The Business of Acupuncture

Nell Smircina, MBA, DAOM, LAc, Dipl. OM

Dr. Nell Smircina is a practitioner, advocate and investor with a passion for helping others become more proficient with the business of acupuncture. She draws from her experience as the founder of COGENT Acupuncture (formerly PIQUE Health), as well as a past president of CSOMA and former vice chair of public policy for the American Society of Acupuncturists. Dr. Nell is constantly looking for ways to strengthen the industry of acupuncture: she is currently partnering with an investment firm to acquire a business in the integrative health space and help the company toward its next stage of growth. Learn more at drnell.com.

Previous Articles

The Acupuncture Industry’s Hidden Value
October 1, 2024 (Vol. 25, Issue 10)
Redefining Your Practice as a Career (Pt. 2)
July 1, 2024 (Vol. 25, Issue 7)
Redefining Your Practice as a Career (Pt. 1)
April 2024 (Vol. 25, Issue 4)
Three Steps to Getting Past Your Issues With Money
December 2023 (Vol. 24, Issue 12)
Think Beyond Your Clinic: The Advantages of Industry Involvement for Acupuncturists
September 2023 (Vol. 24, Issue 09)
You Need a Business Plan! (Pt. 2)
June 2023 (Vol. 24, Issue 06)
You Need a Business Plan! (Pt. 1)
April 2023 (Vol. 24, Issue 04)
Get Creative Building Your Practice
February 2023 (Vol. 24, Issue 02)
It's Time to Remove the Fear of Discussing Informed Consent
December 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 12)
Get the Most Out of Your Industry Pitch
October 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 10)
Master the Art of Storytelling: How to Articulate Why You Do What You Do
August 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 08)
Three Key Elements to an Introduction That Makes People Want to Hear More
June 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 06)
Ready to Make a Connection? Five Steps to Effective Networking
April 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 04)
Top 5 Essential Elements for Exponential Practice Growth in 2022
February 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 02)
Trending
Acupuncture & Acupressure
Open the Orifices: Point Combinations for Allergy Presentations
Open the Orifices: Point Combinations for Allergy Presentations

Acupuncture can be highly effective in cases of nasal congestion so common in allergy presentations; so much so that I often treat such issues using acupuncture protocols alone. In cases of seasonal allergies with highly predictable causes such as obvious elevations of environmental allergens, I use a skeleton acupuncture prescription that can easily be fleshed out to target potential underlying patterns and effectively customized to the patient.

Craig Williams, LAc, AHG
Lasers & Tens
The Laser Learning Curve for Light-Based Fertility Treatments
The Laser Learning Curve for Light-Based Fertility Treatments

Low-level laser therapy is having a moment in acupuncture circles for good reason. With a growing body of research supporting its role in reducing inflammation, enhancing circulation and stimulating mitochondrial activity, more practitioners are exploring its application in fertility care. But in the nearly 20 years I’ve used laser therapy in clinical practice, I’ve seen a wide range of outcomes. It’s not because laser therapy doesn’t work. It’s because many of us don’t realize how much the details matter.

Marcy White, LAc, Dipl. Ac., MAc, CFMP
Evidence / Research / Science
TEAM Dietary and Herbal Therapies for Cancer Patients
TEAM Dietary and Herbal Therapies for Cancer Patients

“Integrating Traditional East Asian Medicine Dietary and Herbal Therapies for Supporting Cancer Treatment and Survivorship in the West,”published in Perspectives on Integrative Medicine (2025), provides a detailed exploration of how traditional East Asian medicine (TEAM) can support cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. This article summarizes findings from the two case reports included in the study.

John Chen, PhD, PharmD, OMD, LAc