Ruth Tongen, BSN, RN, LAc

Ruth Tongen owns Synergy Health, LLC, a private practice in Edina, Minnesota. She received her master's degree in Oriental medicine from Northwestern Health Sciences University. She is licensed as an acupuncturist by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice. Ruth also has a bachelor's of science in nursing from the University of North Dakota and has held staff, executive and consulting roles in acute care, long-term care, research, and employee health. She is also credentialed in human resources and combines her backgrounds to serve people moving through major transitions and living with chronic conditions.

Previous Articles

Differentiating Qi Under the Needle (Part 2)
February 2019 (Vol. 20, Issue 02)
Differentiating Qi Under the Needle
January 2019 (Vol. 20, 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