Eric Brand, LAc

Eric Brand, LAc, a graduate of the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine and a fluent Chinese speaker, has pursued extensive academic and clinical opportunities in both Asia and the West. He is the author of A Clinician's Guide to the Use of Granule Extracts and the co-author of the text Concise Chinese Materia Medica, and he has translated a variety of modern and classical Chinese medical texts. Eric has a particular passion for Chinese herbal processing, herbal authentication and quality discernment and he is the owner of Legendary Herbs.

Previous Articles

When Big Pharma Meets Chinese Medicine
October 2014 (Vol. 15, Issue 10)
Changes in Herbal Medicines from Ancient Times to the Present
July 2014 (Vol. 15, Issue 07)
Pesticides and Chinese Herbs: Understanding the Issues
June 2014 (Vol. 15, Issue 06)
Preserving the Natural Resources and Culture of Chinese Herbal Medicine
March 2014 (Vol. 15, Issue 03)
In Memory of Acupuncturist Al Stone
September 2013 (Vol. 14, Issue 09)
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