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Licensed Acupuncture is not limited to the treatment of pain, and can benefit people dealing with a myriad of wellness challenges.  Headaches, fertility/menstrual irregularity, anxiety, nausea, digestion, sleep, PTSD, fatigue, memory, balance, tremors, alopecia, tinnitus, smoking cessation, and hormonal cycles have all been reported to benefit from acupuncture by patients and the World Health Organization(WHO) and US Department of Veterans Affairs(VA).  

 

What is the difference between the acupuncture that I provide, and what others do?

 

The biggest difference is that I have a license in Acupuncture(LAc) and Oriental Medicine. Every licensed Acupuncturist must complete an Acupuncture Master’s Degree Program from an accredited University, over 2000 hours of didactic instruction and clinical training.  We are then required to take and pass multiple national or state board exams and complete ongoing continuing education hours to maintain our certifications throughout our careers.  The master’s degree I chose to earn in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine included extensive additional training in Chinese herbal medicine, fire cupping, gua sha, moxibustion, tui na massage and nutritional support.

 

Not everyone who practices Aupuncture has received such an extensive education in the practice. All physicians in Illinois can perform a limited form of Acupuncture, MDs usually with 300 hours training and an exam, Chiropractors often with 100-300 hours of Acupuncture training and an exam. They are practicing under their other medical license, and the Acupuncture they do is an adjunct service. They are not required to meet the full standards for Acupuncture licensure, which means they can take abbreviated courses, receive much less if any hands-on clinical training, and are not required to maintain their skills with continuing education hours.

An easy way to find out if a practitioner is fully licensed is to reference the NCCAOM website, which lists licensed practitioners across the U.S.​

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So, what is different about acupuncture received from a LAc?

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An LAc uses a holistic approach, following proven guidelines thousands of years old.  The pulse and often the tongue are carefully evaluated, and points are selected with discernment to meet the needs of the patient at that unique moment.  Every treatment you may receive will be unique, based on the subtle differences in the body day to day.  Those with introductory training usually focus on where it hurts, and often use the same protocols or recipes for every complaint, every patient, and every treatment. 

 

 

 

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