Chinese Medicine Today (Part 1)

What does your acupuncturist know that could help you?

Over the years it’s come to my attention that many people underestimate the education of their licensed acupuncturist. I know as a modality, it stands a tad bit outside of the usual medical system in this country. But if you’ve been paying attention, that is changing. Why? Because of it’s effectiveness. (more on this in part 2) But here’s an overview of what it takes to become a licensed acupuncturist and why that title doesn’t begin to describe what your practitioner has been trained in and is legally able to provide.  You are missing out on a vast array of benefits if you don’t know what your practitioner is trained in.

All acupuncturists have 3-6 years of formal schooling beyond their bachelor degrees. Twenty years ago this education was in the form of a 3-4 year Masters Level Acupuncture Program or a Masters in Acupuncture Program. The “title” really just depended on what school they attended, not on how robust their program was. The organization ACAHM governs the accreditation of acupuncture and herbal medicine programs ensuring “educational excellence, accountability, innovation, and fostering a collaborative culture of continuous improvement”. Each schools education and administration has to pass rigorous standards to obtain and maintain their accreditation. This accreditation allowed graduates to sit for their national board exams through NCCAOM (required) and become licensed in their state. The education requirements and board certification are very similar to western medicine in this country and as far as I know one of the most stringent alternative medicines credentials in the world.  Now 20 years later, you will see other credentials behind your acupuncturist name. As this modality has gained credibility in the USA, the opportunity for advanced study has emerged as well. Now you will see credentials around Chinese herbs and a Doctorate degree. Examples would include DAOM, DOM, DAc, DAcCHM and DAcEAM. I believe in the near future, all programs will be for Doctors of Acupuncture as the standard of schooling. A much needed change to give credit where credit is due.

Ok, so what does your acupuncturist know that could help you? This means that your acupuncturists is not a glorified massage therapist. Far from it. This means your acupuncturists has formal education in

• Chinese medicine principles
• acupuncture
• dry needling
• herbal medicine
• manual bodywork
• dietary therapy
• moxibustion
• electrical stimulation
• holistic approach to health

along with coursework in biology, microbiology, anatomy, physiology, nutrition and diseases. Also note that many practitioners then go on to specialize in their respective field such as pain science and management, internal diseases, sports medicine, myofascial specialty, animal acupuncture, facial acupuncture, fertility, neurology and cancer.

So basically way more robust career than they are given credit for. I bring this to your attention for several reasons.

1. I can guarantee you are underestimating what your licensed acupuncturist can provide for you and
2. You probably aren’t giving them the respect they deserve.

And it’s not all your fault. For years, as Chinese medicine was proving itself in this country it was met with skepticism from the lay person and the professional medical establishment alike, often squashed literally and figuratively by doctors, veterinarians, pharmacists, nurses and even chiropractors and osteopaths. I’m glad to finally see this changing. I don’t know how many times I would hear “I don’t believe in acupuncture”. My response, “it’s not a religion”. And it would not have lasted thousands of years in a communist country if it was not effective. There is nothing fu fu about the Chinese or Chinese Medicine.

The science is showing us that. Showing us the efficacy. Showing us how needling, herbs and bodywork allow healing through the biological regulatory mechanisms of the body. And how needling itself brings physical and chemical signals through the CNS via nerve fibers from the periphery to the spinal cords, brain stem, thalamus, hypothalamus and up to the cortex activating all physiological mechanisms to repair the body. On a deeper level then ever before, we are able to understand what Chinese medicine has been saying all along.

Sadly, for many years, the US medical establishment has bullied Traditional and Classical Chinese medicine and many practitioners were afraid to stand up for fear of retribution and condemnation despite every day seeing the efficacy of their work. I’m glad to see that perspective changing on a larger scale. Licensed acupuncturist are now getting hired in hospitals as integrative specialists in an effort to round out the care in our medical system especially in sports medicine, pain management and cancer treatment. I anticipate that over the next 10 years we will see an acceleration of this change of heart and I am so looking forward to it. I am looking forward to standing up for the medicine that I know is extremely powerful and I look forward to the respect dutifully earned.

Now is the time to start asking and embracing all that your practitioner has to offer.