Acupuncture

Acupuncture 

Acupuncturists conduct one-to-one consultations with patients. The first consultation is used to establish a detailed case history of the patient, before a diagnosis is made and treatment begins. 

You will then usually run subsequent treatment sessions that last from 45 minutes to an hour. 

The duration of the treatment programmer varies depending on the severity of the problem. Some patients may require only a few sessions, while others may need 20 or more. 

In general,  some duties and responsibilities may  include: 

• making a diagnosis and devising a personalized treatment plan; 
• taking a detailed case history, which typically involves questioning patients about their condition, all aspects of their physical and emotional health and history, lifestyle and diet as well as sometimes taking their blood pressure; 
• taking a pulse and examining the tongue to aid diagnosis; 
• explaining the diagnosis and treatment to the patient and responding to their questions and concerns; 
• treating by inserting fine needles into the skin at particular locations to stimulate the energy flow along meridians (energy channels) and the body's own healing response; 
• incorporating other treatments, such as moxibustion (burning herbs to warm insertion points), electro-acupuncture (stimulating insertion points with small electric currents), acupressure (to loosen and relax muscles), and cupping; 
• assessing patient progress through questioning and examination as well as reviewing treatment plans if necessary; 
• keeping patient and financial records; 
• Organizing and promoting your practice. 

Salary: $39,000-$135,000 

Education: If you want to become an acupuncturist in the United States, you can study acupuncture at any school accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM), which is recognized by the US Department of Education as the authority in this field. 

Demand for this profession:  Applicants to accredited acupuncture schools must first complete at least two years of study at the baccalaureate level, and many schools require a bachelor’s degree. Acupuncture programs often welcome students from all educational backgrounds, so if you have not yet studied any form of medicine, you can still pursue this path. 

 

Reflection: Do you think you would like to be one? Why? Why not? 

I think I would want to be an acupuncturist because it involves helping people and it’s not that hard of a job ju8st putting needles into parts of people’s bodies where they need to relax.