Lawrence Howard, DAc, LAc

Dr. Lawrence Howard is a New York State-licensed acupuncturist in practice since 1998. He has worked as an instructor and clinic supervisor at New York College of Health Professions and volunteered as a subject-matter expert (SME) for the NCCAOM.  He is currently developing continuing-education courses in ethics, practice management and acupuncture treatment for the betterment of the acupuncture profession. Learn more at www.acupuncturescholar.com.

Previous Articles

Plateau and Profit ... or Release and Replace?
June 1, 2025 (Vol. 26, Issue 6)
Power Plays for Profit: Secrets in Plain Sight
October 1, 2024 (Vol. 25, Issue 10)
It's Time to Get Smart About SMART Notes
March 2023 (Vol. 24, Issue 03)
Palpating for Pain Relief
December 2021 (Vol. 22, Issue 12)
The Power of the Re-Evaluation
January 2020 (Vol. 21, Issue 01)
Asking the Insurance Rep the Right Questions
February 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 02)
The Eleventh Question: "How you doin'?"
June 2012 (Vol. 13, Issue 06)
Many Offices, Many Lessons
February 2012 (Vol. 13, Issue 02)
My Patient, My Teacher and Using "The Four Gates"
December 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 12)
Are We Too Western?
July 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 07)
Diagnosis by Touching the Qi
November 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 11)
The Road to Healing: Fast or Slow?
Where's the Qi in the Clinic?
February 2006 (Vol. 07, Issue 02)
Getting to the Point ... and the Meridian, Too
December 2005 (Vol. 06, Issue 12)
Masters Along the Way
March 2005 (Vol. 06, Issue 03)
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