Benjamin Hawes, DAcCHM, LAc, Dipl. OM

Dr. Benjamin Hawes focuses his practice on aligning the body, soul, and mind to be greater than the sum of their parts through transformative work in multiple modalities including acupuncture, herbal medicine, craniosacral therapy, shamanism, and Zen meditation. He is the developer of the Backupuncture system of distal acupuncture spinal realignment, which he has taught to other acupuncturists as an NCCAOM continuing-education provider.

Prior to studying traditional East Asian medicine, Dr. Hawes graduated magna cum laude from Brown University with a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies with honors. He completed his master's degree at the New England School of Acupuncture and his Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine degree from the Pacific College of Health Sciences. 

Previous Articles

Acupuncture and Neuroplasticity: A Promising Treatment for PTSD
May 1, 2025 (Vol. 26, Issue 5)
Trending
News / Profession
Classification and Determination of TCM Constitution: China’s New National Standard
Classification and Determination of TCM Constitution

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.

Ann Y Wang, CMD (China), LAc
News / Profession
Profession at a Crossroads: What Must Change
Profession at a Crossroads: What Must Change

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.

Shabnam Pourhassani, LAc, QME, DACM
Acupuncture & Acupressure
It’s Time to Stop Prescribing Points
It's Time to Stop Prescribing Points

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.

Bruce W. Park, DACM