Acupuncture in the Media

I'm no media watch-dog, but I find it interesting to see how the media depicts my profession.

The facts are that there is a growing number of acupuncture professionals in the U.S. (about 30,000), with a concomitant growing number of people who access acupuncture services each year. Health insurance companies provide coverage for acupuncture treatments (depending on the state), and acupuncture providers are licensed as independent health professionals in the majority of states (44 or more), and as primary care providers in some (like Florida). Acupuncture services have been offered (by volunteers) & utilized in disaster situations (NYC after 9-11, post-Katrina NOLA, post-earthquake Haiti and other places).

A (very) casual reading of the New York Times this week reveals 2 articles about acupuncture.

On Sunday, the Times Style magazine had a brief article about a high-priced acupuncturist in the New York area and his facial rejuvenation treatments. The article featured a pretty model with about 2 dozen needles sticking out of her face.

On Monday, there was an article about postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, which affects a small percentage of children (~1%), and causes them to feel tired, achy and have racing heartbeats with the slightest exertion. The article presented a specific case of a teenager in South Carolina and his 2-year bout with the problem, and a list of suggested treatments (salt, sleep, water, medications, exercise). At the very end of the article (the penultimate paragraph), the author notes almost off-handedly that the teenager in question was helped by acupuncture treatments.

So, what's UP with that? Are we more media-palatable when our treatments are used for stress relief and wrinkles than for actual health care?

Community Service, with Pins & Needles

As might be expected, people who enter our field are usually community-oriented, and hope to use their skills for the greater good. This goal is one of the motivations that Eran & I share in our work and outlook on life.

As many of you know, we established a weekly free drop-in acupuncture clinic at the downtown Senior Center -- now chugging along for more than a year. This is similar to many other of our colleagues all over the world who volunteer in both formal & informal service venues, on an occasional or regular basis.

Additionally, in the future, as our practice supports it, we would like to hold "community day clinics" at our clinic on 2nd street. Although we created our modest fees with the idea in mind of reducing the financial barrier to our form of health-care, we know that even these fees are still too high for some folks. Our future plan is to offer special clinics 2-4x/month of our regular services but at very discounted prices to folks living with incomes around the federal poverty level (FPL). Stay tuned for more details!

What follows is a short list of groups that deliver direct-care acupuncture services to various needy communities, and which always welcome donations!

Acupuncturists Without Borders (AWB)
Created with the goal of providing PTSD relief in the aftermath of disasters, AWB has recruited licensed acupuncturists to travel to sites of disasters (New Orleans after hurrican Katrina, southern California after wildfire damage and Haiti after the earthquake). Volunteers focus on providing NADA ear acupuncture treatments. As one of its future plans, AWB hopes to train local health providers in Haiti in the NADA protocol. AWB welcomes volunteers and donations.

Alternative Healthcare Access Campaign (AHAC)
Co-founded by Chris in 1999, AHAC provides free treatments delivered by licensed acupuncturists (including both Chris & Eran in the past), massage therapists and naturopathic doctors provide free treatments services at homeless shelters & encampments and service venues (drop-in centers, etc.) in the Seattle area. AHAC welcomes volunteers and donations of money & treatment supplies.

Global Alternative Health care Project (GAHP)
GAHP sends professionals to remote communities to provide free Chinese medicine treatments. GAHP has has programs in Bali, Nepal, Navaho Nation-land, and Jackson Hole, WY. GAHP welcomes volunteers and donations of money & treatment supplies.

GUAMAP (Guatemala Acupuncture and Medical Aid Project)
In the true “barefoot doctor” tradition, GUAMAP recruits Spanish-speaking acupuncturists to train & monitor indigenous health promoters in rural Guatemala. Since the 1990’s, GUAMAP-trained health promoters have provided over 10,000 treatments to people in rural Guatemala. GUAMAP welcomes volunteers and donations of money & treatment supplies. (Little known fact: one of Chris' high school classmates is on the Board of this fine group!)

Kang Wen Community Clinic (KWCC)
Founded in 1987 by acupuncturists as one of the first complementary medicine to provide treatments to people with HIV & AIDS, KWCC later expanded its mission and outreach to offer quality AOM treatments at a real sliding-scale to the greater community. About 75% of its patients have incomes at or below the Federal Poverty Level and are able to access treatments at $10. Both Chris & Eran have volunteered their skills at this clinic. KWCC very much welcomes volunteers and donations of money & treatment supplies.

Mindful Medicine Worldwide
Founded in 2009, MMW seeks to bring long-term integrative health care to people of developing areas, domestically and internationally, by establishing and operating integrative health care clinics. Professional volunteer practitioners provide medical services and healthcare education to patients at 3 clinics in Nepal and on the Burmese-Thai border, as well as participate in educating local lay people to be integrative health workers within their communities. Mindful Medicine Worldwide is rooted in a practice of mindfulness, education, research and training. MMW welcomes volunteers and donations.

The Pan-African Acupuncture Project
Modeled after GUAMAP, this project was founded by acupuncturists in 2003, and focuses on training local health workers in acupuncture techniques. International acupuncturists are recruited to come to training sites in Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia and has created a training manual with special sections to address the care of HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria. The Project welcomes volunteers and donations.