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NADA Auricular Acupuncture

A Message from our Founder….

Los Angeles, CA

Thank you for visiting the White Aspen Research Foundation. I started this nonprofit foundation to assist U.S. Military Veterans with pain-related conditions due to their service. I originally began my research as a result of the opioid crisis happening right at our front door. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency in 2017. Secretary Thomas E. Price, M.D. outlined a 5-point plan to combat this crisis, and one of those points was to advance better practices for pain management.

As a doctor working in the clinic, I have seen, firsthand, the catastrophic effects of long-term opioid use. My research has revealed acupuncture as a safe and effective alternative route for pain relief. Always remember to consult your doctor before changing any course of treatment.

Acupuncture is an energy-based medicine that uses thin needles to move Qí, or our vital life force, throughout the body to facilitate healing. This ancient medicine takes a holistic point of view and treats the body as an organic whole. Neuro-Acupuncture, in particular, allows for the regeneration of neural pathways to alleviate painful symptoms, such as those from losing a limb.

One of the future goals of the White Aspen Research Foundation is to develop a Neuro-Acupuncture treatment protocol to replace the use of opioids in Military Veterans experiencing phantom limb pain, among other conditions.

I hope you will join us in our mission to further this ground-breaking medicine.

Best,

Dr. Danielle Burke, DAOM, MTOM, Dipl. OM, L.Ac, President

Sound Bowls

WARF Meeting January 22, 2022

Mission

Our mission, at the White Aspen Research Foundation, is to advance the reach of alternative medicine practice to address pain-related conditions experienced by our United States military service members. Our doctors intend to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western schools of thought through know-how, research, and doing. Please help us further this remarkable research by donating directly to our cause. We support our brave soldiers as they embark on their newfound journeys here, at home.

Current Focus

The White Aspen Research team will investigate the use of Neuro-Acupuncture for phantom limb pain in amputees. Other conditions treated with this specialized type of acupuncture include anxiety, depression, stroke, paralysis, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), Parkinson’s Disease, and migraine headaches.

Please help us further this remarkable research by donating to our foundation.  Our current focus, phantom limb pain, is experienced by over 80% of amputees worldwide. This debilitating condition can last a lifetime if not property treated. The White Aspen Research team thanks you for your continued support in our mission to heal the world, one soul at a time.

What is Phantom Limb Pain??

Globally, more than one million limb amputations take place every year, with more than 80% of amputees experiencing phantom limb pain. Phantom limb pain (PLP) is the pain perceived by a region of the body that is no longer physically present. This pain has been described by sufferers as shooting, stabbing, boring, squeezing, throbbing, burning, twisting, or can feel like the phantom limb is being forced into an uncomfortable position. The pain is unique to each patient, can be continuous, and can be triggered by internal and external factors. The mechanisms of PLP have been categorized as psychogenic, or having a psychological cause rather than a physical one,  pertaining to symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) post-amputation, peripheral in relating to the stump and neuroma hyperactivity,  related to the central nervous system with desensitization of the dorsal horn, and neurological accompanies by reorganization of the sensory and motor cortices, leading to maladaptive plasticity, the latter being the most cited theory to date.

Patients with both planned and traumatic amputations have reported instances of Phantom Limb Pain along with those having congenitally missing limbs. An estimated 2 million people are living with limb loss in the United States, and it is projected that this number will more than double by the year 2050.2

Currently, there is no recognized primary treatment protocol for Phantom Limb Pain, so a process of trial and error dictates the course of treatment. A review of 38 therapies concluded no decisions could be made for the first-line management of PLP.Phantom Limb Pain treatment failure rates have been recorded as high as 92% among amputees for up to 40 years after amputation.4 In a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, amputees with post-amputation pain reported a decrease in the intensity of post-amputation pain with the use of oral morphine, but was associated with a higher rate of side effects and relief only while using the medication.5 In addition, no improvements in self-reported levels of overall functional activity and pain-related interference in daily activities were reported.

What is Neuro-Acupuncture??

Neuro-Acupuncture is a modern acupuncture technique integrating traditional Eastern needling technique with Western medicine neuroscience and neuroanatomy.

Neuro-Acupuncture stimulates the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Needle locations are coupled with the motor and sensory lines that correlate with anatomical structures of the body, i.e. missing limbs. One neuron is like an entire brain, and one neuron has the ability to be stimulated in such a way that it can regulate itself and create new neural pathways throughout the body system. One neuron also has the capability to regulate an entire cohort of neurons in the same manner; some excite, some inhibit. Acupuncture has the ability to excite places that are dormant and to sedate places that are overactive, which leads to relaxation of the nervous system. This relaxation allows for the nervous system to reinterpret a lossed function, such as the pain processing pathways of the brain due to limb loss. This reinterpretation, or neuroplasticity, awakens neurons and enables them to reconnect in an alternate pattern. These neurons have a harmonious relationship, or homeostasis, when all systems are balanced and running smoothly. Acupuncture has the ability to stabilize this condition with long-lasting results.

“Return To Life” is a documentary film which dives into the fascinating and promising world of Neuro-Acupuncture. This type of specialized needling assists patients with traumatic brain injury, post traumatic stress disorder, muscular sclerosis, stroke, autism and many other challenging neurological conditions. Through personal, inspiring and heart-warming stories of patients who have benefited from Neuro-Acupuncture, the film explores the challenges and opportunities that come with bringing this miraculous treatment to those who need it most.

Giving Back

The White Aspen Research Foundation provides free and discounted treatments to first-responders, U.S. Military personnel, and those recovering from addiction. Our partnerships allow us to reach those whom need us most. If you or someone you know would like a consultation, please contact us.

This foundation will also be providing  mentorship for students attending Oriental Medicine universities whom are enrolled in Doctoral and Master acupuncture programs. These students may earn preceptorship hours towards their degrees while assisting with our clinical research. Mentorships provide opportunities to gain a depth of knowledge or experience in areas of particular interest and can include clinical practice, research or teaching.

Please do your part to keep these programs alive by donating to our foundation. Your donation will go to funding our research, teaching this wonderful medicine, and strengthening our ability to heal the world, one soul at a time. We thank you for your continued support.

 

 

 

White Aspen Research

PRESIDENT, FOUNDER

Dr. Danielle Burke, DAOM, MTOM, Dipl. OM, LAc

DAOM – Doctor of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine, Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine, 2020
MTOM – Master of Traditional Oriental Medicine, Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine, 2017
Dipl. OM – Diplomate of Oriental Medicine, National Certification (NCCAOM), 2018
LAc – Board Certified Licensed Acupuncturist, California & Colorado, 2018                                                              BBA – Bachelor of Business Administration, International Business & Trade, Florida Atlantic University, 2007  Neuro-Acupuncture Certification, Neuro-Acupuncture Institute, 2022

 

Dr. Burke is a nationally Board Certified Doctor of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine and has received her Doctorate and Master’s degrees from Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine in Santa Monica, California. She is currently pursuing an Accelerated 1-Year Master of Public Health, Health Services Organization Research, Post-Doctoral Degree for Clinical Doctors from UCLA in order to make change in public healthcare policy at the highest of levels. Dr. Burke’s Neuro-Acupuncture research has become her passion, and she intends to bring this to the forefront of Western medical care. Her externship at the UCLA Health Simms/Mann Health & Wellness Venice Family Clinic allowed her to heal underserved patients while working with Western medical doctors in a purely integrative setting. This experience inspired her to become a patient advocate and to seek effective, sustainable, and accessible ways to enhance the status quo of the U.S. healthcare system.

Dr. Burke’s personal practice views the human system as a whole -promoting wellness of the mind, body & spirit. She utilizes modalities of acupuncture, cupping, herbals, gemstones, and sound therapy to effectively heal the physical body as well as the subtle bodies of the human form.

Dr. Burke is originally from the east coast, but has spent the last 15 years enjoying California sunsets. When not doing acupuncture, she enjoys paddle boarding, tennis, skiing, hiking, cooking organic meals, and playing chess.

VICE PRESIDENT

Dr. Jessica Sharratt, DAOM, MTOM, Dipl. OM, LAc

DAOM – Doctor of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine, Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine, 2019
MTOM – Master of Traditional Oriental Medicine, Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine, 2017
Dipl. OM – Diplomate of Oriental Medicine, National Certification (NCCAOM), 2017
LAc – Board Certified Licensed Acupuncturist, California, 2017
BS – Bachelor of Science, Human Biology, Nutritional Sciences

 

Based out of Manhattan Beach, California, Dr. Sharratt is also an alum of Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine in Santa Monica, California where she received her Doctorate of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and her Masters in Traditional Oriental Medicine.

As a California Board Certified licensed acupuncturist, with passion about supporting the underserved, Dr. Sharratt completed her residency at the UCLA Health Simms/Mann Health & Wellness Venice Family Clinic, donated her time to organizations supporting Veterans and provides need-based acupuncture to physical and emotional trauma survivors.

The success of her private practice is driven by her enthusiasm to work alongside other practitioners to provide relief for idiopathic conditions.

As a Doctor of Acupuncture, herbalist and nutritionist, she utilizes a large variety of ancient (acupuncture, neuro-acupuncture, cupping, gua sha, herbal medicine) and modern modalities (myofascial manipulation, functional medicine, nutritional counseling) to support her patients’ best health while providing truly holistic primary and adjunct specialty care. Her primary area of focus is women’s health, with an emphasis on preconception planning, fertility, hormonal health and chronic pelvic pain disorders. Her additional specialties include digestive health, pain syndromes and trauma resolution. Dr. Jessica’s passion for community and truly holistic healthcare burns bright and she is thrilled to have the opportunity to bring that passion to White Aspen Research.

Dr. Arno Kroner, DAOM

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Dr. Arno Kroner, DAOM, MTOM, Dipl. OM, LAc, MBA

DAOM – Doctor of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine, Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine, 2019
MTOM – Master of Traditional Oriental Medicine, Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine, 2017
Dipl. OM – Diplomate of Oriental Medicine, National Certification (NCCAOM), 2017
LAc – Licensed Acupuncturist, California, 2017
MBA – Master in Business Administration, France and USA

Dr. Arno Kroner is a Board Certified California Licensed acupuncturist, herbalist and integrative medicine doctor. Arno graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Doctorate & Master in Traditional Oriental Medicine from Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine in Santa Monica, CA. In addition to academic studies, he completed residency training at The Roy and Edna Disney Family Cancer Center in Burbank as well as at the Being Alive Community Clinic in West Hollywood, CA. Finally, he received two years of functional medicine training through Apex Energetics. In conjunction with Chinese medical training, this provided him with cutting-edge blood-based diagnostic tools for functional medicine. Finally, as Medical Reviewer and a member of the Medical Advisory Board at Very Well Health, Dr. Kroner also works as consultant for a portfolio of entities in the area of sustainable medical design and financial health.

Dr. Kroner believes that a balanced, mindful and compassionate lifestyle is the key to health and happiness. His drive for supporting patients to reach their full wellness potential in life and in sports stems from his passion for nature, endurance & extreme environments. In this context, he has competed in prestigious races such as the Boston MarathonUltra-Trail du Mont-BlancPikes Peak MarathonMiwok 100. Additionally, Arno was on the Disney Triathlon Team earning medals at the Malibu Triathlon and at Escape from Alcatraz. Finally, Arno is also an avid backcountry skier who loves the Sierra Nevada & the French Alps. Dr. Kroner sees each patient as unique and he embraces & recognizes the profound power of their mind, body, & spirit on their health & wellness journey. As he has lived in a multitude of countries, in Europe, America and Asia, Dr. Kroner also speaks 4 languages & is culturally competent. Read more here at drkroner.com

dr arno kroner

Dr. David Chan, DOM, LAc

DAOM – Doctor of Oriental Medicine, SAMRA University, 1988                                                                                            LAc – Board Certified Licensed Acupuncturist, California, 1984                                                                                          BS- Acupuncture, SAMRA University, 1984
BA – Psychology, Yale University, 1973

 

Dr. David Chan received his Doctorate of Oriental Medicine from SAMRA University following his Bachelor of Science in Acupuncture from the same institution. Currently, he practices acupuncture in Southern California while teaching courses, including Secondary Vessels the Spirituality of the Points, to students in the Master of Traditional Oriental Medicine Program at Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine in Santa Monica, California.

After completing his Bachelor’s in Psychology from Yale University, and his Chinese Medicine degrees here in Los Angeles, California, Dr. David Chan studied metaphysics for three years with a Crystal Master and meditation teacher. After integrating the use of gemstones with Chinese Medicine, he began studying with Daoist Priest Jeffrey Yuen, learning what is now referred to as Classical Chinese Medicine. These classical studies include the Daoist roots of the medicine that Traditional Chinese Medicine has lost. Dr. David Chan has also studied Mandarin Chinese, Martial Arts, and other aspects of Chinese culture in Taiwan.

Contact

 

info@whiteaspenresearch.org

 

AWOB
Danielle Burke Healing
Dr. Dorian Kramer DAC LAc
Dr. Jessica Sharratt DAOM