William Prange, BA, BS, MA, OMD

Dr. William Prange pioneered the use of acupuncture in mainstream medicine while providing over 100,000 unique patient visits. His TCM studies began before California first approved schools in 1976. As a psychotherapist specializing in mindfulness-based somatic therapy, he earned a degree in advanced acupuncture studies in China (1982) and an OMD  addressing complex biao-li conditions from SAMRA (1984).   

He served on the first of California Acupuncture Association’s advisory boards while founding the Sonoma Oriental Medical Association and building a successful integrative practice with MD partners. He was also the first acupuncturist to obtain hospital privileges in California (1997), and subsequently helped launch integrative programs for Sonoma County’s Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Hospital, Blue Shield of California, and American Whole Health. 

Always dedicated to the health of his patients, he blended acupuncture with bodywork, herbal therapies, effective listening, and proper referral. He is now retired on the central coast of California, where he teaches meditation and looks forward to supporting the further development of our profession.
 

Previous Articles

Tiny Pearl, Powerful Wisdom
September 1, 2025 (Vol. 26, Issue 9)
Trending
Diagnosis
That Nagging Qi Stagnation Between the Shoulder Blades (Pt. 2)
That Nagging Qi Stagnation Between the Shoulder Blades

After a thorough examination to rule out the cervical and thoracic spine, what you have left is sharp, localized qi stagnation of the soft tissues causing the “rhomboid pain.” If it’s not the C or T spine causing the problem, then what could be causing this tissue issue? It can be a bunch of different reasons such as dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, poor posture, muscle imbalances, trauma, deconditioning, overuse, etc.

Christopher Chapleau, DAc, LAc, Dipl. Ac., AIT, IMT, MSHP, CES, HMS
Herbal Medicine
TCM for GERD, Gluten Intolerance
TCM for GERD, Gluten Intolerance

The patterns expressed under the umbrella of a GERD diagnosis typically include various combinations of liver qi stagnation (potentially with depressive heat), spleen qi deficiency, rebellious stomach qi, stomach fire, food stagnation, and stomach yin deficiency. In long-term cases of GERD, it is not uncommon for three to four patterns to overlap at the same time.

Craig Williams, LAc, AHG
Your Practice / Business
The Benefits of Building a Referral Culture in Acupuncture
The Benefits of Building a Referral Culture in Acupuncture

As licensed acupuncturists with the ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat using a variety of modalities, including herbal medicine, we are entrusted with a high level of clinical responsibility. Yet in an age of professional forums, online groups and social media communities, there is a growing trend of practitioners asking for case-specific treatment advice instead of referring the patient in question to a trusted colleague.

Shabnam Pourhassani, LAc, QME, DACM