Two issues ago, Acupuncture Today reported on the efforts of individual acupuncturists to aid the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. The outpouring of support demonstrated by the acupuncture profession in the past few months has been nothing short of remarkable, as dozens of practitioners have volunteered their time throughout the Gulf Coast region to help people affected by Katrina. In the meantime, suppliers, schools, and state and national associations have all made significant contributions, working together to donate hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of food, clothing, acupuncture needles, herbal remedies, and other items to provide much-needed relief.
Although it is now more than 110 days since Hurricane Katrina made landfall, the effects of the hurricane will continue to be felt by the residents of Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi for many months, perhaps years, to come. Fortunately, the acupuncture community hasn't forgotten the victims of Katrina; even now, practitioners continue to stream into New Orleans and other cities along the Gulf Coast, providing aid and comfort when possible, and doing their best to make the lives of the hurricane victims better.
On April 1, 2026, China implemented a landmark national standard: Classification and Determination of TCM Constitution. Although designated as a recommended rather than mandatory standard, it represents a major step in modernizing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) by converting traditional constitution theory into a clear, measurable and clinically practical framework. By clarifying the relationship between constitution, disease, and pattern differentiation, the standard strengthens professional credibility, supports research, and enhances patient-centered treatment.
The field of acupuncture in the U.S. continues to grow in visibility, patient demand and clinical effectiveness. Yet behind the curtain, many acupuncturists are quietly struggling to keep their doors open. While the profession is rooted in centuries of healing tradition, modern economic pressures – particularly those driven by insurance limitations, low reimbursement rates and job-market saturation – are making it increasingly difficult for licensed acupuncturists to thrive.
A student stands over a patient, needle poised. They have a “perfect” prescription: a textbook combination of points harvested from a lecture slide on chronic lower back pain. But as the needle meets the skin, the student hesitates - the symptom of a quiet habit that has taken hold of our profession. We routinely say we “prescribe” points. It sounds efficient. It echoes the authority of biomedical culture and fits neatly into the insurance field. But vocabulary is never neutral; repeated long enough, it dictates behavior.
