Interested in acupuncture to help you improve your quality of life?
When deciding on an acupuncturist, I believe it’s essential to find a licensed, experienced practitioner. Your health is important and you need qualified practitioners to lead you on a safe, effective journey.
Here are a few points to keep in mind:
1. This is a sensitive subject, but not all acupuncturists are created equal. Practitioners who are certified, as opposed to licensed, including some medical doctors, chiropractors, massage therapists and physio therapists, generally only have 300 hours of training or less (there are exceptions, of course). Typically, their style of acupuncture is called medical acupuncture and does not meet the standards of acupuncture based on Traditional Chinese Medicine.
In comparison, a qualified acupuncture practitioner undergoes over 2,000 hours of acupuncture and Chinese medicine education, which can range from two to four years of a master’s level schooling. They are specialists in the application of acupuncture as designed from ancient times using Chinese medical theories. Never settle for an undertrained acupuncturist. Traditional Chinese Medicine is complex and requires knowledge and experience for safety and efficacy.
2. Make sure your acupuncturist completed training at a nationally accredited school of acupuncture and is willing to show you their credentials.
3. Make sure your acupuncturist is registered with their provincial accreditation college. Most provinces now have regulatory bodies for the protection of the public. Registration with The College & Association of Acupuncturists of Alberta is required in order to practice acupuncture in Alberta, unless you are registered as a chiropractor or physiotherapist, etc and are granted permission to do acupuncture.
4. If you are under the care another medical professional, your acupuncturist should be willing to work in tandem with other practitioners to ensure a comprehensive treatment. Always keep all your doctors and therapists in the loop so you get the best team effort care.
5. Avoid acupuncturists who make unbelievable claims, such as, “95% of my patients with arthritis are cured.” A true professional would know that the length of treatment and success rates vary depending on the individual.
6. Choose a practitioner who will explain the process, theory, and treatment plan to you. They should be willing to answer any questions you have in a way you can understand and be comfortable with.
7. And finally, if you’ve tried acupuncture and found it unsatisfying or did not like the practitioner, consider speaking to other acupuncturists to find a good fit for you. Don’t right off acupuncture as ineffective based on only one experience.
I’d love to meet you and help you on your health journey using acupuncture as one of the tools. I’m a certified and registered acupuncturist in Alberta and have been practicing medicine since 2001. Contact AcuPlus today – 403-942-7070 – and let’s jumpstart your health!
