Shelly Bobbins

Shelly Bobbins, RN, LAc, Dipl. CH, worked in the healthcare field in Los Angeles for more than 25 years specializing in the areas of mental health, addiction and pain management. In 1996, she became a Licensed Acupuncturist and while in private practice obtained certification as a Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME). She has been a clinical supervisor and professor, teaching courses and seminars on addiction and as an acupuncturist worked with inpatient drug and alcohol rehabs. Shelly is the author of a soon to be released book, The Whole of Addiction: The Nature of Addiction & Recovery According to East-West Teachings. Shelly can be reached at shelly@shellybobbins.com.

Previous Articles

Concerns Regarding CDC Guidelines for Pain Management
September 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 09)
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