Sandro Graca, MSc, Lic TCM, FABORM

Sandro Graca is a member of the SAR Board of Directors; a doctoral researcher at the Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, University of Wolverhampton, U.K., focusing on research on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and women’s health; Social Media and Outreach Editor for the European Journal of Integrative Medicine; and lead author on the Cochrane Review Group on acupuncture for assisted reproductive technology.

Previous Articles

Acupuncture for Vulvodynia: Rigorous Evidence
July 1, 2026 (Vol. 27, Issue 7)
Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Functional Dyspepsia
June 1, 2026 (Vol. 27, Issue 6)
Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain in Older Adults: Effectiveness & Cost-Effectiveness
May 1, 2026 (Vol. 27, Issue 5)
Electroacupuncture for Post-Stroke Motor Dysfunction: Restoring Neural Function
April 1, 2026 (Vol. 27, Issue 4)
Acupuncture and Moxibustion for IBS-D
February 1, 2026 (Vol 27, Issue 2)
Electroacupuncture for Early Urinary Incontinence After Prostate Surgery
January 1, 2026 (Vol 27, Issue 1)
Electroacupuncture: A Synergistic Adjunct for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
December 1, 2025 (Vol 26, Issue 12)
Fire Needling Acupuncture for OA
November 1, 2025 (Vol. 26, Issue 11)
Acupuncture and Diet for Type 2 Diabetes
October 1, 2025 (Vol. 26, Issue 10)
Acupuncture and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Enhancing Autonomic Regulation
July 1, 2025 (Vol. 26, Issue 7)
Electroacupuncture and Parkinson’s Disease: A New Mechanistic Insight
May 1, 2025 (Vol. 26, Issue 5)
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