Identity Crisis

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

 

I have followed the discussions on identity and education with great

interest. I have many thoughts on the topic and would like to share

a few. As far as title goes, what about Acupuncture Therapist, as

in massage therapist or physical therapist? It doesn't exactly roll

off the tongue, but if we believe acupuncture is a therapeutic

modality and we are the ones performing it, than it is accurate and

descriptive, without evoking any other expectations. I could see

this as a separate designation from those who practice herbology,

who could be described as Chinese Herbal Therapists. It's just an

idea.

 

Secondly, I think we may be better served to narrow our focus,

rather than expand it. In the Chicago magazine this month, they

list 65 " ground-breaking " practitioners who utilize alternative

methods in their medicine. Many of them use acupuncture, and you

guessed it, none of them are L.ac.s, all are MD's or DO's or DPM

etc. In fact, the article made mention of several integrative care

centers, but little or no mention of L.ac.s, only MD's who have

graciously broadened their horizons. How can we own the needle, or

at least be percieved as THE practitioners of choice for

acupuncture? You wouldn't go to an MD for a massage, or a

chiropractic adjustment for that matter. I would say that by being

the best at it and the most knowledgeable, and by creating that

identity, branding if you will.

 

How can we become the best? Some people say it is the OM part that

separtes us from medical or neuro anatomical acupuncture. I happen

to be of the belief that OM theory in point selection is not of the

utmost importance. I know many people in practice who are not

guided by TCM acupuncture theory, but still get results. Honestly,

I think the future of acupuncture does not lie in elaborating on the

meridian system, but in understanding acupuncture on a physiological

level and refining new techniques from this basis. Some may

disagree with me, but it is already happening. I consider it

embarassing that many massage therapists get a better education in

anatomy than we do, and humiliating that very few graduates can

articulate what a needle actually does in the human body. We should

all be able at least on a rudimentary level to understand this.

 

I could be wrong, but if acupuncture is shown to have concrete,

reproducible beneficial, therapeutic effects, it will be taken

seriously as a therapeutic modality. If it is looked at as

manipulating invisible energy fields, we will continue to be

marginalized.

 

So what could make us better? In Wiseman's words, people want

medicine that is natural, holistic, and caring. We are still in a

position to deliver that. I also think that it could be recognized

that we have superior palpation and needle skills compared to a

physician by default, because that is what we do all day long.

I believe a good deal of what acupuncture accomplishes is based on

deactivating the stress response and giving the body a chance to

move towards homeostasis. Many of us strive to create a serene

office environment, which can also be part of the attraction. John

Amaro says acupuncture is a fast way for a chiropractor to add $100k

to their practice. But many people don't like assembly line

medicine. We can also be on the cutting edge of new techniques and

research in acupuncture, provided such things exist. To me, it is

also embarassing that people from outside the field have to do our

research for us.

 

So in summary, I would say we need a better understanding of A & P,

focus on palpation skills and technique, and an actual understanding

of what acupuncture does and how we can improve it. We can not beat

the MD's at their own game, let's not let them beat us at ours. If

we have a good understanding of what acupuncture can and cannot do,

we can be honest with our patients and ourselves.

 

Frank Grill