reviews / Testimonies of McLean Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

46 reviews of McLean Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, about Dr.Arthur Yin Fan, from http://www.bookfresh.com

https://www.bookfresh.com/cindex.php/profile/edit/cs/reviews_manage?utm_campaign=bf_trans%3A%3A16-Mar-02&utm_source=review_alert&utm_medium=email

Simply Amazing

3/2/2016

Deborah L. says: Dr. Fan is simply amazing. Regular PT failed my daughter and both. Dr. Fan far exceeded expectations. Love the atmosphere in the office

Thankful

12/30/2015

Kay S. says: Dr Fan is a super amazing Acupuncturist.. His Chinese Herbs have helped to save my life.. Dr Fan’s acupuncture opened up my meridian to the point where I even got pregnant. I had a healthy baby girl. Dr Arthur Fan knows exactly what he is doing when it comes to treating his patients with Acupuncture . He not only listens , but he treats his patients according to their diagnosis w his super excellent Chinese Herbs💗

PERFECT

11/28/2015

Gwen D. says: Dr. Fan is wonderful. He listens and is very patient and understanding of your issues. I highly recommend him.

Amazing

10/19/2015

Abdou Y. says: I have just started a treatment for a knee pain that has been threatening my ability to work out. Just after 2 visits to Dr. Fan’s center, I can only say that I feel way better than before as I don’t feel anymore about 70% of the pain. I can’t wait for the next sessions as I now hope for a complete healing. I was skeptical at first since I was stranger to acupuncture but not I can say it works.

Excellent

9/1/2015

Lynn D. says: I saw Dr. Fan yesterday for the first time and already feel like I have some improvement in my mood and stress level. Wonderful.

Doctor who cares

8/26/2015

Kasandra M. says: I just started seeing Dr Fan and I appreciate that he is looking at finding the cause of medical issues rather than masking symptoms. I have seen countless doctors and this one finally gives me hope. I have started feeling some relief with my various conditions and I know I have a long road ahead but Dr Fan is very kind, explains things and really targets where the issues are. I am so happy to have found him.

Great insight

7/24/2015

Barbara B. says: Dr. Fan listens more than most conventional doctors and is more attuned with what is going on with your health. His treatments are specialized and individualized to you. He has addressed specific concerns ranging from back discomfort, swollen joints, headaches, and colds, to helping to guide you to an overall sense of quiet and calm. Regardless of what ails you, a cupping session is a must.

Dr Fan Is Amazing

7/3/2015

Yuuna K. says: Dr. Fan is an outstanding doctor. He is trained in both western medicine as well as Chinese traditional medicine. He brings years of experience practicing both disciplines. He is amazing with acupuncture, diagnosis, and treatment suggestions. My body responded very positively to his acupuncture treatment. I would recommend him to other patients considering Chinese Traditional Medicine.

Post-Stroke Dystonia

6/9/2015

Sameer Y. says: I have an odd condition, and Dr. Fan is handling it with patience and success.

Excellent Doctor

4/7/2015

Robin S. says: I am fortunate to have found Dr. Fan who has helped me with a variety of issues: poison ivy, arthritis and allergies among them. His medical expertise is evident as he explains what is happening in the body and how acupuncture can support healing. His knowledge is balanced with kindness and compassion supported by an office environment that provides positive energy. I highly recommend Dr. Fan, particularly if other approaches to a problem have not brought relief.

Incredible!

4/6/2015

Eileen W. says: I was diagnosed with dystonia which affects my neck movement ability. Specialists such as neurologists, rehabilitation doctors suggest Botox injections which has side affect and not a long term solution. I had acupuncture in nearby NYC area and not much improvement. I found Dr. Fan and had great improvement under his treatment. And Dr. Fan is extremely kind and patient. Many thanks to Dr. Fan! Eileen

Very Helpful

4/6/2015

Gwen D. says: Dr. Fan amazes me with his ability to help me with multiple things. I have seen him in the past on other issues, and he has helped me greatly. I tend to be very stressed out and when I am with Dr. Fan, I feel my anxiety level drop. He is kind, understanding and extremely knowledgeable. Dr. Fan his assistant, Sarah, are excellent.

Very astute in diagnosis and treatment

2/8/2015

Scott B. says: I daresay, Dr. Fan has added years to my life. Very early in my chronic lymphocytic leukemia Dr. Fan intervened with a combination of herbs and acupuncture that has kept my cell counts stabilized since 2009–and at a juncture where it is too early for western medicine to intervene. From my vantage, Dr. Fan is most astute for both his skills of diagnosis and week-by-week treatment. Incidentally, for anyone with an interest, I recommend the book “Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine,” by Beinfield and Korngold.

Magical Doctor

1/23/2015

Deborah L. says: I have been going to Dr. Fan now for years when I have a medical issue I’m confident he can treat. When I experienced back issues years ago, I saw a orthopedic doctor, tried a chiropractor, physical therapy and pain medication. It was then I decided to give acupuncture a try. How fortunate that I found Dr. Fan. A very informed physician who was gentle and caring. After only a few treatments which included cupping, I was cured. To this day years later, I have not had any back issues. He is now treating me for acid reflux. I so recommend his treatment – just amazing.

Alternative medicine treatment for hypertension,insomnia and others

11/26/2014

May T. says: Dr Fan treated my hypertension and a myriad of other aches and pains. His knowledge of western and Chinese medicine blends a wholistic approach in his treatment. He is patient and gentle as a doctor. Determined to avoid getting on medication to treat hypertension, I started a diet and exercise regime but only to limited results. Only after I began accupuncture did my blood pressure begin to normalize. My husband also sees him for insomnia which has helped.

Dr. Fan has done wonders!

11/2/2014

Al P. says: Dr. Fan has done wonders for both my wife and me. My wife had lingering multiple small blood clots in her lower leg area. Her vascular surgeon had told she needed to be on blood thinners for the rest of her life. Plus, she would have to wait for the clots to reobsorb back into her blood. Inside two weeks of treatment from Dr. Fan, the clots were gone. After my knee replacement the swelling was not going down. I was told that at my age it would take a much longer time frame. Three weeks of visits to Dr. Fan the swelling was completely reversed. We both whole heartedly recommend Dr. Fan.

Larry A

9/12/2014

Larry A. says: I believe I am very fortunate to have found Dr. Fan. I could not be happier and I am a severe critic, so I believe Dr. Fan is tops. Dr. Fan took his time to explain the procedures before they happened and made sure I understood the message he was telling me. Thank you Dr. Fan

Feeling much better

9/4/2014

Phannee W. says: Having been a patient of Dr. Fan for a while, I am very grateful that he has cured most of my ailments and I would highly recommend him to other patients for acupuncture treatment..

Great Service and Very good doctor

9/2/2014

Maryam Z. says: I have really bad leg pain and I went to see Dr. Fan and explained him my situation. He took great interest in my leg pain and overall health issues and gave me a treatment plan which will help me to deal with my pain until its treated completely. He was not interested in money aspect of my treatment but was more keen to find a cure for my leg pain. I am very happy with his treatment strategy and after 3 sessions, I already to start feeling better.

Great!

8/13/2014

Gwen D. says: Dr. Fan is a wonderful doctor. He is interested in his patients, listens carefully to your issue, and proceeds with the treatment. I have seen Dr. Fan before and he was concerned about the symptoms I had experienced previously; making sure that was cleared up. His assistant is also very committed to the patients and practice. The office has a lovely peaceful aura, I felt good just walking in.

Good oriental medicine and doctor

7/23/2014

Eric T. says: I had went to see Dr. Fan because of pain and numbness in my hands, elbow, and wrist. The doctor at urgent care could not do anything but give my anti-inflammatory. But after seeing Dr. Fan and being treated with acupuncture and medicine he gave me, the symptoms have lighted and is decreasing daily. I would recommend that people with issues that most western medical doctors cannot treat to at least pay Dr. Fan a visit to see if anything can be done.

Five Star

4/27/2014

Al P. says: Both my wife and I have been seeing Dr. Fan for almost a year. He has been able to allow me to delay a total knee replacement for almost a year. And I am certain he will allow me to delay the operation until I am in a better position to have the operation on my terms. He also, in one treatment cleared my Carole tunnel node that was sticking out over an inch and stop the pain entirely. Dr. Fan has saved me from a repetitive operation on my wrist.

Professional and curteous

4/25/2014

Dr. Jerome W. says: Just started, so far everything is fine. I will have more to say when I an further into my treatment.

Made huge difference!

4/23/2014

Takeo Y. says: I had a great experience with Dr. Fan. Aggravated shoulder pain due to lifting heavy stuff on top of the old pain I had been suffering for a while was removed mostly after 3 sessions of acupuncture and cuppings. Will definitely go back to seek for his treatment if the needs arises.

Excited to finally experience alternative medicine

4/22/2014

Carmela & Brent B. says: For me and my husband, it was all positive energy and results. I can’t wait to complete the recommended treatment (2 times a week for 4 weeks), I know Dr. Fan will make a difference! My husband was satisfied after his first time treatment yesterday (4/21/14). After his 40 mins session, he felt like he slept for days and no pain all day.

Always awesome

2/7/2014

Diane H. says: Dr. Fan is wonderful. He has helped me overcome a paralyzed leg (skiing accident), increased the mobility of a surgically repaired shoulder, relieved migraines, and relieved vertigo induced by a concussion. He’s amazing!

Highly recommended!

1/16/2014

Meschelle L. says: I have been seeing Dr. Fan regularly for about 8 months. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs were new to me and I have greatly appreciated Dr. Fan’s knowledge, skills, and approach/demeanor. He and his office team are highly professional and organized as well. Dr. Fan has helped me tremendously with both benzodiazepine withdrawal and rheumatoid arthritis. I plan to make acupuncture and Chinese herbs a regular accompaniment to my healthcare from now on.

Outstanding

12/19/2013

Caron D. says: Dr. Fan has been successfully treating me for something western medicine hasn’t been able to achieve. He is very knowledgable, gentle, thorough and runs a very sanitary and organized office. I highly recommend Dr. Fan.

Outstanding !!!!

10/20/2013

Phil S. says: My wife and I have been going to Dr. Fan for years off and on for various treatments, proof is in the treatment when the pain associated with the condition, goes away. Dr. Fan is extremely helpful and knowledgeable about how to treat a problem. Very compassionate and takes the time to explain the his treatment plan.

Great Experience

10/19/2013

Gwen D. says: This was my first visit, I too was impressed with Dr. Fan’s compassion, understanding and patience with me. Both Dr. Fan and his assistant were wonderful. I am so glad that my friend recommended him.

The best doctor of Chinese medicine in the DC areas

10/9/2013

Jane C. says: I had shingles and the pain was awful. After a brief antivirus treatment my primary doctor at Kaiser Permanente could only give me strong pain killers (generic Percocet) to dull the pain. I was warned that the pain could last for months. So I turned to Dr. Fan for help. Within a week, my pain was gone under Dr. Fan’s care. I am very grateful to Dr. Fan!

Professional and attentive

9/25/2013

Dianna P. says: I have seen Dr. Fan only once so far, but can report that my experience was very good. I had acupuncture and felt better afterwards. I will continue to see him as I believe in the holistic approach to staying well.

More than accupuncture…

9/3/2013

Bill S. says: I have been seeing Dr. Fan for amost 2 years. The accupuncture has helped in so many ways. But, Dr. Fan will talk to you and get to know you. He has recommended teas, herbs and lifestyle changes that have been so benefitial to me. He is a wonderful wholistic healer. WRS

Chinese Medicine works

7/21/2013

Ruth B. says: Dr. Fan’s thoughtful analysis of our conditions each week help us with everything from swollen ankles to allergies to getting greater function in a hip replacement area to blood abnormalities. He and his office staff are pleasant, welcoming, and reassuring.

Dr. Fan is the best!

6/8/2013

Karen D. says: I feel very fortunate to have met Dr. Fan; he is very knowledgeable and skilled in his art. I sought Dr. Fan’s care for what a previous doctor diagnosed as facial nerve damage. Dr. Fan assessed the situation as chronic inflammation, and I have had a remarkable reversal. I couldn’t be more pleased with my transformation, and I highly recommend Dr. Fan. His staff is awesome too; thank you so much, Dr. Fan!

A Real Treasure

4/17/2013

George L. says: I have been a patient of Dr. Fan’s for some time now, and consider him to be a real treasure. Based on the effectiveness of his treatment, he is obviously a master acupuncturist and herbalist. He takes care to explain the nature of the treatment and to answer any questions related to it. I can wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Fan to anyone interested in acupuncture.

Great, compassionate doctor

3/30/2013

Anastasia C. says: Dr. Fan understood my problem and approached it with the utmost care. I’m very appreciative of the wonderful experience being his patient has been.

Mike B says:

3/5/2013

Michael B. says: I have seen Dr. Fan but one time, received accupuncture and something new to me, cupping. The cupping seems to have made my lower back pain, that I have been experiencing 24/7 for about four months, disappear. I have no fantasies about this being a forever thing, but I am optimistic that future visits will have nothing but positive effects on the many trouble spots of my body. Thank you Dr, Fan!

Keeps me balanced

3/1/2013

Jan Y. says: Dr. Fan keeps me balanced and when I have congestion he opens up my sinuses. Doesn’t matter what I go in for, he always seems to have a solution.

Great Dr of alternative medicine

12/22/2012

Sarah T. says: Sarah T. says: Dr Fan is very professional and extreamly knowledgeable about alternative and conventional medicine. He takes time to fully interview me each time I see him, regarding my symptoms and progress. Dr Fan fully understands herbal medicines and I trust his recommendations. I am seeing some success for my balance issues and expect to see additional progress. Thank you Dr Fan.

Thank You Dr. Fan !!

12/3/2012

William S. says: Both I and my wife have been seeing Dr. Fan for most of 2012. We are thoroughly satisfied with Dr. Fan’s kindness, awareness and manner in which he works with us. We could not think of a better environment in which to receive this kind of help. I have recommended Dr. Fan to others and, they are very well satisfied as well. Thank you Dr. Fan!!!

Richard & Arlene

10/16/2012

Arlene R. says: Dr. Fan was recommended to us and my husband went first. Richard came home relieved of his pain so he than he took me in to see Dr. Fan. I been having back and hip pain for 20 years and now after 3 sessions I can sleep on my right hip with no pain. The best customer service to both of us, he gives us great advice on health care. I don’t know why I waited so long to see him!! I highly recommend Dr. Fan and my husband and I always feel very relaxed while getting our treatment together and we love the music that just soothes our whole being!!!

Great !

5/29/2012

Bill S. says: WRS – I am a new patient. I have seen Dr. Fan twice. My initial evaluation was very informative. Dr. Fan discussed alternatives and diet. My first few days were much better. On the second visit, I was complaining of back pain. When I wakled to my car after the accupuncture treatment I realized… “hey!! no more pain!!”. I recommend McLean Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine and Dr. Yin Fan.

THE BEST DOCTOR IN ALEXANDRIA

4/17/2012

Simara C. says: I have severe back pain and I have to say that everytime I come to see Dr. Fan, he really takes care of me and makes the pain go away. I usually get spasms where sometimes I can’t even move and/or walk straight. He is always concerned, he gives very good advice and is extremely skilled and helpful. His technique is amazing and I never feel whenever he puts the needles in. The cupping is also amazing- which most of the time are done by his great assisstant, April. Dr. Fan along with April give the best customer service and the best treatment. His office is very pleasant, always clean and organized and I always feel very relaxed while I’m getting my treatment with the chinese music he has in every patient room. I feel very lucky to be his patient and I plan to keep going to him as long as I need to.

Wonderful!

3/19/2012

Susan G. says: I am very happy to have found Dr. Fan over a year ago. He is very patient, gentle and understanding and uses his knowledge to help with various issues, like neck and back pain. His assistant is also kind and skilled.

Sarah & Scott

2/8/2012

Sarah L. says: I was very impressed at Dr. Fan’s level of organization and ability to handle multiple clients. He conducted a thorough interview of both my husband and myself and provided treatment. Dr. Fan was very knowledgeable and the things he suggested made sense. He and his assistant are very compassionate and thoughtful individuals and we feel fortunate to have found him.

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Nevada: the first state that fully legalized acupuncture and Chinese medicine in the Unites States

Dr. Fan’ s new article was published recently.

GLOBAL VIEWS
	Nevada: the first state that fully legalized acupuncture and Chinese medicine in the Unites States — In memory of Arthur Steinberg, Yee Kung Lok and Jim Joyce who made it happen February 27, 2015 | Arthur Yin Fan | J Integr Med 2015; 13 (2) : 72–79 doi: 10.1016/S2095-4964(15)60158-3 ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT | PDF |

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Cervical Dystonia & Acupuncture, by Dr Arthur Fan in the greater Washington DC and Northern Virginia

Cervical dystonia case

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The Well Street Journal talking about Traditional Chinese Medicine today, on the Health & Wellness Section, Nov 4, 2014

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Visit Dr.Arthur Yin Fan’ s Office Online, in the Greater Washington DC and Northern Virginia

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Oromandibular dystonia has been improved by Liu Jun San Capsule.

Jun 3, 2014 A Madam e-mail To ArthurFan@ChineseMedicineDoctor.US
Dear Dr. Fan,
I spoke with you recently over the phone about my diagnosis of oromandibular dystonia. You had asked that I send you some background, as well as my address to send an herbal remedy to that you have found works well for dystonia patients.

I was diagnosed around 9 years ago by two neurologists (Lahey Cliinic, Mass General) with task-specific oromandibular dystonia. I was doing radio broadcasting (weather reporting) for a couple of years, which involved repetitive phrases and likely- at least in part- brought on the condition. I first developed symptoms while doing the reports in a recording booth, although my conversational speech was normal (behind the microphone I had symptoms, and stepping away from the microphone I had no symptoms). The symptoms intensified over time and I eventually had to quit the broadcasting. My conversational speech eventually became impaired, and it took at least a year (or more) for the condition to go mostly back into remission. I stayed away from the broadcasting until around 10 months ago, and have only been doing a small amount of broadcasting (two hours or so) a week. I started noticing symptoms returning while working in a research lab (that is my primary job and where I spend most of my time). It was a stressful year for me, as I was trying to get a couple of projects finished so I could publish the work- I had invited a colleague of mine to be a co-first author on this work, and we ended up having many stressful, intense conversations about the work that involved constant voice projection (the lab is loud because of background noises). I’m not sure if it was a combination of stress/anxiety coupled with voice projection, and perhaps also coupled with the little bit of broadcasting I had started doing again that brought the condition back. I was also volunteering for a couple of hours a week at a preschool- which involved more voice projection. I first developed symptoms while in the lab, talking with my colleague.

Years ago when the dystonia first appeared, I received scalp acupuncture treatments based on a protocol published in a Chinese journal that showed success in 19 early Parkinson’s patients. This was successful in relieving my symptoms. I’m on the same protocol again and am receiving treatments three times a week. I had published an article in Natural Solutions Magazine (formerly Alternative Medicine Magazine) in collaboration with my acupuncturist. Below my signature is an excerpt from the article.

I was wondering if you could send me information that I could pass along to my acupuncturist that details the protocol that you use with your dystonia patients? I would also be grateful to receive the herbal remedy that you have found works well for oromandibular dystonia. My address is(omitted in this article):

Thank you kindly for your time.
Best wishes,
E
(Excerpt from the published article):
I had been placed on a Bell’s Palsy acupuncture protocol for several months, since this was- at the time- the only neurological disorder my acupuncturist was familiar with, and unfortunately one that is characteristically very different from dystonia. I was about to quit the acupuncture since it wasn’t bringing me any real benefit, when I asked her if she knew of any protocols used to treat Parkinson’s disease- the closest disorder to dystonia that I knew of. Although researchers have not found a direct link between dystonia and Parkinson’s disease, there is great interest in some of the symptom crossover, and research groups are actively trying to better understand the overlap between the two movement disorders. Since Parkinson’s and Dystonia are both neurological and result in similar signs and symptoms, it was possible that a Parkinson’s acupuncture protocol could be adapted to a dystonia patient.

My acupuncturist found a journal article that outlined a protocol that involves both body and scalp acupuncture, and which is used to treat Parkinson’s patients.1 Acupuncture can help relieve symptoms by altering blood hormone levels. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Parkinson’s and dystonia are believed to be caused by genetics, aging, damage from excessive emotions, faulty diet, and chronic disease. Parkinson’s and Dystonia in TCM are seen as an inability of the blood and yin to nourish sinews and vessels, resulting in contraction, stiffness, and rigidity. The liver in TCM is what governs the sinews, and if the blood and yin become deficient, yang can become hyperactive, resulting in liver wind. These disorders mainly take root in the liver, but can lead to more complex presentations such as phlegm accumulation, qi and blood stagnation, and spleen and kidney deficiency. In TCM, you treat the root cause; in this case, treatment would involve settling the liver and extinguishing wind, and the manifestations, such as phlegm, stagnation, and/ or deficiency. One small study, An Acupuncture Protocol for Parkinson’s Disease,2 showed a total amelioration rate of 84.2 percent when scalp acupuncture was incorporated into an acupuncture treatment.

 

Arthur Yin Fan,CMD,PhD,LAc Jun 3,2014(E-mail) To A Madam (e-mailed me above)

Hi, E,

You may still use scalp and body acupuncture you mentioned. Take time. And also use some local points.

For herbal medicine, we have two:
(1) Pattern based herbology, heal tea.
(2) Dystonia focused herbal pills. It is called Liu Jun San capsule (100 capsule/per bottle, use 3#, 3 times a day).
It was a Chinese FDA (local branch) approved for hospital use (my former hospital).

 

A Madam Jun 3,2014 To Arthur Yin Fan,CMD,PhD,LAc

Dear Dr. Fan,

Thank you very much. I would like to try the dystonia focused herbal pills (if this is what you would recommend for my condition). I had seen a Youtube video of a gentleman with oromandibular dystonia that you had helped, whose symptoms looked (and sounded) identical to my own (lower left lip spasms, pursing of the lips, difficulty speaking). Did he take the dystonia focused herbal pills, or the pattern based herbology, heal tea?
Thank you again,

E

From: A Madam To: ArthurFan@ChineseMedicineDoctor.US
Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2014 8:19 AM
Subject: Request for more dystonia-specific herbal capsules

Dear Dr. Fan,
The herbal capsules that I received from you (Liu Jun San, 3 bottles in early June) seem to be working very well for me. My condition within two weeks of taking them went into a near remission. I still have symptoms, however my conversational speech has dramatically improved and I am even still able to do some radio broadcasting each week. I have also been doing scalp acupuncture, which might be synergistic with the capsules. I was also taking herbal teas prepared by my acupuncturist for several weeks prior to taking the capsules- She said there was some overlap in the ingredients in the teas versus what is in the capsules.

I would like to order another shipment of Liu Jun San for next month. I would actually be interested in continuing to take these capsules indefinitely, as I believe they might be effective in suppressing my symptoms. Is it possible for me to receive an automatic shipment every month, with the money taken out of my credit card each month automatically?

Thank you kindly.
Best wishes,
E

• Jul 11 at 9:46 PM  To  Arthur Yin Fan,CMD,PhD,LAc

Wonderful! Thank you so much!
I was at a party this evening, by the way, and I was discussing my condition with someone. She said she never would have known if I hadn’t told her. I really am doing so much better- Thank you!

E

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