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.
News in Brief
AAAOM Talks Herbal Safety
The American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM) board members recently met with the Korean Customs Service, which is similar to the FDA, to discuss herbal safety and importation issues.
Mr. Sung Sik Kim and Mr. Young Mi Kim explained how their new, revamped computerized system will enable a smoother importation and exportation of goods. One of their chief concerns is herbal safety, whether including issues of purity or contamination.
Their discussion included proper labeling protocols and AAAOM's continued effort to provide safe and effective herbal supplements. The AAAOM hopes to meet with other organizations that can improve patient safety and practitioner efficacy. Check back for future reports.