Why Acupuncture Works: Research, Public Health, and Complexity Science with Dr. Lisa Conboy

In this thought-provoking episode of the 39Gen Podcast from Yo San University, Dr. Lisa Conboy, medical sociologist, epidemiologist, and instructor at both Harvard Medical School and Yo San University, joins host Sean Trace to explore the intersection of East Asian medicine, research, and complex systems thinking. With over 30 years of experience studying integrative health approaches, Dr. Conboy shares her deeply personal journey into Chinese medicine, sparked by a transformative encounter with a traditional practitioner in Palo Alto.

Together, they examine how acupuncture and herbal medicine can play a powerful role in public health, the challenges of designing respectful and meaningful clinical research, and how complex systems thinking can help bridge biomedical and traditional healing models. Dr. Conboy offers actionable advice for students designing capstones, insights into the value of case reports and observational research, and her vision for the next generation of integrative medicine practitioners.

Whether you're a student, clinician, or simply curious about the science behind holistic healing, this episode is a must-listen.