Brandon LaGreca, LAc

Brandon LaGreca, LAc is a 2005 graduate of the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, a certified acupuncturist in the state of Wisconsin, and nationally certified in the practice of Oriental medicine (NCCAOM). He lives and works in East Troy, Wisconsin where he directs an integrative medical clinic. Brandon is a thought leader in the synthesis of traditional and functional medicine, authoring numerous articles on the subject. You can visit his blog at www.empoweredpatientblog.com.

Previous Articles

The Positive "Side Effect" of Acupuncture: Immobilization Without Fear
June 2021 (Vol. 22, Issue 06)
Best Practices in SOAP Notation
June 2019 (Vol. 20, Issue 06)
Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity and the Science of EMFs
February 2019 (Vol. 20, Issue 02)
The Raw Food Debate: Practitioners Discuss Nutrition & TCM
December 2018 (Vol. 19, Issue 12)
Does Dairy Cause Dampness?
August 2018 (Vol. 19, Issue 08)
A Novel Treatment for Aggressive Energy
April 2018 (Vol. 19, Issue 04)
The Qigong Master: Talking to Your Patients About Care
February 2018 (Vol. 19, Issue 02)
An Algorithm for Lower Back Pain: Treating the Simple and Complicated Issues
November 2017 (Vol. 18, Issue 11)
Apps for the Modern Acupuncturist: The Digital Resources Patient-Centered Care Requires
September 2017 (Vol. 18, Issue 09)
Heat or Cold? Choosing the Best Option for Pain
June 2017 (Vol. 18, Issue 06)
Treating the Terrain of Chronic Sinus Infections
April 2017 (Vol. 18, Issue 04)
Flirting With Alternative Therapies
February 2017 (Vol. 18, Issue 02)
A Simple Protocol for Holiday Stress
December 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 12)
Distal Style Treatment of Neurogenic Pain
August 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 08)
The Name Game
April 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 04)
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