Wei (Vivien) Zhang, LAc

Wei (Vivien) Zhang, licensed acupuncturist and certified Chinese herbalist, is the first acupuncturist at the Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine of Mass. General Hospital; and also serves as a medical staff member of Emerson Hospital. As her new endeavor, she is working on integrative treatments for autism and other brain development-related conditions with Dr. Martha Herbert, a pediatric neurologist and brain development researcher, and Dr. June Kong, a primary care physician. Wei was a professor of New England School of Acupuncture from 1999-2008 before dedicating herself to full-time clinical care. She received her medical degree from Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and master's degree in nutrition and health promotion from Simmons College.

Previous Articles

The Anatomy of Acupuncture Meridians
November 2023 (Vol. 24, Issue 11)
Treatment Compliance-Adherence in Acupuncture
June 2023 (Vol. 24, Issue 06)
Simultaneous Stimulation of Dual Acupoints
February 2023 (Vol. 24, Issue 02)
Case Report on Chronic LBP (Pt. 2)
December 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 12)
Case Report on Chronic Low Back Pain (Pt. 1)
November 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 11)
Acupuncture and Dementia: A Scalp Acupuncture, Neuroimaging-Based Protocol
July 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 07)
Wei Qi and Mast Cells
April 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 04)
Acupuncture Points and Mast Cells (Pt. 1)
March 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 03)
Acupuncture & Adjunctive Treatments for Ramsay Hunt Syndrome: Case Report (Pt. 2)
December 2021 (Vol. 22, Issue 12)
Acupuncture & Adjunctive Treatments for Ramsay Hunt Syndrome: Case Report
November 2021 (Vol. 22, Issue 11)
Treating Angioedema With Acupuncture
April 2021 (Vol. 22, Issue 04)
Scalp Acupuncture (Pt. 2)
September 2020 (Vol. 21, Issue 09)
Scalp Acupuncture (Pt. 1)
August 2020 (Vol. 21, Issue 08)
Appreciating the Importance of De Qi
April 2020 (Vol. 21, Issue 04)
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