AGP Executive Report

Menopause Care: ACOG has updated its menopause guidance for the first time since 2014, recommending hormone therapy and other options for symptoms including hot flashes and sleep problems. As UK HRT shortages continue, officials warn women not to self-medicate. Acupuncture: A patient reported finding a needle in her neck hours after treatment and sought emergency care when she felt unwell. Separately, a New York practitioner says clearer explanations could help avoid portraying acupuncture as either mysticism or a treatment that must be fully explained by Western science. Traditional Medicine: WHO members discussed global cooperation and plans for traditional medicine, while an AYUSH exhibition in Madurai is showcasing seven systems, medicinal plants and free clinics. Natural Health Claims: Small studies suggest raw onions may affect blood sugar, but dietitians say findings are limited; onions are not a substitute for prescribed care.

Wellness Tourism: Sri Lanka won the Visitors’ Choice award for Leading Wellness Destination at the 2026 South Asian Travel Awards, with its Ayurveda heritage among the attractions highlighted. Natural Products: A review of Sri Lanka’s essential-oil industry points to opportunities for sustainable growth, while noting challenges in moving beyond raw-material exports. Ayurveda: Makhana offers some minerals, but its calcium content is modest; it should not be treated as medicine for bone, muscle or joint problems. Product Safety: The FDA warned Amazon and Walmart over unapproved genital-herpes products, including items sold as homeopathic, and says treatment should involve a licensed health professional. Menopause Care: Updated ACOG guidance strongly recommends hormone therapy for hot flashes and related sleep problems in suitable patients, alongside nonhormonal and non-drug options. Retreat Aftercare: Wellness providers are extending support beyond checkout with personalized plans, consultations and digital programmes to help guests sustain new routines at home.

Online Remedy Warning: The FDA warned Amazon and Walmart over unapproved products marketed for genital herpes, including homeopathic creams and sprays. The agency says treatment requires diagnosis and care from a licensed professional. Menopause Care: Updated ACOG guidance recommends considering hormone therapy for hot flashes and related sleep problems before age 60 or within 10 years of menopause, when appropriate. Decisions should weigh personal risks and goals; blood-clot risk remains a concern. Cancer Support Research: A new analysis mapped 5,770 studies on traditional and complementary medicine in cancer supportive care from 2000 to 2025. It charts the field’s growth but does not establish that any specific remedy works. Amla and Neuropathy: Amla may fit into a balanced diet, but there’s no good indication it repairs damaged nerves. Experts say finding and treating the underlying cause of numbness or burning feet is key.

Traditional Therapies: A Hove massage therapist is combining Thai techniques with modern spa treatments. In China, a new massage robot uses facial and tongue scans plus health information to suggest acupoints; users can adjust or stop the session. Policy & Safety: India’s AYUSH ministry has issued skin-disorder treatment guidelines spanning four traditional systems. In Kerala, police are investigating suspected illegal acupuncture after an infant’s death; an autopsy report is pending. Research Watch: Australian researchers are testing acupuncture for acute pain in emergency departments, but the study has not yet reported results. A review of 5,770 publications maps the growth of traditional and complementary approaches in cancer supportive care—it does not assess whether specific treatments work. Small studies suggest pomegranates may benefit heart, gut and brain health, but larger human studies are needed.

Food and Blood Sugar: Small studies suggest raw onions may affect blood sugar and insulin-resistance markers, but dietitians say the research is limited; onions are not a substitute for treatment. Women’s Wellness: Canyon Ranch Austin is opening a 40,000-square-foot spa with dedicated programs for menopause, hormonal health, sleep, postpartum recovery and aging. Community Acupuncture: Caloocan is offering free acupuncture for stress and body aches, alongside cupping, moxibustion, tai chi and herbal consultations. Traditional-Medicine Standards: India’s Ayush ministry issued guidelines for common skin conditions across Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and homeopathy, with yoga included, aiming to standardize care.

Community Acupuncture: Caloocan is offering residents free acupuncture for stress and body aches, alongside cupping, moxibustion and other traditional Chinese medicine services. Traditional Care Standards: India’s Ministry of Ayush issued guidelines for skin conditions including psoriasis, vitiligo and dermatitis, covering Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and homeopathy, with yoga. Acupuncture in Emergency Care: An Australian project is studying how registered acupuncturists could work with emergency department teams on acute pain; it is testing delivery, not treatment effectiveness. Safety Watch: Police in Kerala are investigating alleged unauthorized acupuncture and inadequate care in a case involving the deaths of a newborn and the child’s mother; no findings establish acupuncture as a cause. Whole-Person Health: A New York summit explored a care framework spanning physical health, lifestyle and spiritual wellbeing.

Traditional Care Standards: India’s Ayush Ministry issued guidelines for skin disorders across Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and homeopathy, with yoga included. The guidelines aim to standardize care and draw on contemporary research. Acupuncture in Emergency Rooms: An Australian project is testing how registered acupuncturists could work alongside emergency clinicians for acute pain. More than 90% of surveyed patients and health workers said they would consider or support the option, but the project is studying delivery, not proving effectiveness. Patient Safety: Police in Kerala are investigating alleged denial of medical care and unauthorized practices, including acupuncture, after a newborn’s body was exhumed for examination. The infant’s father, described as an acupuncture practitioner, was arrested in connection with the case. Ayurveda Business: Personal-care brand Nat Habit raised about $15 million to expand its product range and distribution.

Integrative Cancer Care: A breast cancer feature highlights acupuncture and gentle movement as possible ways to ease treatment-related symptoms, such as chemotherapy nausea and joint pain. These practices should complement—not replace—medical treatment, and acupuncture should be provided by a qualified practitioner. Ayurveda Online: An Ayurvedic doctor warns that viral wellness routines can be unsuitable or harmful when stripped of personal context, including prolonged, forceful oil pulling and daily detox or laxative teas. Patient Safety: Police investigating a woman’s death in Kerala say her husband, an acupuncture practitioner, allegedly denied her medical care and conducted a home delivery. A newborn’s body was exhumed for postmortem examination; the allegations remain under investigation. Training Standards: India’s traditional-medicine regulator withheld recognition from 61 Ayurveda colleges for alleged failures including staffing and clinical-service deficiencies. Global Reach: India is seeking to establish an Ayush chair at Durban University of Technology to support traditional-medicine education and research in South Africa.

Ayurveda Safety: An Ayurvedic doctor warns that viral wellness routines can be harmful out of context: vigorous 20-minute oil pulling may strain the jaw, while daily detox teas and DIY panchakarma deserve caution. AYUSH Oversight: India’s regulator has withheld recognition from 61 Ayurveda colleges over alleged failures in inspections, staffing and clinical services; final decisions are pending before admissions conclude. Culturally Tailored Care: A new Medicare Advantage plan for Asian American seniors in Los Angeles and Orange counties will offer multilingual doctors and Eastern wellness treatments from January 2027. Patient Safety: Police investigating a woman’s death arrested her husband, an acupuncture practitioner, alleging he denied her medical care and conducted a home birth; authorities have also exhumed their newborn for examination.

Ayurveda Oversight: India’s medical regulator withheld recognition from 61 Ayurveda colleges for 2026–27, citing alleged shortfalls including staffing, clinical services and inspection access. Final status is due before admissions conclude. Traditional Chinese Medicine: A practitioner reports improvement in a client’s alopecia areata after treatment and lifestyle changes, while stressing that hair loss needs medical assessment and should not be blamed on stress alone. Research and Training: India and the UK launched six-month certificate courses for AYUSH graduates in emergency support and lifestyle counselling; India’s AYUSH minister said traditional care should be integrated responsibly and supported by research and clinical standards. Herbal Caution: Gokshura is drawing renewed research interest, but its long history of Ayurvedic use is not, by itself, proof of health benefits.

Hair Loss: A traditional Chinese medicine practitioner reported improvement in a client’s alopecia areata after treatment and lifestyle changes, while cautioning that hair loss needs medical evaluation and shouldn’t be blamed on stress alone. Seasonal Ayurveda: As vata season begins, an Ayurveda column recommends warming nourishment and extra support during colder, drier months. Product Safety: The FDA warned that Babies’ Magic Tea gripe water contains ethanol, methanol and isopropanol; exposure could cause serious harm to infants, including breathing problems at higher amounts. Traditional Remedies: Gokshura remains a focus of research, but its long history of Ayurvedic use is not proof of health benefits. Separately, a new Indo-UK initiative will offer AYUSH practitioners six-month courses in acute-care support and lifestyle counselling, with India’s AYUSH minister stressing research, quality standards and responsible integration.

Infant Product Safety: The FDA warned that Babies’ Magic Tea gripe water contains ethanol, methanol and isopropanol. The agency says exposure can cause drowsiness, vomiting and other harms, with higher amounts posing serious risks. Sleep Advice: A new explainer says melatonin supplements are not useful for every sleep problem; their benefits are limited to specific conditions. Osteoarthritis: Updated NICE guidance stresses that the condition need not inevitably worsen with age and points to drug and nondrug care options. A fuller review of medicines is still pending. Acupuncture: A consumer guide finds its strongest support is for chronic pain, with more limited evidence for other uses. Kerala Health Policy: The state has formed a task force to develop an evidence-based plan for disease prevention, early detection, rehabilitation and healthy ageing.

Ayurveda and Mental Health: World Mental Health Day coverage promoted Ayurvedic routines for wellbeing; traditional practices may complement care, but persistent mental health symptoms warrant professional support. Acupuncture: A new explainer says the strongest research points to modest help for chronic pain and nausea, while many broader health claims remain unproven. AYUSH Workforce: Women make up 43% of India’s Ayush services workforce, with representation above 50% in several organised settings. Some interns, however, are still protesting for higher stipends, underscoring concerns about pay and training conditions. Naturopathy Regulation: Ghanaian naturopath Raphael Nyarkotey Obu’s call to the Bar puts practitioner standards and accountability in the spotlight as the profession seeks greater recognition.

Mental Health: World Mental Health Day coverage challenged stigma and promoted early support, while outlining Ayurvedic lifestyle ideas for wellbeing. These can complement—not replace—professional mental health care. Acupuncture: A new explainer finds its strongest support is for chronic pain and nausea, with benefits generally modest; it also stresses seeing a qualified practitioner. Health Policy: Kerala has formed a task force to plan prevention, early detection, treatment, rehabilitation and healthy ageing across the state. Product Safety: The FDA warned Amazon over nine unapproved products marketed for genital herpes symptoms, including six labeled homeopathic. The agency says suspected herpes needs diagnosis and care from a licensed health professional.

Ayush Training: Stipends for Ayurveda, Unani and homeopathy interns have been doubled, according to a new government update. Product Safety: The FDA warned Amazon over nine unapproved genital-herpes products sold through its site; six were labeled homeopathic. The agency says effective treatment requires diagnosis and care from a licensed professional. Back Pain Care: A new guideline advises against routine scans and opioids for uncomplicated acute low-back pain. It recommends self-care first, with options including acupuncture if symptoms persist or worsen. Ayush Workforce: Women make up 43% of India’s Ayush services workforce, rising above 60% in spas and wellness resorts, a government report says.

Back Pain Care: New US guidance favors staying active, heat and NSAIDs when safe over routine scans or opioids for acute low back pain. Acupuncture or physical therapy may be considered if symptoms persist or worsen after one to two weeks. Ayush Workforce: India’s traditional health-services sector supports 1.76 million livelihoods; women make up 43% of the workforce and more than half in several service areas. Ashwagandha Safety: A 1,200-person trial reported no treatment-related liver or kidney injury after 24 weeks of a standardised root extract. The findings apply to the tested product and study group, not every supplement. Acupuncture & Insomnia: A small electroacupuncture pilot reported gains in patients’ sleep ratings, but not in activity-based sleep measures. Without a sham control, placebo effects remain possible.