Oran Kivity

British acupuncturist Oran Kivity trained in Europe, China and Japan, and now practices in Taiwan. In continuous practice since 1987, he has specialized in Japanese methods and in 2000, was a founding member of Toyohari U.K., the British branch of the Toyohari Association of Japan. In recent years, he developed the Ontake Method, winning awards in 2014 from Harper's Bazaar magazine and in 2019, from Global Health Pharma for the most innovative new healing method. He is also the author of two recent books on the subject: Moxa in Motion With the Ontake Method: Rhythmic Moxibustion Methods from Japan for Mind-Body Healing (2020) and  Hirata Zone Therapy With the Ontake Method: Repurposing the Lost Art of Japanese Dermatome Moxibustion for Contemporary Practice (2021).

Previous Articles

Ontake Warm Bamboo: A Valuable Tool for Your Acupuncture Practice
January 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 01)
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