Dr. Serra Reid, Medical Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine

05/14/2025

Substantial scientific evidence demonstrates the antidepressant effects of acupuncture through modulation of neuroplasticity - the brain’s ability to adapt by reorganizing its structure, forming new neural connections, and modifying synaptic strength in response to experience, injury, or stimulation.

Electroacupuncture enhances neuroplasticity by increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression, activating signaling pathways such as BDNF/TrkB/CREB, improving dendritic spine density, and upregulating synaptic proteins like PSD-95 and GluR1. These molecular and structural changes, observed in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, provide evidence that acupuncture promotes neural regeneration and functional recovery through measurable neuroplastic mechanisms."

The antidepressant effects of acupuncture through modulation of neuroplasticity are shown effective for depression.

12/17/2024

Acupuncture is just as effective, but so much gentler and non-invasive than these other Vagus nerve stimulation techniques! "The vagus nerve is a vine of nerve fibers with roots in nearly every organ and shoots in the brain. It helps us detect a racing heart, rising blood pressure, stomachache, discomfort, an overzealous immune system and even alarm calls from microbes in our gut. When it senses trouble, the vagus helps to steady our heart, soothe our stomach, rein in our immune system and calm us down.

Investigators have long known that activating the vagus with mild electrical pulses can treat some conditions. In 1997 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) device that can be surgically implanted under the collarbone and linked to a wire wrapped around the nerve. It is widely used to treat cases of epilepsy that do not respond to drugs.

In 2005 the FDA certified a similar device for treatment-resistant depression, and the agency approved yet another one in 2021 to speed up recovery from stroke. Gadgets that stimulate the vagus nerve from outside the body, such as at the outer ear or neck, have been cleared in many countries, including the U.S., to treat obesity, pain and migraines."

“A truly revolutionary idea can take 20 to 40 years before it’s thoroughly adopted,” says neurosurgeon Kevin J. Tracey of the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in Manhasset, N.Y., “at which point everyone says how we needed that all along.” The vagus vine’s power may be partly mythical, and the research on it is by no means conclusive or clear. But some scientists say it offers hope for millions suffering from complex, hard-to-treat conditions."

The healing potential of the brain’s most interconnected nerve intrigues researchers

10/24/2024

1. It’s a natural way to manage pain
2. It will make you more relaxed
3. It will make your skin glow
4. It increases longevity/quality of life
5. It’s a 2,000 year old science

“Acupuncture is beneficial for any kind of inflammation, because as soon as you insert a needle into a specific location of the body, you’re causing the release of endorphins, which are the chemicals that your body produces naturally to promote self-healing.” As it activates the body’s natural pain-killing hormones, the treatment is used to treat a wide spectrum of acute and chronic health conditions, including back pain, osteoarthritis, headaches, and indigestion.

Acupuncture doesn’t just calm the body, but the mind and spirit as well. Whether treating anxiety, depression, or insomnia, acupuncture is one of the best tools to help train the mind to be as clear and stress-free as possible.

Over time, acupuncture can help you achieve a smoother, brighter complexion both directly—by triggering local healing processes in the face at specific points—and indirectly, by recalibrating bodily systems. In addition to targeting issues such as rosacea, dullness, and puffiness, it can help treat the deeper tissue muscle to tighten and tone."

From promising to help alleviate pain to leaving you with glowing skin—there are few things a good acupuncturist can't do

03/12/2024

"In a high-quality placebo controlled clinical trial, researchers concluded that acupuncture is effective for the treatment of PTSD, especially in combat veterans, producing beneficial clinical and biological outcomes. Improvements were significant for large scale extinction of fear and startle responses, and for the reduction of overall symptom severity.

The researchers were from the Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center (Long Beach, California), George Washington School of Medicine & Health Sciences (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Washington, DC), University of California (Department of Medicine, Health Policy Research Institute and General Internal Medicine, Irvine), Analydata (San Diego, California), Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Los Angeles, California), Wayne State University School of Medicine (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Detroit, Michigan), and the Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute (University of California, Irvine). The researchers completed a a two-arm, prospective blinded, randomized clinical trial with parallel groups and tested true acupuncture versus sham acupuncture using placebo controls.

Sham acupuncture was delivered with superficial insertion 2 cm away from true acupuncture points. Relatively little needle stimulation was applied to the sham acupuncture and the sham electroacupuncture device did not stimulate the acupoints but instead simply had a blinking light to present the appearance of functioning. Based on the data, the researchers conclude that true acupuncture is clinically efficacious and improves the psychobiology of combat veterans with PTSD. They add that sham acupuncture is not effective, which indicates the clinical importance of true acupoint functional specificity.

The participants received 1 hour treatments, two times per week, for up to a maximum of 24 treatments over a 15 week period.. Only true acupuncture produced significant overall symptom improvements and fear extinction. Outcomes were measured using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale-5 (CAPS-5) and the fear-potentiated startle response assessments. The assessments and treatments were at the Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center (Long Beach, CA). A total of 93 combat veterans with PTSD (18–55 years of age) were randomized into true acupuncture and sham acupuncture groups. A total of 71 patients completed the study.

Based on the University of New Mexico research, another investigation worked the diagnostic patterns into a standard treatment protocol for use in research. [3, 4] The researchers that were the first to implement this protocol were from the University of Louisville School of Medicine (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Family and Geriatric Medicine, Louisville), the University of New Mexico School of Medicine (Department of Family and Community Medicine, Albuquerque) and the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (Portland). The research was supported by a grant from the USA National Institutes of Health (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine).

The research team created alternating ventral and dorsal acupuncture treatments to avoid tolerance due to frequent use. Electroacupuncture was applied to a flexible selection of two acupoint pairs in either the ventral (supine) or prone (dorsal) treatments with an intermittent pulse of 2/100 HZ.

The researchers conclude that acupuncture is effective for the alleviation of PTSD. They add that current evidence supports additional research into the integration of acupuncture into PTSD patient care.

University researchers conclude that acupuncture alleviates PTSD symptoms and fear responses, especially for combat veterans.

01/19/2024

"The Mediterranean diet emphasizes heart-healthy fats from sources like olive oil, fish, whole grains, and nuts and seeds. And it includes less saturated fat than the typical American diet, because it discourages butter and red and processed meats and includes only moderate amounts of cheese, yogurt, poultry and eggs.

Researchers believe that olive oil, the preferred fat source in the Mediterranean diet, may be one of the main contributors to its health benefits. It’s rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can prevent damage to your cells and blood vessels.

In a 2022 study of more than 90,000 U.S. adults spanning 28 years, for instance, those who consumed at least half a tablespoon of olive oil each day were significantly less likely to die of cancer or cardiovascular, neurodegenerative or respiratory diseases than those who rarely or never consumed it. In clinical trials, people who followed the Mediterranean diet had lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels and were less likely to develop cardiovascular disease than those who followed a low-fat diet.

Fish also features prominently in the Mediterranean diet, especially fatty varieties like salmon, tuna, anchovies and sardines. These are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which can improve blood cholesterol levels and reduce inflammation and blood pressure. Most Mediterranean diet guidelines recommend at least two servings of fish per week.

But let’s not give olive oil and fish all of the credit. Whole grains, nuts, seeds and olives also contribute to the diet’s healthy fats. And though they’re not native to the Mediterranean region, avocados are rich in monounsaturated fats and are often included in modern versions of the diet. Below, we offer ideas for incorporating these foods into your routine, along with some recipes our colleagues at NYT Cooking have selected.

What to Keep on Hand
Earlier this week, we stocked up on whole grains, nuts and seeds. Here are a few more items to infuse healthy fats into your meals:

Extra-virgin olive oil (our colleagues at Wirecutter have shared their favorite grocery store brands in this guide)
Avocados
Canned (or tinned) fish like tuna, salmon, anchovies and sardines
Fresh or frozen fish like salmon, tuna, mackerel and cod
Guacamole in a white bowl. A few tortilla chips lay on the surface next to it.
Julia Gartland for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Monica Pierini.
How to Cook With Healthy Fats
For each day of our Mediterranean diet series, we and our colleagues at NYT Cooking have picked a few recipes that embrace the ingredients we’re highlighting. This is not intended to be a meal plan for a day, but rather inspiration for how to include more of these healthful foods in your week.

For breakfast, you might smash some avocado onto whole-grain toast and top it with a drizzle of olive oil. In this recipe from Julia Moskin and Giles Russell, optional garnishes like fresh herbs, pickled red onions and pumpkin or sesame seeds take avocado toast to the next level.

Craig Claiborne’s classic tuna salad sandwich is a quick, budget-friendly lunch option — but if you’re looking for something more “intense and pronounced,” try Ali Slagle’s sardine salad on a whole-wheat bagel, over greens or between two slices of whole-grain toast. Anchovies are also a flavorful addition to salad dressing, as in David Tanis’s vibrant radicchio-anchovy salad.

For dinner, try Alison Roman’s slow-roasted citrus salmon with herb salad (ready in 35 minutes) or Mark Bittman’s grilled tuna with herbs and olives (ready in 20). And let’s not forget about tinned and jarred fish. Sohla El-Waylly’s sardine pasta puttanesca makes good used of anchovies and tinned sardines.

I’ve long been a purist about baking with butter, but I’m experimenting with using olive oil in desserts, like Samantha Seneviratne’s elegant lemon-scented olive oil cake. A wedge of that moist beauty, maybe topped with fresh fruit, is the perfect way to cap off a week of good eating.

Following the Mediterranean Diet All Year Long
I hope you’ve enjoyed our ode to the Mediterranean diet this week, and have learned some new facts and strategies for adding more whole grains, fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds, and healthy sources of fat into your daily routine along the way.

Mixing any of these food groups into your cooking repertoire will go far in helping you eat a little more Mediterranean — whether it’s tossing a handful of nuts into your smoothie or making a big batch of beans at the beginning of the week. Just keep in mind that the most powerful health benefits come from incorporating all of these foods into a balanced diet.

For added inspiration for the year to come, find many more healthy recipes at NYT Cooking and in their Mediterranean Diet recipe collection. Happy cooking — and eating!

If you’re not already a New York Times Cooking subscriber, please subscribe today, or consider trying it for 7 days for free in the NYT Cooking app. You’ll support our work while gaining access to more than 20,000 recipes.

Here’s why they’re so good for you, and how to cook with them.

01/15/2024

I'm excited to announce that I have started a new job as a Clinical Supervisor at the community teaching clinic of Pacific College San Diego! This means I mentor Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine graduate students who are about to go out into the world and begin their careers. I'll be able to share insights, practical advice, and clinical pearls gained over my past 16 years in private practice as a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. I'll still be maintaining my personal practice and see patients 4 days a week. If anyone knows folks in San Diego who'd like to try Acupuncture, this is a low cost entry option with high level care provided, and I will be supervising and generally guiding the treatments provided by senior interns. They can call Pacific College San Diego clinic and ask to be scheduled on Dr. Reid's shifts!

01/14/2024

“I prefer cosmetic acupuncture because you’re getting the other health benefits from it, and you’re boosting your own collagen production, which you aren’t getting with Botox,” she said, adding that she’s seen great results with some of her clients. “It’s actually quite a bonus, because you’re getting a beauty treatment, but we’re also working through your inner body systems at the same time,” says Amrit Singh, acupuncturist and founder of 6 Babe Beauty in Toronto, Canada. A typical facial acupuncture treatment involves about 40 needles in the face and 12 needles on the body, though that can vary depending on an individual’s skin goals. Needles are left in the skin for about 20 to 25 minutes. Singh added that the treatment is part of a holistic approach to healing, as it’s said to be able to address skin concerns as well as things like digestive issues or anxiety.

This alternative medicine treatment is said to help with anti-aging and even acne. Acupuncturists and dermatologists weigh in.

01/14/2024

Many patients with long COVID talk of the crushing fatigue that envelops them after even a light bout of physical activity. These symptoms of exhaustion, (post-exertional malaise), are a hallmark of long COVID and similar complex illnesses like chronic fatigue syndrome or ME/CFS. While symptoms vary, the most common tend to be muscle pain, an increase in fatigue, and cognitive problems, usually referred to as "brain fog," that last up to a week after physical exertion.

Most people will get delayed onset muscle soreness after a tough workout, but post-exertional malaise is a different animal altogether. "It's not just soreness," says Charlton. "For a lot of people, it's completely debilitating for days to weeks."

Among the most striking findings were clear signs that the cellular power plants, the mitochondria, are compromised and the tissue starved for energy. "We saw this immediately and it's very profound," says Braeden Charlton, one of the study's authors.

The tissue samples from long COVID patients also revealed severe muscle damage, a disturbed immune response, and a buildup of microclots. "This is a very real disease," says Charlton. "We see this at basically every parameter that we measure."

The role of exercise in treating post-exertional malaise remains "intensely controversial," says Harvard's Systrom, who has studied exercise in the context of other complex chronic illnesses like ME/CFS. "Post-exertional malaise is a unique symptom in these disorders and is not a feature of deconditioning," he says. "You cannot simply ask these patients to go to the gym and fix the problem."

In their study, Charlton says they looked at other research to verify that what they observed did not stem from physical inactivity. He also notes that the long COVID patients who were enrolled were not bedridden and had an average of 4,000 steps a day.

Putrino at Mount Sinai considers the study a much-needed wake-up call for the broader medical field — clear evidence of a biological basis for the energy crash and onslaught of symptoms that patients with long COVID and similar conditions experience.

"As opposed to what's been sold to patients over the last few decades, that symptoms such as extreme fatigue and exertional malaise are psychological or physical conditioning issues," he says. "Physical exertion does harm to the bodies of people with these illnesses."

His general guidance is to avoid exercise if you have post-exertional malaise and instead practice "energy conservation." At his clinic, Putrino prescribes what's called "autonomic rehabilitation" for these patients.

Whereas the aim of exercise is to improve cardiovascular fitness — something he might recommend to patients who're recovering after severe pneumonia — this type of rehabilitation is done at a much lower intensity and duration, and it takes into account post-exertional malaise.

"We need to step out of this erroneous mindset of no pain, no gain," he says.

Long COVID patients can experience severe energy crashes after physical exertion. New research provides clear evidence that there's a biological basis for the symptoms.

01/12/2024

Scientists have uncovered an explanation for the stubborn neurological symptoms of long COVID, such as brain fog, memory loss and fatigue. It was serotonin – specifically, a lack of the neurotransmitter circulating in the body — that grabbed their attention. Their analysis revealed that having low levels of that chemical predicted whether or not someone was suffering from persistent symptoms following an infection.

Next, the team of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania carefully recreated the chain of events that might be depleting serotonin and causing downstream consequences that could line up with some of the symptoms characteristic of long COVID.

Their findings, published in the journal Cell, point to an intriguing hypothesis that winds its way from the gut up through the vagus nerve and ultimately into the brain.

"Basically, we can explain some of the neurocognitive manifestations of long COVID through this pathway that leads to serotonin reduction," says Christoph Thaiss, a senior author on the study and an assistant professor of microbiology at the University of Pennsylvania.

The work has made an impression on those studying long COVID, a condition that still has no validated treatment or widely accepted biomarker that doctors can use to diagnose the condition.

The study weaves together several prominent lines of evidence on the potential drivers of the condition — the ongoing presence of viral material, blood clotting and chronic inflammation — and offers up possible targets for clinical trials that can test treatments in humans.

Scientists studying the causes of long COVID symptoms are proposing a surprising pathway. Their research weaves together several prominent lines of evidence on what might be driving the condition.