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Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects millions of young people worldwide, with rising diagnosis rates. Symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity significantly impact quality of life. While stimulant medications are effective, concerns about side effects and long-term efficacy have increased interest in alternatives. A global medication shortage since 2022 has further highlighted vulnerabilities in current treatment models. ADHD likely involves dopaminergic pathway dysregulation, and acupuncture’s effects on dopaminelinked brain regions suggest it could be a viable treatment. Previous reviews have been inconclusive, often excluding auricular or non-invasive methods. This review evaluates evidence to determine whether acupuncture or related techniques could form part of an integrated management approach. Data quality was appraised using CONSORT and STRICTA protocols. Three RCTs showed significant ADHD symptom reduction. Auricular transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) shows promise, but study weaknesses indicate that further rigorous research is needed.

This article explores five essential extra Japanese moxibustion points on the foot, derived from traditional familial lineages passed down through generations of moxibustion practitioners. The author shares personal clinical experience with these points, which exist outside conventional Chinese medicine frameworks and rely on an empirical approach. Through detailed case studies, the article demonstrates the therapeutic applications of UreiNei-Tai (Food Poisoning Point), the Third Toe Point, Fukaya’s Medial Liver-1, GB-40.5 and Fukaya’s BL-60. Each point is described with precise location guidelines, specific indications, clinical notes and illustrative case studies that showcase its effectiveness for conditions ranging from food poisoning and vertigo to sinusitis and sciatica. The article concludes with practical clinical considerations based on Fukaya’s principles of moxa application, which emphasise the importance of locating ‘live’ reactive points and the unique potency of these extra moxa points in clinical practice.

This article documents a NADA group acupuncture initiative held in the Upper Blue Mountains, Australia, which delivered significant mental health and well-being benefits to the community over the three months. The programme saw notable improvements in participants’ emotional, physical and social wellbeing. Anxiety levels, measured using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale, dropped significantly, with median scores reducing from 12.5 to 4 over four sessions. Participants described the sessions as calming, stress-reducing and helpful for building resilience.

This case study explores the integrative management of advanced metastatic breast cancer in a 52-year-old female, where Chinese herbal medicine was initiated before, and then modified throughout conventional treatment, leading to positive clinical benefits. The most remarkable outcome was a significant decrease in the patient’s CA15-3 cancer marker, which dropped from 248 U/mL to 21 U/mL over two years. The case illustrates the potential of integrating Chinese herbal medicine into conventional cancer treatment to both provide symptom relief and enhance treatment effectiveness while improving the patient’s well-being.

Andrew Miles is a doctor of Chinese medicine living in Chengdu. He is CEO of a Chinese medicine herb company, co-author of The Fibro Bible and Enlightenweight, and host of the Botanical Biohacking podcast.

This is the second article of the Shang Han Lun (Discussion on Cold Damage) series, which started in Issue 134 of the Journal of Chinese Medicine. The focus of the series is on an empirical approach to Shang Han Lun understanding and clinical practice. The first article introduced an overview of the series. The remainder of the series will discuss each of the six diseases of the Shang Han Lun. This article explains tai yang disease. Readers are recommended to read the previous article first to better comprehend this and subsequent articles.

This article presents six stories from a 9th century work of Taoist philosophy, the Wunengzi (無能子). In the context of Chinese medicine, the Taoists were perhaps most famous for their pioneering work in practices such as qigong and taiji, in breathing exercises and meditation, and for their investigations into diet and medicinal herbs. Underpinning all this, however, was a philosophy of nature that emphasises spontaneity and ‘non-action’. They advocated simplicity, had a liking for remote places, and criticised social convention and Confucian norms, nowhere more so than in the Wunengzi. Their ideas were frequently presented in the form of stories, often with a humorous twist, of which this work affords many examples. Much of the language which the Taoists employed to describe nature is also shared with Chinese medicine, upon which their philosophy has exercised an enduring influence.

Stroke, a significant global health issue, is a cerebrovascular event caused by thrombosis, embolism or haemorrhage that results in lasting complications such as paralysis, pain, spasticity and emotional distress. Effective stroke management necessitates both acute care and long-term strategies to prevent recurrence and to address the physical and psychological aftermath. Balancing the autonomic nervous system, particularly through the reduction of sympathetic overactivity and enhancement of parasympathetic function, is critical for recovery. Chinese medicine emphasises harmonising qi, invigorating and transforming obstructions, and restoring blood flow in post-stroke care. Acupuncture offers potential benefits by modulating autonomic nervous system function, which may help alleviate common stroke-related complications such as hemiplegia, spasticity and pain. Post-stroke arm dysfunction can be debilitating. This article explores the application of acupuncture in post-stroke arm rehabilitation, including the use of yin and yang point combinations to address spasticity, enhance motor function and restore balance. It is based on a non-systematic integrative narrative literature review, the findings of which inform point selection and needle techniques to optimise recovery and quality of life for stroke survivors, as well as highlight the efficacy of combining acupuncture with other therapeutic modalities.