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In a perfect world, every patient relationship would be straightforward, with clear communication and no legal entanglements. However, for acupuncturists treating children of divorced parents, the reality is often far more complex. These situations can present unique challenges, ranging from parental consent disputes to billing complications, all of which can…

Carly

How much training in gua sha did you get in acupuncture school? If it was not much more than an introduction, now is the time to revisit this powerful healing modality. I’ve found gua sha to be one of my go-to skills to address myofascial dysfunction, all sorts of pain,…

As a teacher I always found it invaluable to ask students about their initial careers / training as a way of inspiring leads into a new path in Asian medicine and open a multi-dimensional view of the five elements to facilitate diagnoses. In short, to utilize the familiar as a…

For 2025 there is a substantial increase in value for the initial set of codes 97810 and 97813 for Medicare / the VA. The rates significantly increased in January 2025 due to increases in the relative value units (RVU) of 97810 and 97813. They roughly increased by 20% – the…

Yen-Nien (Jason)

Despite advances in cancer treatment, conventional therapies often come with significant side effects and are not always effective, leaving many patients searching for alternative or complementary approaches to improve their quality of life. One emerging solution lies in the integration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). By combining the strengths of…

The latest “Rapid Recommendation” from the BMJ (formerly the British Medical Journal) addresses “commonly used interventional procedures for non-cancer chronic spine pain.”1 The recommendation, which applies to adults with chronic spine pain not caused by cancer or inflammatory arthropathy, and is based on a clinical practice guideline developed by an…

The NCCAOM Board of Commissioners is a diverse body of volunteers committed to the advancement of our profession and public safety. The NCCAOM is inviting nominees for Professional Member positions to the board for service commencing March 2026. The NCCAOM seeks board-certified diplomates who possess a commitment to the growth…

The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) is excited to share a major milestone in our ongoing evolution. As part of our commitment to excellence, service, and alignment with the profession, we are in the process of updating our name from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture…

The American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA) is proud to share the results from our 2025 Acupuncture for our Public Servants (AOPS) event that took place on Capitol Hill. On Monday, April 28, a team of 27 licensed acupuncturists and students from the Virginia University of Integrative Medicine provided acupuncture treatments…

High-impact sports such as boxing, mixed martial arts, football, rugby, and hockey are known for intense physical activity and placing significant stress, and damage, on the body. As a result, these athletes must keep their health at the forefront of their training regimens. Traditionally, these athletes relied mainly on strength…

To plateau and profit or release and replace is an ethical dilemma we clinicians will face sometime during our career. In work situations in which oversight ranges from limited to excessive, we navigate our practices, businesses and/or positions between the poles of profit and loss, moral and legal. The question…

Clayton

For over 20 years I have been treating stroke and neurological patients who have suffered severe neurological deficits – the kinds of difficult cases that make you tighten up with fear (and hope) before needling. Traditional modes of assessing, including pulse and tongue diagnosis, often came up short for me…

Hip pain due to osteoarthritis is an extremely common condition for an acupuncturist to encounter in a clinical setting. I see this condition quite frequently in my clinical practice and treat it typically with a combination of acupuncture, herbal medicine, and physical therapies. In this article, let’s focus on acupuncture,…

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of pain and disability, often managed with pharmacological and surgical interventions. However, acupuncture has long been used as a non-invasive treatment for knee pain, and recent research provides new insights into its underlying mechanisms.

Long COVID has challenged conventional medical paradigms. There is certainly a growing need for therapies that bridge traditional pharmacology with integrative strategies. Among the more unconventional options, nicotine – delivered via low-dose transdermal patches – has surfaced as a potential tool. While the idea may sound wacky, emerging evidence and…

Student athletes at George Washington University have access to acupuncture courtesy of a partnership with the Virginia University of Integrative Medicine. The program, which began in April, involves licensed VUIM clinicians and graduate students, with the former providing acupuncture to GWU student athletes, and the latter observing and assisting under…

The 2024 NCCAOM Job Analysis report offers a wealth of insights into the current state and future direction of acupuncture and herbal medicine practice. The report’s emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration, diversity of conditions treated, and the integration of complementary techniques highlights the holistic approach that is central to acupuncture and…