Dead Bill

I perused the bill pretty quickly and I am sorry it did not pass. One thing I have yet to understand is why chiropractors are considered qualified to practice acupuncture without a license (MDs too, for that matter, but the AAAOM would need a lot more money to challenge the AMA on that one!). This bill was pretty strict on the guidelines for disclosure and medical condition notification which I figured would have appeased any safety concerns in the opposition argument. Good luck to our friends in South Dakota for next round. Hopefully someone (AAAOM, ahemm) will work on a national certification procedure (like RNs, MDs, and DOs) rather than this state-by-state nonsense we have had to deal with for so long.

Acupuncture licensing bill killed by committee

Associated Press - February 9, 2010 10:15 AM ET

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - A bill that would have regulated acupuncturists in South Dakota was killed by a legislative committee Tuesday.

The bill would have adopted National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine standards used in 44 other states.

Castlewood Republican Rep. Kristi Noem said the measure would help protect South Dakota's eight practicing acupuncturists and differentiate them from those who have had no education or training.

Committee members said the bill needed more work before moving forward.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Bill 1203P

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Dead Bill

I perused the bill pretty quickly and I am sorry it did not pass. One thing I have yet to understand is why chiropractors are considered qualified to practice acupuncture without a license (MDs too, for that matter, but the AAAOM would need a lot more money to challenge the AMA on that one!). This bill was pretty strict on the guidelines for disclosure and medical condition notification which I figured would have appeased any safety concerns in the opposition argument. Good luck to our friends in South Dakota for next round. Hopefully someone (AAAOM, ahemm) will work on a national certification procedure (like RNs, MDs, and DOs) rather than this state-by-state nonsense we have had to deal with for so long.

Acupuncture licensing bill killed by committee

Associated Press - February 9, 2010 10:15 AM ET

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - A bill that would have regulated acupuncturists in South Dakota was killed by a legislative committee Tuesday.

The bill would have adopted National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine standards used in 44 other states.

Castlewood Republican Rep. Kristi Noem said the measure would help protect South Dakota's eight practicing acupuncturists and differentiate them from those who have had no education or training.

Committee members said the bill needed more work before moving forward.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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House Bill 65

Kentucky acupuncturists are going to Frankfort on Thursday to try and accomplish two objective:

1. Change our title from certified (CAc) to licensed (LAc) - like almost every other state in the country

2. Delete the need to notify MD if we treat patients with high blood pressure or diabetes since these are not contraindications for acupuncture

We had originally intended to ask for the practice of acupuncture without a license to be considered a felony. Despite winning certification in KY in 2006, there are still plenty of "beauty shop dry-needlers" and healthcare practitioners performing acupuncture without proper training (ahhem, DCs and PTs). Since we are under the KY Board of Medicine and prior to 2006, practicing acupuncture without a license was synonymous with practicing medicine without a license, we figured this was a reasonable request, however our representative thought removing the clause would help our case for the other 2 points.

Oh well.

If anyone out there is an activist kind of mood today, we would really appreciate phone calls to our local representatives who will be voting on this issue. To leave a message in support of House Bill 65, call 1-800-372-7181. Here is their contact info for specific representatives and thank you for your support!


Tom Burch, chair Loiusville 502-564-8100 x601

Bob DeWeese, vice chair Louisville 502-564-4334

David Watkins, vice chair Henderson 502-564-8100 x700

John Arnold Sturgis - 502-564-8100 x709

Jim Glenn Owensboro - 502-564-8100 x705

Joni Jenkins - Shively - 502-564-8100 x692

Tim Moore - Elizabethtown - 502-564-8100 x702

Ruth Ann Palumbo - Lexington - 502-564-8100 x600

Scott Brinkman - Louisville - 502-564-8100 x682

Brent Housman - Paducah - 502-564-8100 x634

Mary Lou Marzian - Louisville - 502-564-8100 x643

Darryl Owens - Louisville - 502-564-8100 x685

Susan Westrom - Lexington - 502-564-8100 x740

Addia Wuchner - Florence - 502-564-8100 x707

House Bill 65

Kentucky acupuncturists are going to Frankfort on Thursday to try and accomplish two objective:

1. Change our title from certified (CAc) to licensed (LAc) - like almost every other state in the country

2. Delete the need to notify MD if we treat patients with high blood pressure or diabetes since these are not contraindications for acupuncture

We had originally intended to ask for the practice of acupuncture without a license to be considered a felony. Despite winning certification in KY in 2006, there are still plenty of "beauty shop dry-needlers" and healthcare practitioners performing acupuncture without proper training (ahhem, DCs and PTs). Since we are under the KY Board of Medicine and prior to 2006, practicing acupuncture without a license was synonymous with practicing medicine without a license, we figured this was a reasonable request, however our representative thought removing the clause would help our case for the other 2 points.

Oh well.

If anyone out there is an activist kind of mood today, we would really appreciate phone calls to our local representatives who will be voting on this issue. To leave a message in support of House Bill 65, call 1-800-372-7181. Here is their contact info for specific representatives and thank you for your support!


Tom Burch, chair Loiusville 502-564-8100 x601

Bob DeWeese, vice chair Louisville 502-564-4334

David Watkins, vice chair Henderson 502-564-8100 x700

John Arnold Sturgis - 502-564-8100 x709

Jim Glenn Owensboro - 502-564-8100 x705

Joni Jenkins - Shively - 502-564-8100 x692

Tim Moore - Elizabethtown - 502-564-8100 x702

Ruth Ann Palumbo - Lexington - 502-564-8100 x600

Scott Brinkman - Louisville - 502-564-8100 x682

Brent Housman - Paducah - 502-564-8100 x634

Mary Lou Marzian - Louisville - 502-564-8100 x643

Darryl Owens - Louisville - 502-564-8100 x685

Susan Westrom - Lexington - 502-564-8100 x740

Addia Wuchner - Florence - 502-564-8100 x707

New Year News

This is more of Jing Acupuncture news, but I have officially graduated my MSN program (4.0) and plan to take my family nurse practitioner license sometime in March. Most of the research out there lately has involved acupuncture for hot flashes, chemo side effects, and pain management - I think I have covered these areas well enough for the time being. Hopefully something saucy will crop up in the new year. I do not like to engage in politics that do not relate to acupuncture on the blog, but there are certainly all sort of bills about at the moment that could impact both acupuncture and nursing that may be viable reporting subjects in the near future. In the meantime, here is a recent article about the current state of pain management in the US

Pain Management Failing as Fears of Prescription Drug Use Rise

New Year News

This is more of Jing Acupuncture news, but I have officially graduated my MSN program (4.0) and plan to take my family nurse practitioner license sometime in March. Most of the research out there lately has involved acupuncture for hot flashes, chemo side effects, and pain management - I think I have covered these areas well enough for the time being. Hopefully something saucy will crop up in the new year. I do not like to engage in politics that do not relate to acupuncture on the blog, but there are certainly all sort of bills about at the moment that could impact both acupuncture and nursing that may be viable reporting subjects in the near future. In the meantime, here is a recent article about the current state of pain management in the US

Pain Management Failing as Fears of Prescription Drug Use Rise

Cupping Massage

A few months ago I ran across this massage technique while looking over the menu of services at Canyon Ranch Spa Club in Las Vegas. After a bit of googling, I came across the website and decided to pick up the DVD from Lhasa OMS along with a few new cupping sets.

The technique is adapted for body workers and uses much lighter suction than TCM cupping. The theory is that the lighter suction stimulates the lymph system to loosen adhesions and pull stuck fluid into the lymph system where it is easier to eliminate. I started utilizing massage cupping in my practice and found it is great to help loosen up the body before doing traditional cupping techniques. It is not as effective for those with significant stagnation, but it is great for those with mild blockages who also need a little detoxification and TLC.

I just had this done last week and found it wonderfully relaxing on areas of mild tension, but in the parts that need a lot of work, I was yearning a bit for some strong stationary cupping. If I could have followed it up with some acupuncture, it would have been perfect - I even fell asleep a bit during the treatment.

I contacted the founder and encouraged her to get certified as an NCCAOM CEU provider. The system is easy to learn and a great addition to practices that focus on the individual patient.