6 Ways to Know if Your Acupuncturist is Any Good
The total number of licensed acupuncturists has increased 257% since 1998 to well over 38,000 in the United States alone. As an acupuncturist myself, I am excited by this. The more our field grows the more scientific studies come out, the more people know about it, and the more people we can positively impact with this incredible medicine.
However, with this saturation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners and new clinics popping up everywhere, how do we know we’re spending our money on a good one? Below are a few considerations I advise potential patients to look for.
They are licensed/registered according to local laws. This should be a no brainer but unfortunately there are some people practicing acupuncture illegally. You can search for your acupuncturist’s license number to make sure they are registered to their local governing body. These organizations are formed to ensure quality of education, confirm they are completing the required continuing education credits, and protect the public from any wrongdoings.
They specialize in your area of concern. It may be helpful to go to a practitioner that has had further training and education in your focus areas. For example, infertility, headaches and migraines, digestive disorders, autoimmune diseases, or pain and injury. TCM education is incredibly broad, which is wonderful in many ways, but it may mean we require further education in specific areas to understand certain conditions in necessary depth. Look for what your acupuncturist advertises. They will typically list a few fields of interest on their website. Or ask them what additional training they’ve completed.
They make you feel heard. This is my absolute favorite part of holistic medicine. I sit down for 1-1.5 hours with my new patients to listen to their story, get a clear picture on what’s going on, and give them space to talk and voice their concerns. Most other medical providers don’t have this luxury, and I feel like it is such a crucial component of the healing process.
They create a treatment plan for you. Your acupuncturist should be telling you how often they want you to come and what other things you should be doing (diet, lifestyle, herbs, etc.). Telling you to come, “Whenever you want!” is not an effective treatment plan.
They modify your treatment plan as they monitor your progress. Your acupuncturist should be observing and noting the changes to your health concern and modifying your treatment plan as needed. This could be a reduction or increase in treatment frequency or the addition of different treatment tools. They have your goals in mind as they use their knowledge and expertise to get the results you are looking for.
You feel comfortable in their clinic and look forward to coming. Getting acupuncture should be a pleasant and enjoyable experience. You should feel physically and emotionally comfortable with your healthcare provider. Leaving the treatment room feeling like a million bucks is just the cherry on top.
Want to learn more about strategies you can use to fix your period problems?📘Access my FREE e-book: How to Start Balancing your Hormones: Fix Your Period Without Overwhelm.
📗My Eating for Hormone Balance e-book breaks down everything you need to know about diet and your hormones. Learn about the basic macros, how to support gut health, what to do about inflammation, and more!
📞 Book a free 15 minute discovery call to see if we're a good fit to work together.
👩🏻💻 Book a 60-90 min initial consultation where we work 1:1 to dig deep into your health history to figure out the root causes of your period problems. From there I provide you with an individualized treatment plan and consistent support along the way.
🏫 Period University™ is the ultimate self-paced online course that teaches you EVERYTHING you need to know about your period and hormones.
In healing,
Allison
