Marlene Merritt, DOM, LAc, ACN

Marlene Merritt is a licensed acupuncturist and runs a wellness center in Austin, Texas. She specializes in combining Oriental medicine, nutrition and Western testing to quickly and effectively impact her patients' health. She can be reached at info@merrittwellnesscenter.com.

Previous Articles

Are You Really a Healthy Eater?
March 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 03)
What TCM Never Had to Deal With
January 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 01)
Meat in the Middle
December 2014 (Vol. 15, Issue 12)
Common Sense Nutrition For Your Patients
June 2014 (Vol. 15, Issue 06)
Your Gut: Why You Should Be Very Afraid
January 2014 (Vol. 15, Issue 01)
Traditional Diets, Modern Misunderstandings
November 2013 (Vol. 14, Issue 11)
The Truth About Salt
August 2013 (Vol. 14, Issue 08)
Why We Are Fat: It's More Than You Think
May 2013 (Vol. 14, Issue 05)
Gluten Intolerance: Is It A Fad?
February 2013 (Vol. 14, Issue 02)
That Study Is Wrong: The Truth About Research
November 2012 (Vol. 13, Issue 11)
Know Nutrition Essentials For Your Practice
August 2012 (Vol. 13, Issue 08)
The Nine Best Health Steps To Take
June 2012 (Vol. 13, Issue 06)
The Big C: What Are You Doing About It?
March 2012 (Vol. 13, Issue 03)
The Dangerous Hype of Antioxidants
January 2012 (Vol. 13, Issue 01)
Think Fructose Is Safe? Think Again
December 2011 (Vol. 12, Issue 12)
Your Patients Are Malnourished...And So Are You
September 2011 (Vol. 12, Issue 09)
The Purple Pill Myth
June 2011 (Vol. 12, Issue 06)
Myths About Whole Grains and Vegetarianism
March 2011 (Vol. 12, Issue 03)
Food Myths: Bamboozled By The Soy Hype
January 2011 (Vol. 12, Issue 01)
Big Fat Lies
December 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 12)
The Snackwell Effect, Part 2
September 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 09)
The Snackwell Effect
June 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 06)
The Ethics of Nutrition
March 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 03)
Holistic Nutrition Your Patients Are Craving
January 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 01)
Holistic Nutrition Your Patients Are Craving
December 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 12)
Treating Modern Nutritional Deficiencies
September 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 09)
Nutrition: The Forgotten Pillar of Chinese Medicine
June 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 06)
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