Colorado Acupuncture: Are Denver Legislatures Missing The Point?

DENVER – Colorado Lawmakers Tuesday approved a bill that would make it easier for more people to practice auricular or “ear” acupuncture, which is becoming a preferred treatment for many veterans subject to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The question is not whether acupuncture is helpful, that seems to be a point that just about everyone agrees on. However having the legislative body set the standards for acupuncture training and standards may not be the best solution.

The relaxed new standards House Bill 1119 provides, which would potentially allow more caretakers to offer auricular acupuncture following 70 hours of training overseen by NADA, the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association is no doubt grounded in the best of intentions.

Melissa Cadogan Licensed Acupuncturist and Proprietor of Turning Point Acupuncture and Massage (http://denveracupuncture.org/) stated in an online interview: “Acupuncture is a highly beneficial and effective therapeutic support system for people suffering with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). However, auricular/ear acupuncture is just one aspect of a complete treatment for PTSD. Simply training a practitioner to insert 5 tiny needles into a patient’s ear does not address the whole complex meridian system (energy circuitry) of the body-mind.“

True practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) study for 3,800 hours over the course of 4 years, not just 70 hours, in order to be able to integrate and differentiate one’s patterns of symptoms and precisely chose a combination of acupuncture points distributed among the whole body, including the ears, to most effectively care for an individual. Legislating Acupuncture practiced in a "one size fits all, recipe manner may bring temporary relief of symptoms, but does not address the complete issue.”

”The basis of many eastern healing philosophies is to address the root of the problem to clear the path for greater energy that promotes healing. Did the legislature just legalize the quick fix of western medicine into a time honored and proven eastern healing modality.”

To learn more about this ancient healing modality in Denver, visit: http://denveracupuncture.org/

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