Heidi Hawkins, MAc, LAc

Heidi Hawkins received her Master's degree from Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NIAOM) in 1994. After graduation, she pursued additional studies in allergies, which led her to reunite spiritual healing traditions with a practice in traditional Chinese medicine. She is a member of the Acupuncture Association of Washington. She currently maintains a pair of busy practices in Seattle and Bellingham, Washington.

Previous Articles

Fibromyalgia
October 2004 (Vol. 05, Issue 10)
Dust Allergy
August 2004 (Vol. 05, Issue 08)
Mold Allergy
April 2004 (Vol. 05, Issue 04)
Allergies and the Thymus Gland
December 2003 (Vol. 04, Issue 12)
Allergies, the Environment, and the Masking Phenomenon
August 2003 (Vol. 04, Issue 08)
Allergy Relief Systems
June 2003 (Vol. 04, Issue 06)
Allergies and the San Jiao
December 2002 (Vol. 03, Issue 12)
Heavy Metal Poisoning and Allergies, Part One
November 2002 (Vol. 03, Issue 11)
Are You Allergic to Yourself?
August 2002 (Vol. 03, Issue 08)
Pediatric Allergies
June 2002 (Vol. 03, Issue 06)
Allergy Treatment
February 2002 (Vol. 03, Issue 02)
Lingering Pathogenic Factors and the Paradox of Treatment
November 2001 (Vol. 02, Issue 11)
Causes of Allergy and Chemical Sensitivity: Lingering Pathogenic Factors
June 2001 (Vol. 02, Issue 06)
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Part II
February 2001 (Vol. 02, Issue 02)
The Myth of Autoimmune Diseases
December 2001 (Vol. 02, Issue 12)
ADD/ADHD and Allergies
August 2001 (Vol. 02, Issue 08)
Hayfever and Springtime Allergies
April 2001 (Vol. 02, Issue 04)
Allergies and Medical Divination
October 2000 (Vol. 01, Issue 10)
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
December 2000 (Vol. 01, Issue 12)
The Energetics of Allergies
August 2000 (Vol. 01, Issue 08)
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