AREALIBROS

If you’re thinking about a career in acupuncture you’ll want to learn how and where you can earn a certificate or degree in acupuncture. Perhaps you’re already familiar with the field of acupuncture but if not you’ll want to find out all you can both online and offline. It’s thought that acupuncture has been practiced in China for at least 2,000 years and some think it’s probably been practiced at least 3,000 years or so.

First of all you’ll want to choose an acupuncture school that offers consultation services for its graduates. The schools that do, allow graduates after graduation, to consult with instructors regarding care of their patients. You’ll also want to check to see if your state is on the national list of about 49 acupuncture schools with accredited programs and you’ll want to find an acupuncture school that offers smaller classes.

Acupuncture schools that offer courses in traditional Chinese medicine often include related training or courses in traditional medicine, such as anatomy and physiology, body therapy, massage therapy, and other sciences. For naturopathy schools that offer acupuncture programs there is a list called the: List of Accredited Natural Medicine Colleges in North America. Check with the school you’re considering making sure they have a wide selection of study resources available so you can have all the essential acupuncture materials for a broad learning experience.

You’ll also want to find out what the acupuncture training, school and program options are in your home area. Try to find a school whose program emphasizes courses in traditional Chinese medicine because acupuncture is just one element of traditional Chinese medicine. There are a few acupuncture schools that teach acupuncture practitioners the five-element Oriental medicine approach to acupuncture, which is often used in conjunction with the traditional Western medical practices.

Acupuncture is used for: arthritis, headaches, migraines, to quit smoking, to lose weight , fertility, fibromyalgia, depression, insomnia, face lifts as in facial acupuncture, back pain, high blood pressure, pregnancy, cosmetic purposes, anxiety, panic attacks, Crohn’s disease, asthma and on dogs and other pets or animals as in veterinary acupuncture.

If you haven’t experienced acupuncture make to visit an acupuncture clinic to learn more about acupuncture. You might want to talk to an acupuncture specialist or naturopath about a possible acupuncture career also. Talk to the financial aid counselors at the acupuncture school or college you’re considering to see if they have any ideas or suggestions for scholarships, grants or education loans if you need to finance your training.

Before you commit to any acupuncture school or to any acupuncture training you can check out the “Fundamentals of Chinese Acupuncture” by Ellis, Wiseman, and Bosson. This excellent textbook is used in many acupuncture schools and acupuncture training programs and will give you a better idea if you’d like to pursue acupuncture as a career.

If you haven’t checked already may sure to check and see if you need a license to practice acupuncture in your state. You may not need a license. Get the facts first on which states require licensing. Note that each state and each discipline has its own criteria about how alternative medicine practitioners are to be professionally licensed, if at all.

Acupuncture programs in acupuncture schools can be expensive and usually require three years or so of classes and sometimes up to five years. If you have a naturopathic school in your area, email or give them a call to find out the licensing requirements in your state. If you do get financing help or aid in the form of federal assistance be sure to have selected a school that’s accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM).

An acupuncture career has great career growth potential. Just be sure to find out the length of the coursework and the expense upfront and know how you plan to handle it. Many have done it before you. If possible, intern in an acupuncture clinic in your neighborhood to get first hand experience before you decide. But make sure to learn about the licensing requirements for acupuncturists for your state before you do anything else.

To begin with, if you’re a prospective student you’ll want to learn how and where you can earn a certificate or degree in acupuncture, where the best acupuncture schools are and what it’s like to work in the field of acupuncture. Besides licensing you may also want to be certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. With this certification you can use the title Diplomate of Acupuncture. The professional abbreviation is Dipl.Ac. An acupuncture practice can be a career you can enjoy for a lifetime.

Acupuncture schools that offer courses in traditional Chinese medicine often include other segments of traditional medicine, such as anatomy, body therapy, massage therapy, and various sciences. It’s important to get a total picture of all the treatments offered by the acupuncture schools so you acquire the necessary skills to be well-rounded and well-versed for your patients. First of all you’ll want to find out what school and program options are in your area.

For naturopathy schools that offer acupuncture programs see the established List of Accredited Natural Medicine Colleges in North America. States such as California have quite a few acupuncture schools to choose from, while Wisconsin has only one school and some states have none at all. The ACAOM (Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) is the national accrediting agency and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit Master’s-level programs in the acupuncture and Oriental medicine professions, so make sure the school you’re considering has this accreditation.

Acupuncture schools usually offer the science and philosophy of acupuncture too. You can call each school you’re considering and ask to speak to a recruiting counselor to find out what is the student-to-teacher ratio is. Try to get smaller classes. Check to see if your home state is on the national list of about 50 acupuncture schools that have accredited programs.

Acupuncture programs in acupuncture schools are expensive and usually require three years or so of course work. Some of the programs can be up to five years. One good textbook to review in advance of your decision is: “The Foundations of Chinese Medicine” a comprehensive text for acupuncturists and herbalists by Maciocia. In order to qualify for federal assistance be sure to enroll in a school that’s accredited by the ACAOM.

And if you’re visiting an acupuncture clinic as a patient to learn more about acupuncture, make sure to ask about any drawbacks that might go along with an acupuncture career. Acupuncture is particularly effective at relieving or treating chronic muscle pain, stress, and PMS just to name a few symptoms. Before you commit to learning about any alternative medical technique, be aware that some of them may not have been scientifically evaluated.

Before you commit to any acupuncture school or to any acupuncture training you might want to purchase “Fundamentals of Chinese Acupuncture” by Ellis, Wiseman, and Bosson. This text book is used in many acupuncture schools and acupuncture programs and will give you an idea if you want to pursue a career in acupuncture. Note that each state and each discipline has its own strict rules about how alternative medicine practitioners are to be professionally licensed.

The economic burden can be lessened with financial aid in a variety of forms. If you need financial aid try contacting some of your local philanthropic organizations and health organizations to see if they know of any scholarships that are still available. Sometimes these organizations have some scholarship money that was unused and will accept an application for it. Talk to the financial aid officers at the school you have in mind and see what suggestions they have for grants, scholarships and federal aid.

There is always federal money available for education. There is money set aside for online degree programs also. Check and see if your school has any of its classes available online and if so then apply for these funds. There are also education loans and student loans available if you’re unable to get any full or partial scholarships or grants.

Our advanced medicine has proven the effectiveness of many treatments that have been practiced in other countries for centuries and as a result, more and more insurance companies are covering alternative treatments such as acupuncture. Make sure to learn about your state’s licensing requirements for acupuncturists before you do anything. After graduation from an acupuncture school or program and as a licensed acupuncturist you could choose to have a cosmetic acupuncture or facial acupuncture practice or even run a veterinary acupuncture clinic.

Choosing which school to attend for your acupuncture training is a big decision. Here are the Top Ten questions to consider when choosing an acupuncture school:

1. What tradition of acupuncture is taught at the school?

There are many traditions of acupuncture and different thought systems surrounding the art. There is Japanese acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncture, 5 Element acupuncture, Oriental Medicine acupuncture, facial or cosmetic acupuncture, medical acupuncture etc. Do a little research on the kind of acupuncture you wish to learn as they are not all the same.

2. What kind of program are you interested in?

It is important to be clear about what kind of acupuncture program you are interested in.

Do you wish to start a practice and see clients once you are trained? Do you just want to add the tools of acupuncture to other healing work you are already doing? Or, do you want to learn about acupuncture for your own health and to understand what your acupuncturist is doing with you during your treatments?

There are programs at various acupuncture schools to suit all interests. There are three, four and five-year programs training acupuncture professionals. There are weekend courses for doctors and nurses or physiotherapists who wish to add acupuncture to their existing practice. And there are seminars, workshops and websites for those people just wanting to learn a bit about acupuncture or Chinese medicine for their own knowledge.

Most schools will offer a variety of programs to fit your needs. There are two or three-year, fast tracked, acupuncture or herbology programs, four-year Practitioner of Chinese Medicine program including acupuncture and herbal medicine, as well as a five-year Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine Programs covering acupuncture, herbal medicine and all the tools of Chinese medicine.

3. What is the language of instruction at the school?

There are acupuncture schools all over the world teaching in virtually every language.

Being a science of the Orient, many of the ancient writings about acupuncture are in the Mandarin language and Chinese characters. At some schools students are taught in English and Mandarin with Mandarin language taken the first two years of school and many notes and teacher’s instructions in both English and written characters. Look into schools that offer a Mandarin language component as it deepens the study and understanding of acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Many students tell us that the language component is one of the things that helps set one acupuncture school apart from another.

4. Who are the teachers at the school?

The instructors at the acupuncture school that you choose to attend will make all the difference. Choose a school that has instructors who have worked in the field, see clients in a clinical setting, and can comment on the practice of acupuncture. Many people may understand acupuncture theory but the art and skill that comes from seeing clients daily in a clinical setting cannot be learned from a book. Choose a school that has instructors who are experts in their field and who have real life experience in the courses they are teaching.

5. How much does the program cost?

Program costs are as variable as the students wanting to study acupuncture. In Canada most tuition starts around 0 a credit with the average year having 50 credits.

There are usually different program rates depending on the program you are interested in.

Remember, you get what you pay for!

6. What kind of learning environment do you desire?

Just as it is important to know what kind of learner you are, it is also important to know what kind of learning environment you do best in. Do you prefer small classes, quiet study areas and green space to relax in? Or, do you prefer group learning, music and social interactions, games and challenges to help you remember information?

Some campuses are in busy downtown locations and high-rise office spaces; others are in rural settings or deep in the mountains. Our favorite schools offer a variety of study areas to suit the needs of the students. Research if the school you are thinking about attending has a school library for quiet study, a student lounge for more lively discussions over lunch, or spacious classrooms for you to stretch out and make yourself at home in. Some of the best schools have a school bookstore and herbal dispensary on campus and are close to a plethora of restaurants and healthy food options nearby for re-fueling.

7. What kind of learning do you do best?

It is important to know what kind of learner you are and in what kind of environment you learn the best. Do you prefer to work at home, from books or online? Do you prefer to be in a classroom, guided by an expert teacher and joined by classmates? Do you prefer to go to school at night and on weekends so you can still work during the day?

Most schools will offer components of your acupuncture training that can be done online or through self-study but the majority of programs are delivered in person, on-campus, with teachers to answer your questions and classmates to study along with. The nature of learning a healing art like acupuncture requires a teacher on hand to guide a student.

At most schools there are lectures in class, classroom clinics, needling labs and time spent in clinical observation with Doctors of Chinese Medicine. This experiential and hands-on learning environment sets up graduates to go into clinical practice with the experience and knowledge to treat clients effectively right out of school.

8. When do students get to start needling and working with patients?

Students studying acupuncture are always very keen to begin practice needling and are anxious to get started seeing clients in the clinic. All acupuncture schools understand this desire to get started, but, like the Karate Kid movies, there is much work to be done, “Daniel Son”. There are skills to be developed and techniques to be perfected before jumping into needling a patient, or in the case of the Karate Kid, before actually fighting in a karate match.

Most students begin practicing their needle technique on paper towel rolls or oranges in their first semester at school. Students needle each other in second year needling labs and perfect their needling techniques for student clinic the following year. Although this sometimes creates frustration for students wishing to get started needling earlier, it is a grave error to jump into the powerful practice of acupuncture without a solid foundation of point location and needling skills.

9. Where do you want to go to school?

The good news is that there are schools that teach Chinese Medicine and acupuncture all over the world. The only bad news is that it is up to you to decide where in this big world you want to spend time while you study. Do your research well and check out schools in all different countries.

10. What is required in your home country, state or province to practice acupuncture after graduation?

There are different requirements for licensing of acupuncturists in every country, state and province. Please research the rules in the area in which you wish to practice upon graduation.

In British Columbia, graduates of acupuncture schools must write and pass licensing exams overseen by the CTCMA of BC. Students wishing to practice acupuncture in the U.S. should check with the NCCAOM about licensing requirements.

Best wishes choosing your acupuncture school. May you be filling your mind with the wonders of Chinese Medicine in the future!

Acupuncture – Different Types of Acupuncture
Co-Editor-in-Chief, Tracy E. Austin, MD
Tuesday, February 2, 2010 – 07:01 AM

The Different Types of Acupuncture

Acupuncture is commonly thought of as an alternative medical treatment. Though in the United States acupuncture is considered an alternative medicine, it is widely practiced throughout the rest of the world and is an extremely common practice in Chinese medicine.

It has been used in China’s medical system since the 1930s. Most people imagine acupuncture as being stuck with needles in certain key areas to alleviate pain or cure other ailments. It is true that acupuncture involves needles being strategically placed on a person’s body, but there are many varieties of acupuncture.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

This type of acupuncture not only involves acupuncture with needles, but also the burning of Chinese medicinal herbs. TCM in considered to be a holistic approach to medicine since it treats the whole person; not only the body, but also the mind and the spirit.

It is based on the concept of Qi (or Chi), which is believed to be a force of energy within the body that keeps the functions of the body, including organs, working properly. The Qi travels along the body on pathways called “meridians” with each one representing a certain body system or organ function. It is along these pathways that the acupuncturist places the needles.

The herbs used along with the acupuncture treatment aid in strengthening the body. These herbs can be used to help stop bleeding, fight a cold, and aid in digestion, for just a few examples. Normally, the herbs are used in combinations of three or more and can be taken in pill form, burned and inhaled, or in tinctures placed on the body during treatment.

Classical Acupuncture

Classical Acupuncture is the most common thought of type according to westerners. It is also known as the five element acupuncture. This type uses needles alone. It is also referred to as Classical Five Element Acupuncture because it corresponds to the seasons according to the Chinese cycle. This cycle includes:
Summer; Harvest; Fall; Winter; Spring

Not only does Classical Acupuncture correspond to the seasons, but also to the five elements found in nature as they relate to a person’s body. These five elements are:
Fire; Earth; Metal; Water; Wood

Japanese Acupuncture

Japanese acupuncture is along the same lines as classical acupuncture, but this type uses smaller needles. It also focuses more on precision and efficient techniques that promote accomplishing bigger results using the smallest amount of stimulation possible.

Electro acupuncture

Like the name implies, electro acupuncture combines traditional acupuncture combined with a low electric current running through the needles and is becoming an ever-increasing popular form of acupuncture. Electro acupuncture uses the same meridians as classical acupuncture, but uses a small device that clips onto the needles. The device sends electric pulses that the acupuncturist can adjust depending on the intensity needed.

Unlike Japanese Acupuncture, electro acupuncture does not need to be so precise. The electric pulses stimulate a wider area making it easier to treat the area. Those who are squeamish about needles will prefer electro acupuncture because it can be done with electrodes instead of needles and attain the same results.

Medical Acupuncture

Medical acupuncture is very similar to classical acupuncture, but it is performed by a licensed medical doctor. It incorporates the medical science surrounding neuromuscular anatomy. Some also include historically Chinese acupuncture patterns; thereby, creating a hybrid of western and eastern medical knowledge.

Auricular Acupuncture

Auricular acupuncture is unique. This type treats the entire body, just like other types of acupuncture, but it does so through particular points located in the patient’s ears. The acupuncturist pinpoints certain nerves found in the ear that relate to other parts of the body to help heal or alleviate pain in that particular part.

Auricular acupuncturists have over 200 acupuncture points to know on the outer ear. This is also called the pinna, more commonly known as the cartilage. Western auricular acupuncturists utilize a tool called an electro acupunctoscope, which is an electric tool. This is along the same lines as the electro acupuncture methods. This method is known as Transcutaneous Electical Nerve Stimulation (TENS).

The type of acupuncture a person chooses may directly relate to the ailment that person has. Acupuncture treats a variety of maladies ranging from health conditions to pain and even helping to increase blood flow to particular areas of the body. For references and resourced information, go to http://www.smilemd.com/acupuncturist/the-different-types-of-acupuncture.aspx

Acupuncture for infertility is probably the most popular and commonly recognized alternative treatment for those trying to get pregnant. The media seems to report on research related to acupuncture and fertility every few months, and more and more fertility clinics offer or recommend acupuncture services along with conventional fertility treatments like IVF and IUI.

Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine, sometimes abbreviated as TCM. Acupuncture involves placing hair-thin needles into particular points on the body. These points, according to the Chinese tradition, run along lines of energy, or meridians. From the TCM perspective, the idea is that an imbalance of these energies in the body can lead to illness, including infertility. Correcting the imbalance by stimulating particular points along the meridians is thought to improve health.

To read more about how acupuncture may work, from both the Eastern perspective, and the medical perspective, read this article.

Given all the hype and excitement over acupuncture and infertility, you might think that the benefits have been well documented. However, that’s not exactly so. Some studies have shown improved pregnancy rates for those who try acupuncture, while other studies have shown no or non-statistically significant results.

Latest Developments

Fuss

Researchers on either side of the issue agree that acupuncture is generally harmless, and just about everyone agrees it enhances relaxation, lowers stress levels, and increases beta-endorphins – the feel good, pain-busting hormones.

If it can’t do any harm, why invest so much time and research into the issue? Why not send everyone for acupuncture treatment?

Well, if acupuncture really can improve pregnancy rates, then acupuncture treatment should be included as a matter of protocol when treating infertility. Doctors should encourage patients to see an acupuncturist for treatments, and insurance companies should also be willing to foot some of the bill (if they cover fertility treatments at all).

While not inexpensive, acupuncture is certainly less expensive than many fertility treatments. If acupuncture could help couples get pregnant, while spending less money, less time, and risking less side effects (assuming they’d need less help from conventional medicine), then of course acupuncture should be moved out from the “alternative” realm and into the mainstream.

However, if acupuncture cannot be shown to improve fertility rates, then the treatment shouldn’t be automatically incorporated into Western medicine’s approach to infertility.

Acupuncture isn’t the only method of achieving relaxation, and while doctors should help their patients when it comes to stress reduction, pushing acupuncture over other methods would be uncalled for. Meditation, yoga, guided imagery, and basic relaxation training can help those with infertility beat stress, and for far less cost than acupuncture treatments.

Plus, when a fertility doctor – or any doctor, for that matter – recommends a treatment, the patient assumes the recommendation is backed up by evidence-based research. Before recommending acupuncture to patients, doctors want to be sure they are suggesting a treatment that will really help, and not just waste time, money, or provide a false sense of increased hope.

In Support of Acupuncture

Researchers at the Center for Integrative Medicine, at the University of Maryland’s School of Medicine, conducted a meta-analysis of several research studies on the effects of acupuncture on IVF outcomes. (A meta-analysis is a research study that gathers information from several studies and evaluates them together.) The meta-analysis considered seven trials, which all together included 1,366 women.

The researchers found that when acupuncture took place on the day of embryo transfer, statistically significant improvements were found in the rates of clinical pregnancies, ongoing pregnancy, and live births. They also found that 10 woman would need to be treated with IVF and acupuncture to see one additional pregnancy.

In another study, often referred to as the “German study,” a German fertility clinic offered 160 IVF patients who had good-quality embryos an opportunity to participate in a study on acupuncture and IVF outcomes. Half of the patients received acupuncture treatment, 25 minutes before and after embryo transfer. The control group did not receive any supportive therapy.

In the acupuncture group, 34 of the 80 patients got pregnant. In the control group, 21 out of 80 got pregnant.

There have been a number of other, smaller sized research studies on acupuncture and fertility. Because of their small size, the results of these studies are controversial. Just a few of the possible connections between acupuncture and fertility found in the smaller studies:

Acupuncture may improve sperm quality and counts in infertile men.
Acupuncture may improve the lining of the endometrium, including increased the blood flow to the uterus.
Acupuncture may help regulate hormone levels, specifically gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which in turn may improve ovulation rates.
Acupuncture may help women with PCOS and anovulatory cycles.
Acupuncture may help those with thyroid problems. (And problems with the thyroid can lead to problems with fertility.)
Acupuncture may increase the number of follicles produced during an IVF treatment.

Controversy and Ambiguity

While the supportive research looks great, critics claim that the studies are less than sufficient to show a true connection between acupuncture and improved pregnancy rates. None of the studies have used the so-called Gold Standard for research – randomized, double-blind placebo trials.

Also, many of these studies were too small to be considered definitive. For example, all the research studies on male infertility and acupuncture involved anywhere from 10 to 20 patients. Not nearly enough to judge the effectiveness of the results.

Perhaps most importantly, other research studies have failed to achieve similar results. A research study led by Alice Domar, a big proponent of the mind-body fertility connection, looked at the effect of acupuncture on IVF outcomes. In this study, 150 IVF patients awaiting embryo transfer were included. Subjects were randomly assigned into the control group or acupuncture group, and the IVF staff was “blind” to who was receiving the acupuncture treatments.

The acupuncture group received treatment 25 minutes before and after embryo transfer. They also filled out forms asking about their anxiety and feelings of optimism. The acupuncture group reported feeling less anxious and more optimistic than the control group. However, unlike the “German Study,” this study did not find any improvement of pregnancy rates.

Another study, this one conducted by Dr. LaTasha B. Craig while she was with University of Washington, found that acupuncture treatment on the day of embryo transfer actually decreased the rate of pregnancy. In this study, high embryo quality was not required for inclusion in the study.

The acupuncture method was the same one used during the German Study, with treatment 25 minutes before and after embryo transfer. However, unlike the German Study, acupuncture treatment took place somewhere besides the fertility clinic. This is more realistic, considering that few fertility clinics offer acupuncture treatment onsite.

In this study, those who received acupuncture treatment had a 46% clinical pregnancy rate, compared to 76% rate for those who did not receive treatment. The live birth rate for the acupuncture treated patients was 39%, compared to a 65% live birth rate those not treated with acupuncture. Dr. Craig theorizes that driving to and from the acupuncturist may have increased the levels of stress, leading to the lower pregnancy rates.

Where It Stands

There does seem to be evidence that acupuncture performed on the day of embryo transfer may improve your chances of success. Maybe, if you don’t get stressed driving to and from the acupuncturist.

However, acupuncture performed at other times during treatment, and acupuncture performed without IVF treatment, may or may not make a difference. The research is conflicting and unclear.

But that doesn’t mean acupuncture is without merit. Further research is needed, and no one is saying that acupuncture absolutely makes a difference, or definitely doesn’t. Not yet, anyway.

Plus, the relaxation response to acupuncture treatment is undisputed. Even in studies where acupuncture didn’t improve pregnancy rates, researchers noted that the patients were more relaxed and more optimistic after treatments. Given the high levels of stress couples go through during fertility treatments, a little relaxation and lowered stress brought on by acupuncture treatment probably won’t hurt, and it may even help.

For infertility Patients:

There are several methods of reversing infertility in couples. The first resort I always give to my patients and has worked wonderfully for nearly 80% of them is the Pregnancy Miracle System. Pregnancy Miracle is an all natural holistic solution for infertility patients. Read more about it here.

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