Research and Information Sites

Acufinder.com helps you locate acupuncture practitioners nationwide

Acupuncture.com maintains one of the most comprehensive and user-friendly acupuncture information websites. It is chocked full of useful information and current research about acupuncture and traditional Asian medicine.

Acupuncture Today also has a big site with lots archives of many article and research abstracts about acupuncture and Asian medicine.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (part of the National Institute or Health) maintains a great website with information on most popular complementary and alternative therapies, including acupuncture.

The World Health Organization  has investigated the uses of acupuncture world-wide and offers several pages of research information on this site.

The University of Minnesota has a nice complementary medicine website with an free introductory tutorial module on Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Gancao.net features extensive links database, patient and practitioner forums, and a unique blog that looks at biomedical research through the eyes of traditional Chinese medicine.

TCM Tongue Diagnosis allows patients to understand what their tongue is telling practitioners of TCM.

Regulatory Agencies

As with most professions, Acupuncture and Oriental medicine is regulated by several organization, each responsible for the oversight of a specific part of the profession. The three regulatory agencies for acupuncture and Oriental medicine in Minnesota are the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice, the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM).

To practice acupuncture in Minnesota practitioners must be licensed by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice. This is the same state agency that credentials medical doctors, surgeons, physicians assistants and midwifes. A Licensed Acupuncturist may display the initials Lic. Ac. or L.Ac. after their name. Another useful state site maintained by the Minnesota State Legislature contains all the Minnesota statues relating to acupuncture and Asian medicine.

The National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine is responsible for certifying individual acupuncturists to ensure that they have demonstrated nationally-recognized standards of competence in acupuncture and Oriental medicine. To become certified, a candidate must meet eligibility standards of education and/or experience; pass the NCCAOM's comprehensive written examinations and practical examination; and complete an NCCAOM-approved course in clean needle technique. NCCAOM currently offers certification or diplomate titles in acupuncture (Dipl. Ac.), Chinese herbology (Dipl. CH), and Oriental bodywork therapy (Dipl. ABT). Practitioners who pass all three of these exams are granted a certification in Oriental medicine (Dipl. OM). All diplomates undergo a re-certification process every four years to show that they are still active and can demonstrate current knowledge in the field.

The Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine is the agency responsible for accrediting acupuncture schools in the United States. ACAOM's primary purposes are to establish educational and institutional requirements for acupuncture and Oriental medicine programs, and to then accredit programs and institutions that meet these requirements. ACAOM is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (DoE) as a "specialized and professional" accrediting agency.

National Professional Organizations

The American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine is the national professional organization for practitioners of traditional Asian medicine. Their website is loaded with information for consumers as well as practitioners.

The American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia is the national professional association for practitioners of Bodywork Therapies of Asia. AOBTA provides certification for Asian bodywork therapists who have graduated from accredited schools and continuing education opportunities. Their website offers useful information about the modalities and benefits of Asian bodywork.

State Sites

The Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Association of Minnesota is the state professional association for practitioners of acupuncture, Chinese herbology and other Asian modalities. This website has lots of useful information and a practitioner finder for Minnesota.

The Minnesota College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine is part of Northwestern Health Science University in Bloomington and offers a master’s degree programs in acupuncture and Oriental medicine. MCAOM was formerly known as the Minnesota Institute of Acupuncture and Herbal Studies (MIAHS) and is the oldest acupuncture school in the state. It is accredited by the NCCAOM.

CenterPoint Massage & Shiatsu Therapy School is the local school of professional shiatsu bodywork and massage therapy