Willow JH Liu, PhD

Dr. Willow Liu is a world-recognized expert in Chinese medicine and a licensed acupuncturist in California. She holds a BS in Chinese Materia Medica, an MS in Medicine, and a PhD in Natural Medicine from China. She conducted herbal medicine research as an Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellow in Germany and as a postdoctoral scientist at Columbia University. Dr. Liu has served as a professor in China, a research assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a part-time professor at several TCM universities in the Los Angeles area. She is the founder and president of the American Society of Chinese Herbs. Her book, Modern Research Methods for Traditional Herbal Medicines, is held by leading universities worldwide, including Harvard and Cambridge.

Previous Articles

Texts Unearthed from Ancient Han Tombs Reveal the Anatomical Origins of Meridians
July 1, 2026 (Vol. 27, Issue 7)
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