What Can Licensed Acupuncturists Do (in California)?

The state of California has deemed Licensed Acupuncturists Primary Care Providers. This means that you can see a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.) without a referral from an MD or other provider. This is great news because it means you can find the right Acupuncturist for you and you are not limited to your Doctor or Health Insurance network (though you may have to pay out of pocket if you see an L.Ac. who is not in your network and/or does not take health insurance).

While many folks who are unfamiliar with Acupuncture may think that all we do is create human pincushions (sometimes it’s true :)) we have a wide variety of tools in our toolkit to partner with you to meet you health goals.

L.Ac.’s in CA can perform acupuncture, acupressure, bodywork [such as Tui Na (a form of Chinese massage) or Shiatsu], cupping, moxibustion (burning dried mugwort near the skin for various therapeutic effects), and electro-acupuncture. We can counsel on diet and lifestyle, prescribe herbal formulas and exercise regimens, and we can even order lab testing!

In general, L.Ac.’s in CA are required to have a Master’s Degree in order to sit for board exams and practice acupuncture. As a Licensed Acupuncturist with a Doctorate in Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine, I have taken my education even further, expanding my knowledge beyond the minimum necessary to encompass western/biomedical disease diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management. This additional training helps me better understand your condition and partner with your integrative care team to support your health goals.

If you’d like to learn more about what what I do, how I work, and how I can partner with your western medical care team to support your health goals, feel free to book a Complimentary 15-minute Consultation or if you’re ready to come in and start working together, you can book an appointment here.

Be well.