More and more medical professionals, including medical doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists, nurses, physician’s assistants, dentists and naturopaths, are practicing acupuncture without the equivalent training as an acupuncturist. Before seeing an acupuncturist, make sure that he/she is licensed in the state and has extensive training. There are many types of licenses and credentials in this field.

Before you dive into the technical qualifications of an acupuncturist, don’t forget that when choosing a practitioner, you want to make sure that you feel comfortable with him/her, your questions are answered thoroughly and the time is taken to address your specific needs. Do take advantage of free consultations as this gives you a chance to “interview” the practitioner before you make your decision.

Here’s some information to decipher the “Alphabet Soup” of acronyms related to the field of Oriental Medicine and details on the credentials an Oriental Medical professional should have. . .

Continue on to the acupuncture regulations page. . .

How does acupuncture really work?

According to Western physiology, there are numerous theories as to how and why acupuncture works; however, conclusive proof has not yet been found. During his time, George Soulie de Morant researched True Acupuncture in a medical facility for many years and provided massive amounts of research, which led to his nomination for the Nobel prize. Even with this body of research on True Acupuncture, Western anatomy and physiology studies still remain vague when it comes to understanding how and why acupuncture works. Chinese classical texts on acupuncture provide many theories behind acupuncture’s ability to work, but as these theories rely on “energetics” for their explanation, Western science has had great difficulty in accepting them and no significant evidence has been produced to prove these theories.

What is certain is that there are true physiological effects produced when True Acupuncture is applied correctly. This is consistently verifiable via the radial pulses according to Morant’s radial pulse diagnosis. The response in the radial pulses is unmistakable when a true acupoint is needles verses a non-aupuncture point area; however, all explanations as to how and why these effects take place during and after needling remain purely theoretical and belong outside of the clinic. We can discuss many possible theories as to why the effects take place–neural responses, “energetic” pathways, mind-body integration mechanisms, etc. . . however, the clinical reality with True Acupuncture is that it is verifiable via the instant physiological changes that take place and reflect in the radial pulses. With years of clinical evidence behind such observations, the validity of True Acupuncture has consistently been experienced.

What are the different styles of acupuncture?

Please realize that is not a case of “us” vs “them.” If acupuncture is a reality and works via a system then that system and the effects must be observable and they are. Morant clearly defines the effects, how to observe these effects and produce them. We have put these theories to the test and found that we are able to verify them consitently, thus it is clear that acupuncture does work via a “system” and that the effects produced by acupuncture on the individual can be observed via the radial pulses.

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of “styles” of acupuncture: Japanese Meridian acupuncture, Worsley 5-Element acupuncture, Japanese Hari and ToyoHari acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Master Tong’s acupuncture, Richard Tan’s Balancing system, I-Ching acupuncture, “Classical” acupuncture, etc. . . yet, the “style” practiced is of no consequence if the practitioner does not fully understand the true basis of acupuncture.

This causes great contention amongst practitioners, for each “style” believes that they hold all the secrets and, therefore, are the best or only “true” form of acupuncture. What is necessary to be a True Acupuncture practitioner, however, is not some arcane theory, lineage, culture, or anything else for that matter. What is required is the clear understanding of pulse diagnosis, how true acupuncture points reflect in the radial pulses, and the understanding of the clinical reality of the relationships of the different systems and parts of the human body—this is all 100% verifiable by all and therefore theory is moot. As a result and regardless of the style a practitioner practices, if they do not know how to locate and needle a true acupoint and verify it via the radial pulses, then they practice only theoretical acupuncture and nothing related to true clinical acupuncture.

Are there Secret Acupuncture Points?

The legend of there being secret acupuncture points has been glorified for years via movies, television, and cultural myths. This has greatly fostered the belief that all Eastern practitioners of acupuncture must have a knowledge above and beyond those of any other culture. The reality is that there simply aren’t any “secret” acupuncture points for anyone who knows how to locate true acupuncture points via the radial pulses and is not misled by “lesser acupuncture points.” This is the great secret of any good acupuncturist and is of great importance to a Classical True Acupuncture practitioner.

Location of acupuncture points in the “classical texts”

The location of acupuncture points in the “classical texts” of Chinese Medicine have always been vague. This has caused great misunderstanding and often infighting in the acupuncture communities. Regardless of the descriptive locations given, a practitioner must learn to distinguish true points from points that have little effect and from reflex areas that have only neurological effects. This can only be done through an understanding of the radial pulses and the sensations a true acupuncture point gives when needled properly.

A practitioner cannot accurately needle the center of any acupuncture point if they do not fully understand the energetic responses of the points that are reflected in the radial pulses, and know what to look for. This is the secret to acupuncture regardless of culture, lineage, or years of experience. Without understanding this secret fully, one cannot hope to practice True Acupuncture, but instead, simply and haphazardly “slap” in several needles with little consideration to the location and the responses in the radial pulses and the overall benefit to the patient. Subsequently, a patient turns into a “pin cushion” with little, if any, benefit.

Comprehending acupuncture and the nature of a true acupoint is the key, as it is with anything in life. Rote memorization can only take a practitioner so far, and regardless of lineage or years of clinical practice, if the practitioner does not understand the nature of the true points and relies on protocols and descriptive locations, then only a book has been mastered, but not acupuncture itself, and no “secret” can help.

This is why we, here at the True Acupuncture site, are so very insistent on the correct understanding of the responses of acupuncture points in the radial pulses and the proper location of these points. Without this stringency and ability an acupuncturist ends up utilizing only lower systems that have significantly less effect.

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