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.
Josephine Fan
Josephine Fan began her studies under the tutelage of her grandfather. She decided to pursue the academic credentials and licensing requirements to become a N.Y. state licensed acupuncturist. She completed her educational requirements and passed the NCCAOM tests in 2016, and is currently awaiting approval for her application.