Imagine increasing your income by $100,000 a year while only practicing four days a week. If that idea appeals to you, think about expanding the scope of treatment you offer to include acupuncture.

Acupuncture has been internationally recognized as one of the simplest and most effective treatments for both chronic and acute pain. When acupuncture is paired with chiropractic, it creates a treatment modality that has few equals.

As you consider adding acupuncture to your practice, understand what it is — and what it isn’t:

• Acupuncture is not traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). TCM (also known as Oriental medicine) includes treating patients through herbal and botanical prescriptions as well as acupuncture. It is ancient in its derivations and is based on legend, myth, folklore and shamanism.

TCM can be quite effective in clinical practice when applied by a competent practitioner — but competency comes with years of experience.

• Acupuncture is a principle. Just like chiropractic, acupuncture is a principle — not a single

technique.

• Acupuncture is not just ‘pins and needles.’ It can be practiced with a variety of techniques and procedures, including noninvasive procedures that may appeal to the estimated 65 percent of Americans who experience “needle phobia” and would not consider traditional needle acupuncture, no matter their pain.

Modern acupuncture can be done through electronics and lasers to stimulate active acupuncture points. These noninvasive acupuncture techniques are also known as meridian therapy, utilized in physiotherapy modalities such as TENS (transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation) or ultrasound for therapeutic application.

• Acupuncture is an easily learned healing art. You can become competent by participating in an accelerated acupuncture program offered by any of nine chiropractic colleges. Most states require 100-300 hours of postgraduate education to practice acupuncture.

• Acupuncture is not just for pain relief. Most commonly, acupuncture is used as an adjunct to a chiropractic procedure and is also used for meridian balancing in the treatment of somato-viscero conditions. It is utilized as a general stimulation on tender spots in the area of pain termed “Ah-Shi” points or as a stimulation over surgical or other scar tissue that disrupts the body’s energy fields. And acupuncture is often used for accurate diagnosis through electro-meridian imaging.

A Rewarding Experience

Adding acupuncture to your practice may be one of the most personally rewarding procedures you can do. Patients leave your clinic relieved of pain.

And you cannot overlook the financial rewards. When acupuncture is applied through electronic stimulation, it is often billed as TENS. The procedure can be billed as trigger-point therapy or cutaneo viscero reflex therapy. Doctors practicing within the scope of their licenses may bill and receive third-party pay under “acupuncture.”

Many doctors establish acupuncture as a cash practice. Providing acupuncture treatments to only 10 patients a day ($40 each) and conducting two EMI exams a day ($50 each) adds up to $100,000 annually. Even if you have an established practice, it is never too late to add this dimension to your stable of skills and offerings.

Dr. John A. Amaro is a founding member of the American College of Chiropractic Acupuncture of the American Chiropractic Association and is the founder of the International Academy of Clinical Acupuncture. He continues to practice in Carefree, Ariz. He can be contacted through his Web site at www.IAMA.edu or by e-mail, DrAmaro@IAMA.edu