- Tahoe Neuro HealingVan Harding, LAc, Dipl.OM
Truckee, CA Life's A Journey. Make It A Healthy One.
Articles by Van Harding
How Does Acupuncture Work?
Acupuncture has been studied for years in the west to scientifically understand how these little needles provoke healing. Here are a few of the conclusions:
1. Acupuncture increases the circulation of blood- reducing pain and swelling
2. It causes the release of certain neurotransmitters- benefitting mental health
3. Acupuncture stimulates the natural release of opioids- reducing pain
4. A reaction with the central nervous system occurs- benefitting overall health.See the Scientific Research section under FAQs.
Why Herbs & Nutraceuticals instead of pharmaceutical drugs?
Herbs and Nutraceuticals correct the underlying dysfunctional biological mechanism that causes the symptoms whereas drugs only seek to alleviate the symptom.
Herbs and nutraceuticals are safer than drugs. According to the CDC there are “0” deaths annually due to herbs and nutraceuticals whereas prescription drugs cause approxiamtely 250,000 deaths annually.
2010 Drug Overdose Deaths: 38,329 and of that 30% were Anti-anxiety meds and 18% were Anti-depressant.
2008 Pain Relief Medication deaths: 14,800
2007 NIH: Surveillance of prescription drug-related mortality using death certificates
Military Pokes Holes in Acupuncture Skeptic’s Theory
by Blake Farmer Feb. 16, 2012The US Army has begun to make Acupuncture more widely available to troops returning home for P.T.S.D, Traumatic Brain Injury and back pain.
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Cupping + Acupuncture: More Than the Sum of its Parts
Do any of these scenarios sound like your life: a stubborn knot between the shoulder blades, a low-back flare that keeps returning, or a neck that feels “stuck” after long hours at a desk? Acupuncture needles can calm the nervous system and change pain signaling and cupping can mechanically decompress tight tissue and improve local circulation. Used together thoughtfully and
When Your Next Meal is Part of the Treatment Plan
For many chronic health issues, everyday exposures matter most. Food isn’t only fuel. It’s raw material, signaling molecules, and a daily set of “instructions” your body reads repeatedly.
The idea of food as medicine isn’t new. It shows up in traditional healing systems, in public health, and increasingly in modern clinical research. The most useful way to think about
The Healing Landscape of Scalp Acupuncture
Many healing journeys begin in unexpected places. For some, recovery starts not in the muscles of the back or the ligaments of a knee, but in the quiet landscape of the scalp, an area often overlooked except for styling, washing, and the occasional headache. Yet, for many people seeking relief from neurological, physical, and emotional challenges, scalp acupuncture is
Electroacupuncture: Ancient Wisdom, Modern Current
The clinic was quiet except for the soft hum of a small device on the treatment table. A runner lay comfortably, acupuncture needles placed along her calf and lower back to address chronic pain that kept her from her regular running routine.
Because of the chronic and nagging injury, she turned to acupuncture to find healing. But it wasn’t
What is Five Element Acupuncture?
Five Element Acupuncture is a classical style of East Asian medicine that organizes diagnosis and treatment around the dynamic interplay of five phases/elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Each element is associated (in this framework) with organ networks, emotions, sensory patterns, and seasonal cycles. Treatment aims to restore harmony among these elements when one becomes predominant or deficient.
The Role of Pediatric Acupuncture in Children’s Health
There are a variety of reasons for parents to seek out a pediatric acupuncturist. It usually isn’t the first resource sought out when a child is suffering from insomnia, infrequent bowel movements, or other digestive issues. However, more and more parents are looking for ways to treat these issues that don’t involve prescription medication that often has side effects
Stillness in Motion: The Healing Power of Qi Gong at Home
Life can seem overwhelming and unmanageable at times. Everyone is looking for the secret self-care miracle that helps us cope. What may have been a desperate Google search for “natural anxiety relief” has become a daily anchor; the secret to staying calm, focused, and physically energized.
A growing number of people are turning to Qi Gong, an ancient Chinese
Pinpointing Migraine Relief with Acupuncture
According to the CDC, in the United States, over 15 percent of all adults complain about severe headaches or migraines, with prevalence among women more than twice as high as among men. In 2021, 4.3% of adults aged ≥18 years reported being bothered a lot by headache or migraine in the past 3 months, with a higher percentage among women
Unlocking the Basics of Acupuncture: Understanding Qi, Blood, Yin & Yang
If you’ve been thinking about trying acupuncture but aren’t sure what to expect, this article just might be the best place to start. Let’s explore the basic concepts that form the foundation of acupuncture, including the nature of Qi, Blood, Yin, and Yang, and how these elements influence health and healing.
How Acupuncture Supports Healing in Autoimmune Diseases
In January 2025, Mayo Clinic researchers and collaborators have described — for the first time — the prevalence of autoimmune diseases in the U.S. Their research, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, reports that about 15 million people are estimated to have one or more of 105 autoimmune diseases. Treatments can vary but more and more people are looking