Celebrating National Acupuncture Day

Photo by aveoree.

I still remember my first experience with acupuncture. It’s the reason I practice this medicine. I was living in South Korea, where the pollution was so bad you could see and taste it and I was taking extra medications to try and control my allergy symptoms. I continued wheezing and just as I was about to throw in the towel and leave the country, a family member suggested acupuncture.

I walked into the nearest clinic where no one spoke English (my Korean was very poor). The doctor was surprised to see a foreigner but was very nice. He patted my arm and said “it’s okay!” He then felt my pulse, looked at my tongue, and gave me my first acupuncture treatment. It was incredible! I still remember how much better I felt after that first treatment. I went back three times a week for four months. By the end of that treatment regime, I was off all my allergy medications and I was feeling great.

I’ve been a firm believer in this medicine ever since, and started school at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine two weeks after we arrived home. Today is a special day for me, it’s National Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine day!

Today we celebrate the movement that created the healing clinics and centers, and the amazing practitioners who work around the world to help make changes in health care. I celebrate that we can choose what we want in terms of our own wellness, and take matters into our own hands by using preventative medicine. Acupuncture, herbal medicine, naturopathic medicine, massage, reiki, and all of the other wonderful techniques are treatments that do so much more than “fix us.” They heal us.

Photo by Shooting Nouns.

To celebrate, a lot of cities are set up with special rates on Saturday and other fun events. Check out the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine site. Don’t forget to take a look at the Acupuncture Today article that lists schools around the country that are celebrating National AOM day in style, with herbal teas, sample acupuncture treatments, lectures, and other fun ways to learn about Chinese medicine.

If you are fortunate enough to live in Portland, Oregon (like me!), then get out there and take a look at the massive acupuncture needle in our beautiful, if not a slightly damp city!

See what you can find in your city at the sites listed above, or check out acufinder.com for more information. Happy Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Day!

Amy Chitwood, L.Ac. is a graduate of the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine. She is nationally board certified in Chinese herbal medicine and manages the Portland Acupuncture Blog.