The State of 21st Century Acupuncture in the United States

Clasina Leslie Smith^#^{1

2}, Bill Reddy^#³, Charis M Wolf^#^{4

5}, Rosa N Schnyer^#^{6

7}, Korina St John^#⁸, Lisa Conboy^#^{4

7

9

10

11

12

13

14}, Jen Stone¹⁵, Lixing Lao^{16

17

18}

Affiliations

¹ Chicago Healing Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
² School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, Springfield, IL, USA.
³ Vital Point Acupuncture, Annandale, VA, USA.
⁴ Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
⁵ Middle Way Acupuncture Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
⁶ School of Nursing, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA.
⁷ Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, Portland, OR, USA.
⁸ Modern Medicine Woman, LLC, Palmer, AK, USA.
⁹ Beth Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
¹⁰ California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA, USA.
¹¹ Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA.
¹² YoSan University, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
¹³ Five Branches University, Santa Cruz, CA, USA.
¹⁴ American Academy of Health and Wellness, Roseville, MN, USA.
¹⁵ CTSI, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
¹⁶ Virginia University of Integrative Medicine, Vienna, VA, USA.
¹⁷ School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA.
¹⁸ School of Chinese Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 39403098
PMCID: PMC11472758
DOI: 10.2147/JPR.S469491

The State of 21st Century Acupuncture in the United States

Clasina Leslie Smith et al. J Pain Res. 2024.

. 2024 Oct 10:17:3329-3354.

doi: 10.2147/JPR.S469491. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Chicago Healing Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
² School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, Springfield, IL, USA.
³ Vital Point Acupuncture, Annandale, VA, USA.
⁴ Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
⁵ Middle Way Acupuncture Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
⁶ School of Nursing, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA.
⁷ Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, Portland, OR, USA.
⁸ Modern Medicine Woman, LLC, Palmer, AK, USA.
⁹ Beth Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
¹⁰ California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA, USA.
¹¹ Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA.
¹² YoSan University, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
¹³ Five Branches University, Santa Cruz, CA, USA.
¹⁴ American Academy of Health and Wellness, Roseville, MN, USA.
¹⁵ CTSI, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
¹⁶ Virginia University of Integrative Medicine, Vienna, VA, USA.
¹⁷ School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA.
¹⁸ School of Chinese Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 39403098
PMCID: PMC11472758
DOI: 10.2147/JPR.S469491

Abstract

The term "acupuncture" commonly refers to a non-pharmacologic therapy that is increasingly employed by diverse segments of the population for a wide variety of complaints including pain, insomnia, anxiety, depression, frozen shoulder, and other issues. The term is also used as a short-hand for the wider medical system from which the placement of needles into the skin for therapeutic benefit and related techniques evolved. Thus "acupuncture" refers both to the therapeutic technique and the therapeutic system of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (AHM). The other modalities included within AHM include a wide variety of physical and mechanical manipulations, herbal medicines, dietary recommendations, and lifestyle modifications. Clinically, acupuncture is increasingly offered in a variety of conventional medical settings such as hospitals, medical school clinics, veterans' healthcare centers, oncology facilities, and rehabilitation centers, and its safety profile is excellent overall. Barriers to further incorporation of acupuncture into biomedical sites include insurance coverage of acupuncture, education of conventional medical practitioners and other stakeholders about the utility, efficacy, and evidence base of acupuncture. Acupuncturists in the United States are skilled practitioners who are highly educated in the complex therapeutic system from which acupuncture arose and in the technical aspects of its utility as a treatment modality. The training, certification, licensure, and regulation of acupuncturists is similar to that of conventional providers such has physician's assistants, advanced practice nurses, and medical and osteopathic doctors. While clinical use and acceptance of acupuncture continues to grow, there is to date no definitive composite document explaining the utility of acupuncture in various healthcare settings, the current understanding of how acupuncture works, and the training, professional regulation, and certification of acupuncture practitioners. This article will address these topics and strive to create a reference for practitioners, administrators, legislators, insurance providers, patients and their families, and other stakeholders.

Keywords: acupuncture; herbal medicine; integrative health; integrative medicine; medical policy; traditional Chinese medicine.

Plain language summary

Acupuncture refers to the placement of thin, sterile needles into the skin to stimulate healing effects, and, in the United States, it also refers to the medical system from which the technique of acupuncture evolved. That system, Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (AHM), uses acupuncture, dietary and lifestyle advice, herbal medicines, and other therapies to facilitate health and healing. Acupuncture is increasingly being used for a wide variety of medical problems including pain, difficulty sleeping, mental health concerns, and other issues in a wide variety of settings and is supported by a growing scientific basis for understanding why and how it works. Training and licensure of acupuncturists are similar to many conventional practitioners, and the process is accredited and overseen by various governmental and regulatory bodies. This paper aims to provide an overview of the use of acupuncture in the United States, the scientific basis for acupuncture, the training and licensure of acupuncturists, and the ways in which acupuncture is and might be incorporated into conventional medical settings.

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Conflict of interest statement

Clasina Leslie Smith,* MS, MA, MD, LAc, Dipl. Ac NCCAOM, FAAMA. I was a member of the Assembly, Chair of the Communications Committee, and on the Executive Board of the Integrative Health Policy Consortium during the writing of this paper. I’m a licensed acupuncturist and medical doctor, and this paper is directly associated with my professional work. Bill Reddy,* LAc, Dipl. Ac NCCAOM. I’m a licensed acupuncturist and this paper is directly associated with my professional work. Charis Wolf,* LAc, MSTCM, DTCM, Dipl. Ac NCCAOM. Adjunct faculty, Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine; adjunct faculty, Middle Way Acupuncture Institute. I am the Vice Chair of Operations for the American Society of Acupuncturists. I’m a licensed acupuncturist, and this paper is directly associated with my professional work. I worked as a teacher at Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine and clinic and at Middle Way Acupuncture Institute. I served on the board of directors for the American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA) as a volunteer, as well as creating a research committee for the ASA during my time on the board. This volunteer position was completed in June of 2023 and was held for the first 24 months of the project. No funds were exchanged nor relationships established in relation to the work on this paper. Rosa N Schnyer,* DAOM, IFMCP, LAc. Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, University of Texas. I’m a licensed acupuncturist and acupuncture researcher, and this paper is directly associated with my professional work. I am a board member of the Society for Acupuncture Research. Korina St John,* DACM, MS, LAc, Dipl. OM NCCAOM. I’m a licensed acupuncturist, and this paper is directly associated with my professional work. Lisa Conboy,* MA, MS, ScD. Instructor in Medicine, Beth Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School; Faculty, Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine; Adjunct faculty at CIIS, PCOM, YoSan, Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, Five Branches University, American Academy of Health and Wellness. I am an acupuncture researcher, and this paper is directly associated with my professional work. I am also the Research Committee Chair of the American Society for Acupuncturists. I have no other competing interests. Jennifer Stone, MSOM, LAc, Dipl. Ac. NCCAOM. CTSI, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN USA. I am Senior Editor of Medical Acupuncture Journal, Mary Ann Liebert Publishing. I’m a licensed acupuncturist, and this paper is directly associated with my professional work. I am Senior Editor: Medical Acupuncture Journal and Co-chair: Indiana Consortium for Integrative Medicine and Health. Lixing Lao, PhD, MB, LAc. Professor and President, Virginia University of Integrative Medicine Adjunct Professor; University of Maryland, School of Medicine; Honorary Professor, University of Hong Kong, School of Chinese Medicine. I am a licensed acupuncturist, professor of acupuncture and researcher of acupuncture, and this paper is directly associated with my professional work.

Figures

**Figure 1**
Acupuncture as both a therapeutic medical system and as a modality of treatment.

**Figure 2**
The term “acupuncture” in the United States is often mistaken for being the only modality used within Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine system of medicine. However, acupuncturists incorporate a wide variety of modalities as outlined in their scope of practice and training programs to enhance health outcomes.

See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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The State of 21st Century Acupuncture in the United States

Affiliations

The State of 21st Century Acupuncture in the United States

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Plain language summary

Conflict of interest statement

Figures

References

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources