News from the Field

Abstract

Call for Papers About Treating Covid “Long Haulers”

Medical Acupuncture is calling for papers for a special issue entitled COVID “Long Haulers”: Treating Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 Syndrome. The guest editors—Joseph Audette, MD (Boston); David Groopman, MD (Petersburg, VA); and Mitchell Elkiss, DO (Farmington Hills, MI)—are seeking articles from clinicians who have used acupuncture and herbal preparations to treat patients with COVID-19 Long Hauler syndrome. The guest editors are interested in submissions of original translational research, case series, or review articles that would be of practical importance. Manuscripts must be received by December 10, 2021. https://home.liebertpub.com/cfp/special-issue-covid-andlsquolong-haulersandrsquo-treating-lo/346/

Call for Papers About Women in Acupuncture

Medical Acupuncture has issued a call for papers for a special issue entitled Women in Acupuncture: Celebrating the Contributions of Clinicians, Researchers, Leaders, and Teachers. Lisa Jean Taylor-Swanson, PhD, MAcOM, LAc, Dipl. OM, an assistant professor in the College of Nursing at The University of Utah in Salt Lake City, and Nadia Volf, MD, PhD, a professor and the codirector of the scientific acupuncture department at the Medical School of Paris University in France, will serve as guest editors. The issue will highlight the great contributions of women in the development of the acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine evidence base. Manuscripts must be received by January 28, 2022. https://home.liebertpub.com//cfp/special-issue-women-in-acupuncture/349/

Call for Papers About the World Acupuncture Forum

Medical Acupuncture has issued a call for papers for a special issue on the World Acupuncture Forum (WAF) Davos 2022. The guest editors will be Gerhard Litscher, MSc, PhD, MDsc, head of the Research Unit for Complementary and Integrative Laser Medicine and the Research Unit of Biomedical Engineering in Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine and chairman of the TCM Research Center Graz, Medical University of Graz; Frank Bahr, MD, with the EATCM in Munich, Germany; and Im Quah-Smith, MD, PhD, an adjunct lecturer at the School for Women's and Children's Health, UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales in Australia. Manuscript topics should be related to either the general aspects or specific aspects outlined by the World Acupuncture Forum, which includes acupuncture research in Europe, China, the Americas, Australia, and different continents; acupuncture and COVID-19; and acupuncture and mental health. The deadline for manuscript submission is January 15, 2022. https://home.liebertpub.com/cfp/special-issue-the-world-acupuncture-forum/350/

Acupuncture Bill Introduced in U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Representative Judy Chu (D–CA) introduced the Acupuncture for Seniors Act (H.R. 4803) to increase access to acupuncture. If passed, it the new Act would amend Section 1861 of the Social Security Act and allow licensed acupuncturists to participate in the Medicare program as providers. Chu said that the bill would help Americans access the care they need, particularly for chronic pain conditions. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means. Various acupuncture organizations support the Act. https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-chu-introduces-acupuncture-seniors-act-2021

Patients With Breast Cancer Benefit From Acupuncture

Acupuncture significantly decreased multiple treatment-related symptoms, compared with a usual-care or a wait-list control group, in survivors of breast cancer, according to a study reported in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Hongjin Li, PhD, at the University of Illinois in Chicago, was the lead author, describing the methodology, which included only randomized clinical trials assessing acupuncture for managing breast cancer treatment–related symptoms. The researchers found that verum acupuncture reduced multiple treatment-related symptoms and was a generally safe treatment with some mild adverse events. www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/acm.2021.0133

U.S. Navy Using Battlefield Acupuncture

The U.S. Navy Seabees with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5, based at Port Hueneme, CA, has become the first Navy deployable command to receive Battlefield (auricular) Acupuncture (BFA) to treat pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, nausea, and addiction (such as inducing cessation of tobacco use). The treatment is available after the medical team identifies the underlying condition causing the patient's pain, so as not to mask symptoms. However, the acupuncture can be performed in the field during a medical workup. The goal is to reduce the sailor's pain to help with functioning. BFA works quickly and the needles used can be worn by sailors while they are in uniform. The smaller needles are left in place from 3 to 14 days. www.dvidshub.net/news/403846/leading-front-nmcb-5-first-deployable-naval-unit-perform-battlefield-auricular-acupuncture

Dubai Opens A Holistic Health Center

The Santhigiri Holistic Healthcare Centre opened in Dubai. The Lootah Group of Companies in Dubai in association with Santhigiri Group from Kerala, India, are calling this the largest such center in the United Arab Emirates, with multiple modalities available in 1 location. The center offers acupuncture, Ayurveda, osteopathy, chiropractic, yoga, meditation, and other modalities, and customizes treatments for various medical conditions and wellness therapies. The Center will also offer facials, massages, and spa packages. www.pressreader.com/uae/khaleej-times/20210801/281560883834969 and www.tradearabia.com/news/HEAL_385105.html

Acupuncture Available at Most NCI Cancer Centers

A study by researchers, at the Memorial–Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, found 76.5% of National Cancer Institute (NCI)–designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers offered acupuncture but only 56% of community hospitals did. The study was published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Krupali Desai, MPH, MD, and colleagues reviewed integrative medicine therapies available at 51 NCI-designated cancer centers and 100 community hospitals. The researchers also found that NCI-designated cancer centers offered massage, meditation, music, yoga, and t'ai chi more often than community hospitals. However, more community hospitals offered fitness programs. The team also discovered that community hospitals serving low-income populations offered fewer integrative medicine therapies than community hospitals serving middle-income populations. www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/acm.2021.0102

Study to Investigate Acupuncture for Treating Constipation

Yueh-Lin Hsu, at Far Eastern Memorial Hospital in Taiwan, is the responsible party for a randomized clinical trial to investigate laser-acupoint stimulation, compared to routine care, to relieve constipation in patients hospitalized for stroke. Patients in the intervention group will receive acupoint stimulation for 3–5 minutes daily for 10 days, and the control group will have a laser pen used that does not turn on the energy. The researchers plan to enroll 100 participants and complete the study in 2023. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05002348?recrs=abdf&cond=acupuncture&draw=4&rank=212

Colorado HB 1276 Includes Reimbursement for Acupuncture

A new Colorado law (HB 1276) to prevent substance-use disorders includes a provision that health insurance plans reimburse at least 6 treatments by an acupuncturist, physical therapy, or other nonpharmacologic specialty care for people with pain diagnoses. Governor Jared Schutz Polis (Col-D) signed the bill into law. It had bipartisan primary sponsorship in the Colorado Senate. https://legiscan.com/CO/text/HB1276/2021

Clinical Trial to Compare Acupuncture Techniques for Treating Obesity

Researchers at Indonesia University in Jakarta will compare the effectiveness of electroacupuncture (EA) with dietary intervention versus thread-embedded acupuncture with dietary intervention for reducing body weight, waist circumference, and leptin levels in obese patients. Cindy Notonegoro, MD, is the principal investigator. The researchers plan to enroll 34 participants and randomize them to either EA 3 times per week for 4 weeks or thread-embedded acupuncture 1 time. Both groups will have dietary interventions to reduce calories. The team anticipates completing the study in December 2021. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05023148?recrs=abdf&cond=acupuncture&draw=3&rank=106

Combination Therapy Benefits Patients With Hearing Loss

A combination of acupuncture, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and conventional steroid therapy helped people with idiopathic, sudden, sensorineural hearing loss, according to a study in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Che-Jui Lee, MD, and colleagues at the Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center in Taipei, Taiwan, conducted a retrospective chart review involving 154 patients with idiopathic, sudden, sensorineural hearing loss, comparing the results of treatments they received. The researchers reported hearing improvement in patients who received the combination of acupuncture, steroids, and hyperbaric oxygen. The researchers concluded: “Acupuncture is a safe and nonpharmacologic treatment option and can be considered as an initial treatment strategy in such a clinical scenario.” www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/acm.2020.0330

VA Opens Integrative Oncology Clinic in PA

The VA Pittsburgh (PA) Healthcare System is opening an integrative oncology clinic at its University Drive location, with funding from a national VA Whole Health grant. The cancer administrator, Lisa Denk, MS, said it was the first clinic of its kind in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs system. The clinic will offer acupuncture and other modalities in combination with conventional cancer care to help lessen or prevent side-effects of chemotherapy or surgery. The center will initially serve patients in person and virtually for those with prostate cancer, but plans to expand to veterans with other cancers. Clinicians at the clinic will focus on whole health concepts and help the veteran develop personal health plans and tailor treatments to each patient's goals. Oncologist Jocelyn L. Tan, MD, will be the clinic's main provider of care. https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/91621/va-pittsburgh-to-open-integrative-oncology-clinic/

California Association Warns of Scam Targeting Acupuncturists

The California Medical Association issued a warning about a new scam targeting professionals licensed by the state's Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) boards and bureaus, particularly acupuncturists. Here is how the scam works: The scammer calls licensees and says that he or she is from the Acupuncture Board and attempts to obtain personal information from the licensee. The DCA recommends that licensees should ask such callers for his/her names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses, and then end the call. Then the licensee should call the board or the Consumer Information Center at (800) 952-5210. The licensee should never disclose personal information without verifying that the caller has a legitimate need for that information. The DCA also reminded licensees that it will never ask for credit card numbers or other information by telephone. www.cmadocs.org/newsroom/news/view/ArticleId/49408/DCA-licensed-professionals-are-being-targeted-by-a-new-scam

Brain Health Program Will Include Acupuncture

UF Health Jacksonville (FL) received a $12.5 million grant from the Gary Sinise Foundation–Avalon Foundation Network for an interdisciplinary Brain Wellness Program to help veterans and first responders with post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injuries, and substance abuse. The Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation also contributed $250,000 to help get the program off of the ground. The program, to start in November 2021, will include holistic care, such as acupuncture and physical therapy. Patients will undergo a 3-day evaluation by experts from multiple disciplines, followed by 3 weeks of intensive therapy. Michael Sorna, MD, is the medical director of the UF Brain Wellness Program. Construction of a building to house the program is underway. www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/local/uf-health-jacksonville-launches-brain-wellness-program/77-eab14e44-8e26-4523-a1c6-e7e05dbaede7

Expert Spotlight

Adelene Jann, MD, a headache-medicine specialist and clinical assistant professor of neurology at NYU Langone Health Center in New York City, who performs acupuncture, serves on the SELF medical review board.

Stephen Birch, PhD, LAc, at Kristiania University College in Oslo, Norway, wrote in Integrative Medicine Research about the use of sham acupuncture in clinical trials and concluded that sham interventions are associated with significant problems, such as introducing bias.

Stephanie Cheng, MD, DABMA, at the Hospital for Special Surgery, in New York City, presented a webinar for the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture about perioperative acupuncture. The webinar is available online at: https://medicalacupuncture.org/webinars/perioperative-acupuncture-program-tips-tricks-and-lessons-learned/

Kyle Johnston, PA-C, in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX, was the lead author of an article in The Journal of Emergency Medicine, which found that Battlefield Acupuncture relieved low-back pain better than standard care for patients treated in the Center's emergency department, and that the participants experienced no adverse effects.