6 Steps to Finding the Best Acupuncturist For You by Brian B. Carter, MS, LAc

6 Steps to Getting the Best Chinese Medicine (CM) Practitioner for You

1. Use The Pulse of Oriental Medicine's Acupuncturist Finding Resource (http://pulsemed.org/findacupuncturist.htm), and look for your town. If you don't see it, click on the "general databases" link, then choose "National Certification Committee for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine," then search by your city. If that doesn't work, try state-wide, and choose the nearest ones.

2. Candidates:

Pick 3 or 4 names, and give them a call. Ask if they provide a "short, free consult." If they offer to do this in person, take them up on it, because you'll get a much better sense of them that way. However, many will assume you mean a free "phone consult." Make sure you get to talk to the actual acupuncturist. Most of them will talk to you for as much as 15 minutes. If only one of your group does this, I'd say that's a strong testimony to their sensitivity and marketing savvy, unless they are so successful that they don't have time. Try to get even 5 minutes on the phone with them. While you're listening, look for intelligence, sensitivity, compassion, ability to listen and adapt, and ability to communicate clearly.

3. Education:

Ask them about their education (where, when, how many years). Find out if they got a degree in Chinese medicine, or - if they are a medical acupuncturist (chiropractor, MD, DO, or naturopath) - if they just took a weekend course, or even worse, a video course. You want someone who either got a 3 or 4 year Master's degree, and had to take a licensure exam required by the state, or a medical acupuncturist who devotes all or most of their practice time to Chinese medicine.

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BIO:

Acupuncturist, herbalist, and medical professor Brian B. Carter founded the alternative health megasite The Pulse of Oriental Medicine (http://www.PulseMed.org/). He is the author of the book "Powerful Body, Peaceful Mind: How to Heal Yourself with Foods, Herbs, and Acupressure" (November, 2004). Brian speaks on radio across the country, and has been quoted and interviewed by Real Simple, Glamour, and ESPN magazines.

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