Acupuncture Schools

Slowly and steadily the use of Chinese medicine and acupuncture is gaining popularity in all parts of the world. Since President Nixon made his historical visit to China in 1972 and effectively opened the door from East to West, America has been undergoing an acupuncture craze.

Acupuncture is a vital component of the traditional Chinese medical system, wherein needles are inserted into the skin and underlying tissues, to treat an illness. A very ancient art, acupuncture has gained wide popularity as an alternative medicine over the past forty years. With such encouraging and promising results, the use of acupuncture has found a space not only in Chinese medical system and the developing countries, but also in developed nations like the US.

To spread this knowledge and education in the field of acupuncture, a number of acupuncture schools have opened up in different countries. The acupuncture schools aim at educating students; training them to be healers in the art, science and philosophy of acupuncture; and to be instructed in herbal and Oriental medicine.

The number of acupuncture schools in the United States has grown at a high rate since the creation of the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) and the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM) in 1982. Acupuncture schools offer a variety of graduate and undergraduate programs for students seeking a career as an acupuncturist. Acupuncture school education and training is approximately 3,000 credit hours.

Attaining a professional license as an acupuncturist, after taking up one of the courses in acupuncture, is rewarding in many ways.

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What is acupuncture?

The practice of piercing specific sites on the body, called pathways or meridians, with thin needles in an attempt to relieve pain associated with some chronic disorders.
An ancient Chinese method of healing. It aims to prevent and cure specific diseases and conditions by sticking very fine, solid needles into specific points on the body.
An ancient Chinese technique involving the insertion of fine needles just under the skin in specific locations in order to relieve pain and treat a wide variety of complaints. The World Health Organization says acupuncture can be beneficial in many medical conditions ranging from neurological and gastrointestinal to mental and emotional ones.