There was an article written in Acupuncture Today called “Who Are Qualified Acupuncturists?” by Ronda Wimmer. She made some really great points!

Here are some of them:

“Medical acupuncturists are simply physicians trained via a 200-300 hour course with a streamlined curriculum, as overseen by the American Academy of Medical Acupuncturists”.

This isn’t something licensed acupuncturists are saying to deter the public from going to a non-licensed medical acupuncturists as in a turf war, This Is A fact!

Medical acupuncturist have a lack of knowledge, which is a result of lack of education in the traditional diagnostic methods used within the acupuncture and Oriental medicine profession.

It’s interesting because I hear from those defending medical acupuncture over and over again telling us that it’s not true and that they have over 1,000 required hours. That is a lie!

“Most physicians (including medical acupuncturists) do not spend an hour or more with their patients to get an appropriate diagnosis and treatment”.

Well, this is something we have heard regarding physicians since…forever!

“Physicians are not held to minimum educational hours or minimum competency levels specific to AOM (Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine). Traditionally trained (nonphysician / L.Ac.’s / Licensed acupuncturists) acupuncturists are held to a minimum 1,220-hour training requirement. Medical doctors, osteopaths and chiropractors have a requirement 300 hours, during which they are to learn theory, techniques and herbs. This is often done with weekend seminars and/or videotape series. Medical students have had the most difficult time understanding Eastern philosophy, which is the root of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). Because of their ingrained understanding of how things work, the learning curve increases exponentially in an attempt to understand the complexity behind the theories and use of TCM, especially before integration can successfully take place.”

Now why would anyone go for acupuncture from someone undertrained and not very knowledgeable in the practice and techniques of the exact procedure that they are looking to get done on themselves?

I wouldn’t! I would go to a licensed acupuncturist! And so should you! Would you go to an acupuncturist for an EKG? No, you would go to a medical doctor. So don’t go to another doctor minimally trained in acupuncture, but rather go to a qualified and licensed acupuncturist also known as an L.Ac.

“Acupuncture is so effective because it is a logical process that becomes tangible with an understanding of Eastern philosophy. This cannot be done in a 300-hour course. Medical doctors practicing acupuncture could be beneficial, but only with the proper training and the same examinations all other acupuncturists must take to become licensed. True acupuncture is much more than a simple certification”.

“The idea that physicians with a brief education in acupuncture are more qualified than traditional, nonphysician acupuncturists is a great fallacy. Eastern and Western medical theories and applications vary significantly. The correlated concepts within the evidence-based model are being used to define the entire acupuncture profession, and this is an incredible misrepresentation. In order to properly include acupuncture in their practices, physicians need to be held to the educational requirements and competency levels specific to acupuncture and Oriental medicine”.

Can I get an Amen!

Really, some excellent points made from Ronda Wimmer. Thank you!

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