James Orr Doctor/ L.Ac. / Neuro-Acupuncture Specialist/ TCM/ Ortho/ General

03/22/2026

03/20/2026

What seems impossible is unfolding in gut-brain axis research centers where scientists have demonstrated for the first time that specific gut bacterial species — including Lactobacillus reuteri and Bifidobacterium longum — directly produce serotonin precursors and GABA in the intestinal lumen, with these molecules crossing into circulation and measurably altering brain neurotransmitter levels — providing the first direct mechanistic evidence that gut dysbiosis causes depression through neurotransmitter depletion, not merely correlates with it.

The study transplanted microbiomes from depressed human donors into germ-free mice — the animals developed identical depression-like behavioral signatures within 14 days, with their brain serotonin levels dropping by 40% compared to controls receiving healthy donor microbiomes. Reversing the dysbiosis with targeted probiotic restoration eliminated depressive behavior within 7 days. This is not a correlation. The bacteria are the cause. Every antidepressant prescribed while the gut microbiome remains broken is addressing the symptom while ignoring the factory that makes the molecule the symptom requires.

03/07/2026

Starting with Boulder CO:
I’m looking to help create a support and treatment network for vets that includes forms of acupuncture and movement therapy 🙏

Looking for leads for acupuncture and movement therapy (tai chi/ qi gong/ other movement) specifically for veteran(s) and specifically for PSTD, TBI, spinal injury/ paraplegic/ wheel chair. I can offer more info privately. Leads for other non-Rx therapies also welcome, (e.g. EMDR)

02/15/2026

An incredible use of AI to spot with 91% accuracy, physical proof of long Covid. Many in my field were able to recognize, very early on, Covid as a blood stagnation disorder.

Scientists just found a microscopic reason for the exhaustion of long COVID.

Researchers have identified unusual, microscopic structures lurking in the blood of patients that could be driving symptoms like brain fog and chronic fatigue.

These structures are known as microclots. While a typical blood clot might be large enough to cause a stroke, these are tiny, persistent accumulations that are just big enough to block the smallest blood vessels, known as capillaries. This blockage can prevent oxygen from reaching vital tissues and organs. In a recent study, patients with long COVID had a nearly 20 fold increase in these microclots compared to healthy individuals.

But the researchers found something even more unusual. The microclots were physically embedded with neutrophil extracellular traps, or NETs. These are sticky, web like structures made of DNA and enzymes that white blood cells spit out to trap invading pathogens. In a healthy body, NETs appear, do their job, and dissolve. In long COVID patients, they seem to stay stuck, acting like a structural mesh that makes the microclots much harder for the body to break down.

This interaction creates a stubborn, "thromboinflammatory" environment. Because these sticky webs are so distinct, an AI agent was able to identify long COVID blood samples with 91 percent accuracy. This is a massive breakthrough for a condition that has been notoriously difficult to diagnose with standard medical tests.

The discovery suggests that long COVID is not just a lingering malaise, but a measurable physical state involving dysregulated blood chemistry. If scientists can target these NETs and microclots, it may offer a clear path toward treating the underlying cause of the disease rather than just managing the symptoms.

Read the study:
"Circulating Microclots Are Structurally Associated With Neutrophil Extracellular Traps and Their Amounts Are Elevated in Long COVID Patients." Journal of Medical Virology, 2025.

02/11/2026

Tasty, healthy, exciting, and nutritious and plant centric. The secret is roasting. It’s quick and can be done in a single sheet pan, and it adds tons of added flavor.

Roasted vegetable salad with a dressing of olive oil, balsamic, Dijon, with a dash of maple syrup. Adding walnuts and blue cheese, adds character and a little more impact.

01/31/2026

A journey through exploring Alzheimer’s with Chris Hemseorthh and his father. ❤️🙏

01/15/2026

Plant-based meals do not have to be bland, flavorless, unexciting! This is bright and multidimensional Romesco (this version: roasted red peppers, tomato paste, roasted garlic, toasted bread, blanched almonds, red wine vinegar, olive oil) with pan seared then roasted cauliflower, smoked paprika and garlic powder) topped with crunchy slices toasted almonds So delicious!!!

01/14/2026

Surprising? I’m sure there’s more to the test results, but ultimately: live in moderation and don’t beat yourself up when you “treat” yourself ❤️🙏

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTdVpZljqZh/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

01/02/2026

Things that run through my mind at 5:30am. After watching a piece from Food History on Pomegranate beer, and the Assyrian King 809 BCE, I researched the process and purpose of “malting”, which had me wondering how early humans malted and fermented grains

Did you know?

“Initially, humans ate wild grains raw, directly from the stalk, then discovered they could be ground with stones into meal, mixed with water, and cooked into simple flatbreads or gruels on hot rocks or in gourds, long before systematic farming, marking a crucial step from hunter-gatherers to settled agriculturalists. Evidence shows grinding wild cereals as far back as 32,000 years ago, with fermentation for brewing also likely occurring early on.
Early Consumption Methods
Raw & Fresh: The simplest method was eating kernels straight from the plant.
Grinding: Stones (mortars/pestles) were used to process wild grains into flour or meal, a process evidenced by starch granules found on ancient tools.
Porridge/Gruel: Ground grains mixed with water and boiled, possibly in heated gourds.
Flatbreads: A paste of ground grain and water was baked on sun-heated rocks or hot stones, creating rudimentary bread or crackers.
Fermentation: Soaking grains could lead to fermentation, potentially producing early forms of beer and improving digestibility.
Key Discoveries & Timeline
Paleolithic Era (100,000+ years ago): Evidence of grinding wild grass seeds for flour found on African tools.
Middle Stone Age (32,000 years ago): Starch from wild oats found on Italian grinding stones.
Neolithic Era (Around 10,000 years ago): Domestication of grains began, leading to settled communities and more complex bread-making.
These techniques show early humans experimenting with grains, using simple tools and processes to transform them from a seasonal wild resource into a storable, versatile food source that supported growing civilizations. “

12/17/2025

In light of the most recent event where a professional football player suffer a collapsed lung (pneumothorax) when receiving “dry needling” from someone who wasn’t an acupuncturist

Here is the fact and the distinction: dry needling IS acupuncture

However, licensed acupuncturists have 3,000 of education with close to 1,000 hours of clinical training, while non-acupuncturists can have as little as 20-30 hours of training. I might assum some are using the technique without any training

“In California, the insertion of acupuncture needles for therapeutic purposes is legally defined as the practice of acupuncture and is restricted to licensed acupuncturists and physicians. This framework exists for one primary reason: public safety.”

https://csomaonline.org/a-public-statement-from-csoma-on-patient-safety-dry-needling-and-acupuncture-standards/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=12+16+2025&utm_campaign=Pittsburgh+Steelers+T+J+Watt+Pneumothorax+from+Dry+Needling+Procedure+CSOMA+s+Public+Statement&fbclid=IwZnRzaAOvnvZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe82F2ySFap7Wjc72KLC4YM3TB0neWmYe-OIGeAwFjH4i73CsBa0MCvJtXQ4g_aem_AZq7BnOkw0c6GVz7lUozawew he nlet vr nree that

A Public Statement from CSOMA on Patient Safety, Dry Needling, and Acupuncture Standards Advocacy CSOMA is aware of recent media coverage reporting that Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt experienced a collapsed lung (pneumothorax) following a dry needling procedure. While pneumothorax is a ra...

07/05/2025

“The full study, published in 2024 and led by the nonprofit Preventive Medicine Research Institute, found that brain function and cognition significantly improved in patients who made lifestyle changes.”

Emerging research on lifestyle changes and the development of preventive approaches are revealing an opportunity to measure and boost cognitive health

02/20/2025

Believe it or not: Chilling your starches after cooking and before eating can make them resistant and reduce their glycemic index
🤷‍♂️

The aim of this study was to establish the blood glucose response to different cooking methods of pasta. Participants consumed three identical meals in a random order that were freshly cooked (hot), cooled and reheated. Blood glucose concentrations ...