I have spent the past decade honing my craft and learning how to run a successful acupuncture practice. Some years have been easier than others. Having survived the pandemic and found several niches for myself, I have turned back to my first love, teaching. As I have developed more curricula I continue to ask the same question: What do I wish I had known before I had a decade of mistakes under my belt?
Here are some things I wish I had known, and hope someone shared with you when you were starting out. If they didn’t, please let me be that person now.
Don’t Be Afraid to Say “I Don’t Know” to a Patient ... But Also Trust Yourself
You know more than you think. Many simple things you naturally do as a healer may be life changing to a patient. But when a patient comes to you and says they have a specific condition / disease you have never heard of, they will know if you are trying to sound more knowledgeable than you are.
There is no harm in saying, “I don’t know or I’m not familiar with that, but I will do my due diligence and learn.” When in doubt, go back to basics. Is the patient deficient or do they have an excess? Is it a yin or a yang issue? Qi or blood? If you answer those questions, you can help them, even if the details aren’t there yet. One of the beautiful things about our medicine is that the ability to continue to learn and refine our practice is never-ending.
It’s OK to Start Small
Did you come out of school with a dream office in your mind? I did. Did I immediately have the ability to build it? Nope. Did my patients care? Also no.
Having dreams is important, but you are the practice. If you can provide your patients with a safe, comfortable environment for treatment the “perfect ambiance” can wait until you can make it happen without surviving on ramen packs and PB&J. The waiting room with the soft couches and water feature wall, all amazing and of course help calm patients before you put a single needle in. But it’s not worth it if you can’t sustain the practice.
Some things I won’t skimp on (I am sure every practitioner has their own list of nonnegotiables):
Make your own list of important help to have and value your own time. My general rule of thumb is if something costs more than it would take me to do for myself at my clinic hourly rate, then it’s worth doing myself – unless it’s something I hate and know I won’t do.
It’s OK to Ask for Help
You have more resources than you may realize. Your favorite teacher at school? Would likely be thrilled to hear from you and happy to chat about a challenging patient. A classmate you enjoyed studying with? May be having similar practice management challenges and has different ideas than you. Together you might find the answers you both need.
Most states have professional organizations that offer classes and networking events. CEU classes can be a wonderful way to gain new skills and meet people.
You Are Doing Better Than You Think You Are
Look at everything you can do! You are a medical professional in a world that desperately needs you. You are helping patients feel better every day. You have the knowledge and drive to bring peace and healing to people who may not have experienced those feelings in the past.
Let me be your cheerleader – you are doing a great job. Now remember to take care of yourself while you help your patients heal, because no matter how amazing you are no one can pour from an empty pitcher.
When I graduated from NYCC’s FLSAOM in May 2015, I felt the education I received was among the best possible at the time. By July I was a licensed acupuncturist in Pennsylvania, and I was confident in my baby-acu skills, enough that I knew I could keep my patients safe. I knew the basics of starting a business and in my case, life promptly got in the way.
Three days after graduation that August, my mother was diagnosed with a recurrence of pancreatic cancer. My focus immediately shifted from new business owner to caregiver. Between her oncology team at Johns Hopkins, TCM herbal formulas, and her live-in acupuncturist, Mom beat the very formidable odds again and continues to be a survivor to this day.
But that autumn completely changed the trajectory of my career. It also introduced me to one of my dear friends and mentors. Without realizing how valuable the knowledge of a seasoned acupuncturist could be at the time, I ended up with the jackpot of connections, by chance. Through that connection, continuing education, and a lot of trial and error, I have found the path that works for me. I hope some of my insights can help you along your journey.
One of the longest nerves in the body is known as the vagus nerve (VN). The VN is the 10th pair of cranial nerves that originates at the brain stem in the medulla oblongata. This nerve is part of the parasympathetic nervous system, which is a part of the ANS. Research suggests ear acupuncture can activate the VN.
Migraines are unilateral, throbbing headaches, often with concurrent nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia. Approximately 10% of the global population suffers from migraines, with women more than three times as likely as men to experience them. Medication remains a mainstay treatment option, making nondrug alternatives critical to safer practices. New research suggests auricular acupuncture may be one such alternative.
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How much training in gua sha did you get in acupuncture school? If it was not much more than an introduction, now is the time to revisit this powerful healing modality. I’ve found gua sha to be one of my go-to skills to address myofascial dysfunction, all sorts of pain, limited range of motion, and even to promote general well-being. Let’s discuss the keys to effective gua sha treatment, which I hope will get more acupuncturists using it in the clinic.