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Ever been asked, “Why did you decide to become an acupuncturist?” or how about “What made you decide to open a private practice?” Do you find yourself telling convoluted versions of the same story, without knowing how long this answer should really last? Or perhaps you’re super comfortable answering when…

Acupuncturists should identify which state and federal laws apply to creating, receiving, managing, and destroying all written and electronic protected health information (PHI and ePHI). No single resource for this information exists, so begin by doing a local web search for “[state name] health privacy laws;” e.g., “California health privacy…

The large intestine official (aka colon) is the great eliminator. Professor J.R. Worsley called it the “drainer of the dregs.” Dregs is defined as the remnants of liquid, with its sediment left in a container; or the basest, least valuable portion of anything – in other words, the waste at…

The average patient is becoming increasingly savvy and educated about their own care. More and more people are looking for a one-stop shop where they can have multiple needs addressed by care providers working together to treat sometimes-complex health conditions. It takes practitioners who can recognize if a patient needs…

Microneedling has become very popular in our profession as a form of treating skin-level concerns. As an educator of facial and cosmetic acupuncture, I am frequently asked how it fits within our scope of practice.

Summer is a busy season for many patients: holiday trips, outdoor parties and less-structured daily routines. These common characteristics of summertime often lead to predictable health imbalances which, if prepared for, can be easily remedied.

In a recent discussion with Mina Larson, CEO of the NCCAOM, we discussed a number of issues that are challenging the acupuncture and herbal medicine (AHM) profession: from technique appropriation (LMTs performing cupping, DCs offering “Graston,” PTs adding “dry needling”) to dwindling enrollment in acupuncture schools nationwide. Every profession has…

Grief is a delicate state whereby the heart gets laid open. Feelings of loss, despair, shock and anger interplay with gratitude, tenderness, vulnerability, and love. Clients come into our office looking for consolation and company in their journey. They may say they “just want to get through it” or “I…

Why am I addressing Uvalde in my Asian bodywork therapy column? The school shooting occurred just 150 miles from us in Austin, evoking past tragedies of Parkland and Sandy Hook. My previous columns on pediatric trauma1-2 prompt me to focus anew on the myriad ways colleagues, teachers and parents suggest…

Wearable multisensory devices (e.g., Oura Ring, smartwatches, activity trackers, Garmin) measure a broad range of physiologic processes in real time and are increasingly popular. Let’s look at their application to your practice, including the accuracy of the data they provide.

For anyone dealing with acute pain, the temptation to find quick answers is understandable. And with one-third of adults suffering needlessly, pain – and the attempts to relieve it – is likely part of everyday life for the patients who rely on your practice. Working with patients to help them…

Opioids are often prescribed to manage pain postoperatively for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Acupuncture, specifically electroauricular acupuncture, is a better alternative, reducing and even eliminating the need for opioids, according to a prospective cohort study by S. Cheng, and colleagues, involving 41 patients.

Millions of Americans suffer from different kinds of pain. Pain management is a big part of American medicinal practices. CMS chose to cover acupuncture for the treatment of low back pain; but since licensed acupuncturists are not yet providers under Medicare, we cannot bill for this service.

Shellie

The process of removing restrictions for NCCAOM certification and recertification started back in August 2019, when incoming CEO Mina Larson called for the creation of a Reinstatement Taskforce. The task force was charged with developing a reinstatement route to NCCAOM certification for former diplomates that embodies best practices while maintaining…

A 57-year-old male patient walked into the clinic with acute pain in the left index finger. The pain was caused by an injury from a hammer and was rated 8/10; range of motion was very limited due to the pain. After a 20-minute acupuncture treatment, the pain went down to…

The Acupuncture for Our Seniors Act, H.R. 4803, is one of the most important nationwide opportunities we’ve ever had to increase patient access to our care and ensure that licensed acupuncturists are the primary providers of acupuncture care. There are many ways you can get involved and take action to…

In my last column [June], I discussed important ideas related to treating and managing the clinical challenge of heat with herbal medicines, specifically heat damaging yin , congealing blood, and transforming into damp heat. This clinical concept also applies to acupuncture point combinations, which can be used along with herbal…

Shame is not an emotion spoken of in any traditional TCM-based text, and yet it’s a pervasive cornerstone of the human experience, often underlying many of our other emotional responses and behaviors. In musing on the relationships of the core emotions – joy, grief, fear, anger and shame – and…