In this episode of The Original Medicine Podcast Dr.MG McCullough continues the conversation on dry needling and explains why it is neither a safe nor effective solution for tight muscles or athletic recovery. While dry needling is often promoted as a fast way to release tension, MG outlines how its aggressive approach can cause unnecessary trauma, contrasting it with the sophisticated framework of classical Chinese medicine

THEMES:

Why viewing tension as a symptom of deeper systemic imbalance is more effective than treating it as a local issue. 

How a lack of blood and bodily fluids leads to muscles becoming dry, tense, and painful over time. 

 The role of pulse reading and constitutional patterns in determining the root cause of physical pain. 

Navigating the different levels of Chinese medicine, from deep constitutional work to superficial blockages in the sinew layer. 

Why diet—focusing on warm, hydrating foods—is fundamental to building the internal resources needed for muscle health. 

How substances like alcohol and coffee aggravate dryness and heighten vulnerability to injury. 

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In this episode of The Original Medicine Podcast, MG McCullough examines dry needling and explains why it presents significant risks while offering limited long-term benefit. As public interest in alternative health grows, dry needling is often mistaken for acupuncture; this episode aims to close that knowledge gap by clarifying how they differ in training, philosophy, and safety.

Understanding "information asymmetry" and why brief weekend courses for dry needling cannot replace years of supervised clinical training.

The dangers of aggressive needling in sensitive areas like the neck and chest, including the risk of pneumothorax.

Why dry needling relies on muscle trauma for temporary relief, while classical Chinese medicine seeks to understand why the tension exists.

How blood and internal resources are essential for nourishing muscles and fascia—a key principle often ignored by dry needling.

Why randomized controlled trials often fail to capture the individualized nature of true acupuncture.

Encouraging a shift away from "forcing change" toward restoring systemic balance.

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THEMESLet's Connect!

In this episode of The Original Medicine Podcast, MG McCullough delves into the concepts

of Luo channels and bleeding treatments in classical Chinese medicine. She explains how

these unique channels serve as protective mechanisms in the body, storing pathology and

emotional trauma to prevent them from reaching the deeper organ systems. The discussion

highlights the importance of understanding these channels in relation to overall wellness,

emphasizing that traditional acupuncture often misses these deeper, stored issues.

THEMES

How the body uses these "collateral" vessels to store pathology and keep it away from the

primary organs.

The physiological and energetic purpose of pricking points to release stored emotional and

physical blockages.

Exploring how unprocessed emotions and trauma manifest as visible or palpable changes in

the Luo vessels6666

.

Understanding the body's capacity for "mediumship"

—managing resources like blood and

fluids to contain illness.

How Luo channel treatments can alleviate long-standing health problems, including digestive

issues and persistent emotional stagnation.

The vital role of emotional expression in preventing the development of Luo vessel pathology.

Let's Connect!

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In this Episode of the Original Medicine Podcast, MG McCullough shares a vulnerable and transformative story about her experience with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). She shares her experience with her mentor Anne Cecil Sturman, whose guidance opened the door to deeper learning and ultimately changed the course of her life and understanding of Classican Chinese Medicne 

Initial TCM treatments didn’t help and symptoms worsened.

The shift in a more supportive environment for healing and study.

Doubts and limiting beliefs were major hurdles in learning.

Real experience didn’t match what TCM books claimed should happen.

How Mentorship and the right environment transformed MG’s Understanding of Chinese medicine

Let’s Connect! 

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🍃INSTAGRAM:@drmgmccullough

In this episode of The Original Medicine Podcast, MG McCullough explores how acupuncture acts as a catalyst for transformation, not only in physical health but also in emotional and mental well-being. She explains that creating space in our lives allows for new perspectives, and that meaningful change often comes from embracing discomfort. By shifting emotions and thoughts, acupuncture can help unlock deeper physical healing and support holistic wellness.

How acupuncture supports both physical and emotional transformation.

Why creating space—mentally and in daily life—opens the door to new perspectives.

Growth often requires discomfort and intentional change.

Emotional and mental shifts directly influence physical health.

Addressing emotional channels can lead to unexpected physical improvements.

Let’s Connect! 

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🍃INSTAGRAM:@drmgmccullough

This episode of The Original Medicine Podcast breaks down the misconception that digestive issues can be treated with a one-size-fits-all acupuncture approach. MG McCullough highlights how traditional medicine requires far more nuance, especially when it comes to diagnosis. Rather than relying on commonly used points like Spleen 3 or Stomach 36 as universal solutions, he explains the importance of pulse diagnosis and understanding the specific level at which the body is storing a problem. By looking deeper, practitioners can deliver treatments that actually address root causes and lead to more effective outcomes.

Digestive problems cannot be approached with oversimplified point prescriptions.

Pulse diagnosis provides essential information that surface-level assessments miss.

Using points like Spleen 3 and Stomach 36 automatically is overly reductive.

The body stores issues at different levels, and identifying those levels is critical.

Effective treatment requires a comprehensive, nuanced understanding of traditional medicine.

Simplified approaches often result in weak or ineffective outcomes.

Accurate diagnosis is the foundation of successful treatment.

Practitioners must avoid generalizations when working with complex digestive conditions.

Let’s Connect! 

🍃WEBSITE:⁠www.drmgmccullough.com⁠

🍃INSTAGRAM:@drmgmccullough

This episode of the Original Medicine Podcast explores migraines through the lens of Chinese medicine, reframing them not as random reactions to triggers but as signs of deeper depletion in the body. MG McCullough breaks down how diet, lifestyle, and emotional health influence migraine patterns and explains why focusing solely on avoiding triggers misses the bigger picture. Instead, the conversation emphasizes building internal resources, understanding energy dynamics, and viewing migraines as expressions of imbalance that can be supported and transformed through holistic practices.

How migraine triggers matter far less than the underlying causes driving vulnerability.

Chinese medicine offers a physiological and energetic framework for understanding migraines.

The eight extraordinary channels reflect early life patterns that continue to influence health.

How diet is fundamental to building internal resources and preventing depletion.

Stored or unprocessed emotions can significantly weaken the body’s capacity to handle stress.

Caffeine and alcohol commonly aggravate depletion and heighten migraine susceptibility.

Sleep quality, stress regulation, and overall lifestyle strongly impact migraine frequency.

Migraines can be understood as expressions of energy imbalance rather than isolated events.

Identifying triggers is helpful but insufficient without addressing root causes.

With proper support and resource-building, migraines can become far more manageable.

Themes:
Let’s Connect! 

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🍃INSTAGRAM:@drmgmccullough

In this episode of The Original Medicine Podcast, Dr. MG McCullough explores the nature of inflammation. Is it the root cause of disease, or a response to deeper imbalances in the body?

Drawing from thousands of years of Chinese medicine wisdom, MG explains how

inflammation is a signal, not the problem itself. By addressing the root cause—whether emotional, dietary, or energetic—we can restore health, reduce chronic pain, and cultivate long-term wellbeing.

This episode is essential listening for anyone seeking to understand how Classical Chinese Medicine can transform chronic inflammation, migraines, or other pain conditions into true healing.

Key Takeaways

• Inflammation is a response, not the root cause of disease.

• Symptoms indicate depletion of vital resources (Jing, blood, fluids).

• Emotional trauma and chronic stress create heat in the body, driving inflammation.

• Avoid “inflamers” like coffee, alcohol, spicy foods, and processed ingredients.

• Warm, cooked, balanced meals support digestion and restore energy.

• Emotional regulation, journaling, Qi Gong, and meditation help shift the body’s energy.

Let’s Connect! 

🍃WEBSITE:www.drmgmccullough.com

🍃INSTAGRAM:@drmgmccullough

In this episode of The Original Medicine Podcast, Dr. MG McCullough returns to one of her most popular topics — how “clean eating” might actually be harming us.

She explores why modern diet culture and even functional medicine trends often miss the mark when it comes to true healing — especially for those struggling with migraines, chronic pain, hormonal imbalance, and fatigue.

From a Classical Chinese Medicine perspective, MG explains how:

• Grains, often villainized in modern nutrition, are essential for supporting the Spleen and Stomach — the body’s digestive “middle path.”

• Restrictive diets and “wellness perfectionism” can lead to orthorexia, emotional depletion, and energetic stagnation.

• Cold, raw foods like smoothies and salads — often seen as “healthy” — can actually weaken digestion and worsen heat conditions such as migraines, inflammation, and anxiety.

• Healing requires becoming a new version of yourself, not just changing what’s on your plate.

Themes: 

Orthorexia & control: Why many wellness habits stem from a need for safety, not health.

Digestive health = foundation: The Spleen & Stomach are central to how we transform food into energy.

Energetic nutrition: How cooked, warm, balanced meals tonify the body and calm the mind.

Becoming your next self: True healing is a transformation of body, mind, and spirit.

Let’s Connect! 

🍃WEBSITE:www.drmgmccullough.com

🍃INSTAGRAM:@drmgmccullough

In this episode of The Original Medicine Podcast, Dr. MG McCullough sits down with Katherine Rohland to explore why fragmented modern medicine misses the mark and how Classical Chinese Medicine reconnects the body, mind, and spirit into one cohesive system of healing.

Together, they unpack how energy, emotion, and physical well-being are intertwined — and why true healing requires understanding your body as a complete ecosystem, not a collection of symptoms.

Themes: 

Why modern health advice often makes you feel worse

How Classical Chinese Medicine views the mind and body as one

The energetic cost of cold plunges, “biohacks,” and other health trends

How certain diet fads (like veganism) can harm long-term vitality

The surprising link between digestion, fertility, and emotional safety

Why migraines, insomnia, and pain are signs your body’s energy is out of balance

The importance of warm, cooked food and how it supports your body’s healing

How shedding old habits and beliefs can help you become who you’re meant to be

Let’s Connect! 

🍃WEBSITE:www.drmgmccullough.com

🍃INSTAGRAM:@drmgmccullough