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.
Sean Guinan, LAc, EAMP
Sean Guinan, LAc, EAMP, is an adult and pediatric acupuncturist. He is the former director of the Center for Advanced Acupuncture Pediatrics and excels in the areas of holistic pediatrics, reproductive health and environmental medicine. Previously, Sean worked as an environmental biologist where he developed a persistent awe of the human-nature connection. He is founder of Holistic Kidz, an online resource empowering parents to help their children thrive; and creator of Environmental Pediatrics Institute, an educational hub for medical professions exploring the impact of nature on children's health.