Archive for the ‘Featured’ Category

The Largest Acupuncture Study You Have Never Heard Of.

Friday, December 7th, 2018

Have you ever had someone ask if acupuncture has any scientific and clinic basis beyond it’s long history of use?

Despite the easy act of looking in PubMed (a major respected resource for scientific studies) for Acupuncture related articles and over 7,000 hits coming up, there are large Meta-Analysis (Vickers et al. Arch Intern Med. 2012 Oct 22;172(19):1444-53) looking at multiple random controlled trials at once on Acupuncture and Chronic pain showing statistical benefits (P values). However one of my favorites for clinic insight and sheer impressive volume was performed in 1990s, the German Federal Committee of Physicians and Statutory Sickness Funds initiated a large-scale observational study to determine the effectiveness and adverse effects of acupuncture in real-life clinical practice in patients with chronic headache, low back pain and osteoarthritic pain.

The primary outcome was the physicians rating of the therapeutic effects of the acupuncture. Overall, 454,920 patients were analyzed within the first 2 years, with over 3,840,000 acupuncture sessions between them, making this the largest acupuncture study in history as well as one of the largest observational studies in the history of medical research.

Almost half of these patients were treated for chronic low back pain, followed by osteoarthritis and then headache. The physicians involved in the study, who were all medical doctors with training in acupuncture ranging from 140 hours to 350 hours, scored each of their patients to determine if there was improvement from the acupuncture. Overall, 21.8% of patients showed “marked improvement”, 54% showed “moderate improvement”, 16.1% showed “minimal” or slight improvement. Only 3.9% showed no change or got worse and 4.2% were unable to judge, while 9.4% stopped treatment for various reasons. Overall, there were not many adverse effects, those that were are almost unheard of from Licensed Acupucnturists due to far superior clincal training. Somehow the study (performed by MDs) makes the dubious claim that more acupuncture training my MD’s performing acupuncture did not make a difference in safety (comparing I guess 150 hours to maybe 300 hour?) while Licensed Acupuncturists earn approximately 1000 clinical hours in the USA of acupuncture training and have demonstrated higher safety stats elsewhere.

Take in these results considering the question posed at the start of this post. This means 450,000 patients and over 3.8 million acupuncture treatments for over 2 years performed by clinician MDs (who are most likely not advanced at acupuncture) and their success rates for moderate to marked improvement were at roughly 75% in total for all who were in this HUGE trial.

So for lower back, osteoarthritis or headaches – all very common ailments acupuncture can be backed up to show moderate to marked improvement with frequent care (weekly most likely) that involved no major risk to their health statistically and no drug or surgical intervention whcih minimizes the cost and risk of further complications. No matter how acupuncture works, this means it is safe, effective for these conditions – especially when looked at in conjunction to the meta-analysis of chronic pain. And this can only be improved upon with better trained clinicians performing it, as Licensed Acupuncturist are compared to medical doctors, chiropractors or physical therapist who perform acupuncture or dry needling.

This data was gathered by Germany, one of the most respected health systems in the Western world, and their state run insurance agencies ended up covering acupuncture for these medical reasons for the simple and obvious fact that it would reduce the dependence or risk for more costly procedures.

One must ask ourselves then why in America have we not adapted this strategy? Could it be that power and financial interests run deeper in our health care system than others? That medical professions or corporate companies are acting as turf protectors of patient dollars? Capitalism can good for many reasons if it is reigned in for the benefit of the people it is meant to serve. Is our health care serving our best interests and who are making these decisions considering the data that is available on the safety and cost effectiveness on acupuncture for some of our most common medical ailments?

Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18054725
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22965186

How the time flies! Centered Studios reaches 3 years old. Wellness and yoga studio venture with EIH had another Bday~

Tuesday, April 24th, 2018

The joint venture of Centered Studios came together when Mitch’s wife, Amy, discussed her dream to opening a yoga studio in her neighborhood partnered with Mitch’s desire to have an acupuncture practice closer to home and in his neighborhood. They opened Centered Studios 3 years ago in Rogers Park in April and have since provided a space for movement, healing, peace, community, meditation, events, pop ups and other healing arts colleagues to offer their services to the far north side of Chicago. Mitch and his practice work at Centered every Wednesday and Saturday from 2-6 pm in two rooms. You can book at this site. Oh, and your FIRST clas is always FREE at Centered Studio! Check it out and enjoy~

FREE AURICULAR ACUPUNCTURE @ Centered Studios 1 Year Anniversary Party!

Monday, April 25th, 2016

FREE AURICULAR ACUPUNCTURE @ Centered Studios 1 Year Anniversary Party!

Come to 7009 N Glenwood Ave on March 14th, from 5-9pm and enjoy Centered Studios and Smack Dab’s 1 year birthdays in Rogers Park with food, cocktails, massage, acupuncture and music! Remember first yoga class is ALWAYS FREE.  Come and enjoy the fun and meet other like minded Chicagoans.

Eastern Nutrition: Balancing Your Energetic & Seasonal Temperature talk at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine by Mitch Harris LAc

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2015

DID YOU KNOW? You’re not alone in being confused on what to eat! Modern nutrition is still evolving; it is not a mature discipline yet. It offers a fragmented view of food, focusing on separate nutrients rather than whole foods, and often fails to help balance meals and food plans.

Rather than focusing on weight loss, calorie intake, food groups, or vitamins, Eastern Nutrition focuses on how food tangibly affects each of us. It is not a one size fits all system. Diet is customized according to each patient’s unique constitution, current health condition, and seasonal influences.

Join us with PCOM’s Clinical Chair and Eastern Nutrition teacher Mitchell Harris to learn the basics of this fascinating system that Chinese culture has explored for over 2,000 years. You will come away understanding:

• Which common foods are warming and which are cooling
• What adjustments to make for the seasons
• Your personal basic energetic temperature

Don’t miss this nourishing talk about an ancient, practical system of nutrition! “One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” —Virginia Woolf

MONDAY, JUNE 22
5:30 – 6:30PM
DOORS OPEN AT 5:00PM

$5 ADVANCE, $10 AT DOOR