https://medichi.online/blog Evidence-based articles on Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, and herbal medicine from Derek Doran (AHPRA CMR0002211465). en-au © 2026 Medi-Chi Mon, 06 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT Medi-Chi RSS generator https://medichi.online/blog/cupping-therapy-techniques-evidence https://medichi.online/blog/cupping-therapy-techniques-evidence Mon, 06 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT Derek Doran Cupping therapy has left round marks on everyone from Olympic swimmers to office workers with a stiff neck. Here's what the suction actually does, where the evidence stands, and when to avoid it. Cupping Therapy Acupuncture Pain Management Musculoskeletal Evidence-Based https://medichi.online/blog/triple-burner-san-jiao https://medichi.online/blog/triple-burner-san-jiao Sun, 05 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT Derek Doran, BHSc (Acupuncture) The Triple Burner has no Western anatomical equivalent, which is exactly why practitioners quietly skip it. Here's what the classics actually say about the San Jiao, how the three Jiao behave in clinic, and how I use the channel every week. San Jiao Triple Burner Zang Fu TCM Foundations Acupuncture Classical Chinese Medicine https://medichi.online/blog/tech-neck-syndrome-acupuncture-clinic-notes https://medichi.online/blog/tech-neck-syndrome-acupuncture-clinic-notes Sun, 28 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Derek Doran, BHSc (Acupuncture) Tech neck isn't a diagnosis you'll find in a textbook, but it's one of the most common presentations walking into my chair. Here's how I assess the sustained-flexion neck, the patterns it tends to sit in, and what I actually do about it. Tech Neck Posture Neck Pain Acupuncture Bi Syndrome Musculoskeletal Clinical Practice https://medichi.online/blog/medichi-bridging-ai-gap-acupuncture-research https://medichi.online/blog/medichi-bridging-ai-gap-acupuncture-research Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Derek Doran The 2025 SAR roadmap in the Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine set out six recommendations for closing the AI gap in acupuncture — interoperable data, structured templates, digital literacy, interdisciplinary collaboration, privacy and ethics, and research infrastructure. Here is how Medi-Chi already addresses each one. AI in Acupuncture Digital Health Research Interoperability Medi-Chi Evidence Based Acupuncture Acupuncture Now Foundation CMBA AACMA https://medichi.online/blog/acupuncture-chemotherapy-induced-nausea-evidence-review https://medichi.online/blog/acupuncture-chemotherapy-induced-nausea-evidence-review Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Derek Doran, BHSc (Acupuncture) Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting remains one of the most distressing adverse effects of cytotoxic therapy. This review examines the contemporary evidence for acupuncture and acupressure as adjunctive antiemetic interventions, situated within both Western pharmacology and classical Chinese medicine. Integrative Oncology Acupuncture CINV PC6 Neiguan Evidence Review TCM Pattern Differentiation Supportive Care https://medichi.online/blog/neck-pain-cervicogenic-headache-clinic-notes https://medichi.online/blog/neck-pain-cervicogenic-headache-clinic-notes Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Derek Doran, BHSc (Acupuncture) Neck pain and cervicogenic headache are the third member of the chronic musculoskeletal trio I see most weeks. The mechanics are subtle, the red flags matter, and the evidence base for acupuncture is genuinely solid. Here's how I actually work it up in the chair. Neck Pain Cervicogenic Headache Acupuncture Bi Syndrome Musculoskeletal Pattern Differentiation Clinical Practice https://medichi.online/blog/knee-osteoarthritis-acupuncture-clinic-notes https://medichi.online/blog/knee-osteoarthritis-acupuncture-clinic-notes Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Derek Doran, BHSc (Acupuncture) Knee osteoarthritis is the second condition I see more than almost anything else, especially in patients over fifty. The evidence base for acupuncture here is genuinely good — better than most people realise — but only if you treat it like a load-management problem with a pattern overlay, not a magic-point problem. Here's how I actually work it up. Knee Osteoarthritis Acupuncture Bi Syndrome Musculoskeletal Pattern Differentiation Clinical Practice Older Adults https://medichi.online/blog/sciatica-acupuncture-clinic-notes https://medichi.online/blog/sciatica-acupuncture-clinic-notes Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT Derek Doran, BHSc (Acupuncture) Sciatica is the follow-up call I get most often after a lower back consult. It's usually not as scary as the patient thinks, but it does need a careful workup and a clear plan. Here's how I sort a genuine radiculopathy from a piriformis job, what I actually needle, and what the current evidence says. Sciatica Acupuncture Radiculopathy Piriformis Musculoskeletal Pattern Differentiation Clinical Practice https://medichi.online/blog/lower-back-pain-acupuncture-clinic-notes https://medichi.online/blog/lower-back-pain-acupuncture-clinic-notes Sun, 24 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT Derek Doran, BHSc (Acupuncture) Lower back pain is the single most common complaint that walks through my clinic door. After years of treating it I've stopped looking for a magic point and started looking for the patient's pattern. Here's how I actually work it up, what I needle, and what the evidence says about why it tends to hold. Lower Back Pain Acupuncture Acu-Bowen Bowen Therapy Musculoskeletal Pattern Differentiation Clinical Practice WorkCover https://medichi.online/blog/frozen-shoulder-acupuncture-clinical-guide https://medichi.online/blog/frozen-shoulder-acupuncture-clinical-guide Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT Derek Doran, BHSc (Acupuncture) Frozen shoulder (肩凝症, jiān níng zhèng) is one of the most rewarding conditions to treat with acupuncture — when you stage it properly and match the technique to the phase. Here's the clinical playbook, with the latest meta-analyses and what they mean at the table. Frozen Shoulder Adhesive Capsulitis Acupuncture Musculoskeletal Pattern Differentiation Clinical Practice https://medichi.online/blog/six-foundations-of-real-health-australian-lifestyle-medicine https://medichi.online/blog/six-foundations-of-real-health-australian-lifestyle-medicine Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT Derek Doran Modern healthcare excels at acute care but population health depends on the everyday foundations: food, movement, sleep, stress, connection. Here's what the evidence actually says — Australian context, verified citations. Lifestyle Medicine Integrative Care Australian Health Prevention Evidence-Based https://medichi.online/blog/medicare-acupuncture-australia-tcm-exclusion https://medichi.online/blog/medicare-acupuncture-australia-tcm-exclusion Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT Derek Doran, BHSc (Acupuncture) Australia is the only OECD country where the practitioners trained for thousands of clinical hours in acupuncture are the one group locked out of the public reimbursement system that funds their own technique. This is the policy story, the evidence, and the case for change. Health Policy Medicare Australia AHPRA Acupuncture TCM Profession https://medichi.online/blog/tcm-constitutional-types https://medichi.online/blog/tcm-constitutional-types Mon, 04 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT MediChi Editorial Two patients walk in with the same Western diagnosis and the same TCM pattern. They respond completely differently to the same treatment. Constitution is usually why — and it's the most under-used diagnostic lens in modern practice. Constitution Ti Zhi TCM Diagnostics Wang Qi Pattern Differentiation Preventive Medicine https://medichi.online/blog/ai-traditional-chinese-medicine-diagnosis-tool https://medichi.online/blog/ai-traditional-chinese-medicine-diagnosis-tool Sun, 03 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT Derek Doran, BHSc (Acupuncture) AI is not replacing the practitioner — it is replacing the hour you used to spend cross-referencing textbooks. Here is how a modern AI Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis tool actually works in clinic. AI in TCM Diagnosis Clinical Tools Pattern Differentiation Practitioner Workflow https://medichi.online/blog/tcm-pattern-differentiation-software https://medichi.online/blog/tcm-pattern-differentiation-software Sun, 03 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT Derek Doran, BHSc (Acupuncture) Pattern differentiation is the hardest skill in TCM and the slowest part of any consult. Modern software can compress an hour of cross-referencing into a minute — if you choose the right tool. Pattern Differentiation Clinical Software Buyer's Guide AI in TCM Practitioner Workflow https://medichi.online/blog/acupuncture-treatment-plan-generator https://medichi.online/blog/acupuncture-treatment-plan-generator Sun, 03 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT Derek Doran, BHSc (Acupuncture) A treatment plan is more than a list of points. It is a clinical argument — pattern, principle, prescription, prognosis. Here is how to build that plan quickly without losing the reasoning. Treatment Planning Clinical Tools Point Prescription Practitioner Workflow AI in TCM https://medichi.online/blog/blood-stasis-patterns-clinical-strategies https://medichi.online/blog/blood-stasis-patterns-clinical-strategies Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT MediChi Editorial Blood Stasis is the pattern most quietly responsible for the chronic pain, stubborn period problems, and post-surgical mess we see every week. Here's how to recognise it without overthinking it, and what actually works once you have. Blood Stasis Xue Yu TCM Diagnostics Pain Gynaecology Herbal Medicine Acupuncture https://medichi.online/blog/saam-acupuncture-four-needle-technique https://medichi.online/blog/saam-acupuncture-four-needle-technique Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT MediChi Editorial Sa-am acupuncture is Korea's most influential indigenous needling system: just four points, drawn from the Five Shu, deliver a complete Five-Element correction. This guide unpacks the logic, the 12 standard prescriptions, and the modern research base. Sa-am Acupuncture Korean TCM Five Elements Four-Needle Technique Five Shu Points Classical Acupuncture https://medichi.online/blog/dampness-tcm-diagnosis-treatment https://medichi.online/blog/dampness-tcm-diagnosis-treatment Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT MediChi Editorial Dampness is one of the most common — and most under-treated — pathogenic factors in modern clinical practice. This guide bridges classical pattern recognition with contemporary research on phlegm-damp constitution, gut-immune interactions, and metabolic dysregulation. Dampness Spleen Phlegm-Damp Damp-Heat TCM Diagnostics Herbal Medicine https://medichi.online/blog/wei-qi-immunity-defensive-system https://medichi.online/blog/wei-qi-immunity-defensive-system Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT MediChi Editorial Wei Qi is TCM's concept of immune defence — a protective force that circulates at the body's surface. This guide bridges classical theory with modern immunology research. Wei Qi Immunity Defensive Qi Acupuncture Herbal Medicine TCM Theory https://medichi.online/blog/workcover-acupuncture-australia https://medichi.online/blog/workcover-acupuncture-australia Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT Derek Doran A practical guide for AHPRA-registered acupuncturists on treating WorkCover patients — covering referral pathways, provider registration, billing, and state-by-state rules across Australia. WorkCover Workers Compensation AHPRA Clinical Practice Australia Billing https://medichi.online/blog/workcover-treatment-plans-reporting https://medichi.online/blog/workcover-treatment-plans-reporting Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT Derek Doran A practical guide to writing compliant treatment plans, progress reports, and discharge summaries for WorkCover patients — with templates, outcome measures, and documentation best practices. WorkCover Treatment Plans AHPRA Clinical Documentation Australia Reporting https://medichi.online/blog/moxibustion-complete-clinical-guide https://medichi.online/blog/moxibustion-complete-clinical-guide Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT MediChi Clinical Team Moxibustion is the other half of Chinese medicine that most people forget. This guide covers every clinical technique — direct, indirect, warming needle, and smokeless — with the research to back it up. Moxibustion Clinical Skills TCM Fundamentals Yang Deficiency Evidence-Based https://medichi.online/blog/nei-jing-chapter-15-complexion-diagnosis-digital-age https://medichi.online/blog/nei-jing-chapter-15-complexion-diagnosis-digital-age Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT MediChi Editorial Ancient Chinese physicians diagnosed life-threatening conditions from the colour of your face. But what happens when your complexion is filtered, screen-lit, and viewed through a 720p webcam? Huáng Dì confronts telehealth, biohacking, and the lost art of truly seeing. Nèi Jīng Complexion Diagnosis Telehealth Pulse Diagnosis Digital Health Prognosis https://medichi.online/blog/jin-three-needle-technique-guide https://medichi.online/blog/jin-three-needle-technique-guide Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT MediChi Clinical Team Developed over four decades at Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Jin's Three-Needle system distills complex conditions into precisely targeted three-point prescriptions. Learn the key groupings, clinical applications, and evidence base. Acupuncture Jin Three-Needle Neurology Rehabilitation Chinese Medicine https://medichi.online/blog/acupuncture-for-insomnia-sleep-disorders https://medichi.online/blog/acupuncture-for-insomnia-sleep-disorders Sun, 29 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT MediChi Editorial You don't have a sleeping pill deficiency. TCM treats insomnia by asking *why* sleep won't come — whether it's a racing mind, night sweats, or waking at 3 AM with a tight chest. Here's the clinical breakdown. Insomnia Acupuncture Herbal Medicine Sleep Clinical Guide https://medichi.online/blog/zang-fu-organ-theory https://medichi.online/blog/zang-fu-organ-theory Sun, 29 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT MediChi Editorial In TCM, the 'Liver' doesn't just detoxify and the 'Kidney' doesn't just filter urine. The Zang-Fu system maps organs to emotions, seasons, tissues, and functions that Western anatomy never imagined. Here's what they actually do. Zang-Fu Organ Theory Foundations TCM Theory Clinical Guide https://medichi.online/blog/nei-jing-chapter-27-autoimmunity https://medichi.online/blog/nei-jing-chapter-27-autoimmunity Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT MediChi Editorial Your immune system is supposed to protect you. So what happens when it can't tell friend from foe? Huáng Dì confronts autoimmunity — the ultimate identity crisis — where Righteous Qi becomes the very pathogen it swore to destroy. Nèi Jīng Autoimmunity Immune System Microbiome Classical TCM https://medichi.online/blog/acupuncture-points-for-anxiety https://medichi.online/blog/acupuncture-points-for-anxiety Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT MediChi Editorial Anxiety disorders affect 1 in 4 adults globally. This guide maps the most clinically effective acupuncture points for anxiety, backed by systematic reviews and RCTs, with TCM pattern differentiation for targeted treatment. Anxiety Mental Health Acupuncture Points Clinical Research Shenmen https://medichi.online/blog/how-to-translate-western-diagnoses-into-tcm-syndromes https://medichi.online/blog/how-to-translate-western-diagnoses-into-tcm-syndromes Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT MediChi Editorial Western medicine names diseases; Chinese medicine names patterns. This guide shows practitioners how to systematically translate between both paradigms — with clinical examples and research evidence. Pattern Differentiation Integrative Medicine Diagnostics Clinical Skills Western-TCM Bridge https://medichi.online/blog/pulse-diagnosis-28-classical-pulses https://medichi.online/blog/pulse-diagnosis-28-classical-pulses Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT MediChi Editorial Pulse diagnosis is the most revered — and most daunting — skill in TCM. This guide breaks down the 28 classical pulses into learnable categories, with clinical correlations and modern validation. Pulse Diagnosis Diagnostics Mai Jing Classical TCM Clinical Skills https://medichi.online/blog/horary-acupuncture-chinese-body-clock https://medichi.online/blog/horary-acupuncture-chinese-body-clock Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT MediChi Editorial Ancient practitioners knew that the body's energy peaks in specific organs at specific times. Modern chronobiology is finally catching up — and the clinical implications are profound. Chronoacupuncture Body Clock Classical TCM Circadian Rhythm Point Selection https://medichi.online/blog/nei-jing-chapter-13-digital-distress https://medichi.online/blog/nei-jing-chapter-13-digital-distress Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT MediChi Editorial Why did ancient diseases respond to simple remedies while modern ailments resist sophisticated interventions? Qí Bó explains how algorithm-driven content, hyper-processed food, and the attention economy have tangled spirit and body far deeper than any wind-cold invasion. Nèi Jīng Digital Health Mind-Body Medicine Classical TCM Chronic Stress https://medichi.online/blog/tongue-diagnosis-visual-guide https://medichi.online/blog/tongue-diagnosis-visual-guide Thu, 19 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT MediChi Editorial The tongue is the only internal organ visible from outside the body — a living map of your patient's internal landscape. This guide walks through tongue body colour, shape, coating, and organ zones with clinical pattern correlations and evidence-based insights. Tongue Diagnosis Diagnostics Clinical Skills Classical TCM Pattern Differentiation https://medichi.online/blog/four-pillars-tcm-diagnosis https://medichi.online/blog/four-pillars-tcm-diagnosis Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT MediChi Editorial Every TCM diagnosis begins with the Sì Zhěn (四诊) — four pillars that have guided practitioners for over 2,000 years. From reading the tongue and feeling the pulse to asking the right questions, these methods form the foundation of pattern differentiation. Diagnostics Classical TCM Tongue Diagnosis Pulse Diagnosis Clinical Skills https://medichi.online/blog/nei-jing-chapter-1-longevity https://medichi.online/blog/nei-jing-chapter-1-longevity Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT MediChi Editorial The Yellow Emperor asks why ancient people lived long, vibrant lives while modern people age prematurely. Qí Bó explains that the ancients lived in harmony with nature's rhythms — and what that means in an age of blue-light screens, ultra-processed food, and chronic stress. Nèi Jīng Longevity Classical TCM Lifestyle Medicine https://medichi.online/blog/auricular-acupuncture-clinical-guide https://medichi.online/blog/auricular-acupuncture-clinical-guide Sat, 07 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT MediChi Editorial The ear is a microsystem reflecting the entire body. Learn how auricular acupuncture treats pain, addiction, anxiety, and insomnia through evidence-based protocols used by the military, WHO, and addiction recovery programmes worldwide. Auricular Acupuncture NADA Protocol Battlefield Acupuncture Pain Management https://medichi.online/blog/esoteric-acupuncture-sacred-geometry-consciousness https://medichi.online/blog/esoteric-acupuncture-sacred-geometry-consciousness Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT MediChi Editorial Where the Flower of Life meets the meridian map: Esoteric Acupuncture synthesises sacred geometry, Ayurvedic chakra theory, and TCM into a unified framework for consciousness-oriented healing. Esoteric Acupuncture Sacred Geometry Ayurveda Consciousness https://medichi.online/blog/myofascial-trigger-points-acupuncture-guide https://medichi.online/blog/myofascial-trigger-points-acupuncture-guide Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT MediChi Editorial Myofascial trigger points are a leading cause of chronic musculoskeletal pain. Learn how acupuncture and dry needling deactivate them, with evidence-based protocols for common presentations. Trigger Points Myofascial Pain Musculoskeletal Dry Needling https://medichi.online/blog/translating-western-diagnoses-to-tcm-patterns https://medichi.online/blog/translating-western-diagnoses-to-tcm-patterns Thu, 26 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT MediChi Editorial How do you approach a patient who arrives with a Western diagnosis of IBS, migraine, or generalised anxiety? This guide maps common biomedical conditions to their most frequent TCM pattern differentiations. Diagnosis Integrative Medicine Pattern Differentiation https://medichi.online/blog/qi-blood-yin-yang-tcm-explained https://medichi.online/blog/qi-blood-yin-yang-tcm-explained Sat, 15 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT MediChi Editorial Everything in TCM revolves around four vital substances: Qi, Blood, Yin, and Yang. Understanding these concepts is the key to understanding how TCM views health and disease. Qi Yin Yang TCM Fundamentals https://medichi.online/blog/five-elements-theory-tcm https://medichi.online/blog/five-elements-theory-tcm Mon, 10 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT MediChi Editorial The Five Elements theory maps relationships between organs, emotions, seasons, and more. Discover how this ancient framework guides modern TCM practice. Five Elements TCM Theory Diagnosis https://medichi.online/blog/meridian-theory-explained https://medichi.online/blog/meridian-theory-explained Sat, 01 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT MediChi Editorial Meridians are the invisible highways of the body in TCM theory. Learn about the 12 primary channels, how they connect organs, and what modern science says about these ancient pathways. Meridians TCM Theory Qi https://medichi.online/blog/chinese-herbal-medicine-beginners-guide https://medichi.online/blog/chinese-herbal-medicine-beginners-guide Wed, 22 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT MediChi Editorial Chinese herbal medicine uses thousands of natural substances to restore balance in the body. Learn the core principles, popular herbs, and how TCM practitioners create personalised formulas. Herbal Medicine TCM Basics Natural Remedies https://medichi.online/blog/acupuncture-benefits-evidence-based-guide https://medichi.online/blog/acupuncture-benefits-evidence-based-guide Wed, 15 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT MediChi Editorial Acupuncture has been practiced for over 2,500 years, but modern science is only now catching up. Here's what clinical trials and the WHO say about its effectiveness. Acupuncture Evidence-Based Pain Relief