Best Acupuncture in Rochester?

Here’s a quick and helpful guide to finding the right acupuncture for you in Rochester!

We’re lucky to have so many excellent acupuncture practitioners in one city. So answering the question, “what is the best acupuncture in Rochester?” is truly next to impossible! With good reason, the answer is going to depend on each situation.

It often comes as a surprise to many folks, especially those new to acupuncture, to find out that there are many different styles of acupuncture - much like Western allopathic medicine, there are also many very specific specialties within the full scope of acupuncture and Eastern medicine.

So how do you find the right fit for you?

You’ll want to consider what you’re looking to have treated and find a practitioner that matches well with your condition.

You may have had good results, or even bad results from an acupuncture practitioner in the past; in almost every case, it’s a simple matter of lining up with the right fit. For instance, an acupuncturist who may be excellent at treating psycho-emotional conditions may have no interest in or experience with the treatment of musculoskeletal or orthopedic conditions, and vice versa. More often than not, in this way, it’s not so a much a matter of a practitioner being superior or inferior to another, it’s just a matter or syncing with the right person at the right time.

Things to consider:

• A good first step can be to find an acupuncturist that is your go-to, similar to how you might interface with a General Practitioner in Western medicine. One who is well rounded, perhaps with a handful of specialties that line up with your individual constitution and condition.

• It’s 100% O.K. to go to different practitioners for different conditions! A good acupuncturist will be more than willing to help you find complimentary care when they run into situations they’re not well suited to treat. This could be another acupuncturist that specializes in the tough condition that may arise, another modality all together, or possibly a combination of both.

• Personalty is important! It’s not everything, but having a healthy resonance with your acupuncturist can go a long way and be a huge part of your journey to better health; especially if it’s your go-to “general practitioner” acupuncturist. It’s not a terrible thing if you need to be referred out to a specialist occasionally that you don’t totally click with - just as long as you feel safe, comfortable and are receiving proper care.

• Does your acupuncturist practice ‘clean needle technique’? The answer should be yes. This is the highest standard and certification for an acupuncture practitioner.

• Credentials are important to an extent, but they don’t mean everything.

L.ac — Generally speaking, the most important credential is that of a licensed acupuncturist (L.ac), there are some practitioners that are grandfathered into acupuncture practice standards in the U.S. without modern acupuncture training, however the number is becoming increasingly few. While acupuncture is a very safe procedure, there are some situations that can be dangerous, getting care from an L.ac will ensure you are in good hands and are being treated by a practitioner who is throughly trained to avoid such situations. Licensed acupuncturists will also have a good baseline knowledge of Eastern medicine and related theories.

M.D. — Many medical doctors have seen the power of acupuncture in their clinical careers fist hand, so much so that some have taken the step to practice acupuncture themselves. Some of these practitioners might consider themselves to be ‘medical acupuncturists’. This can be a great choice for you if you feel more comfortable with a Western approach or you have a complex presentation and would prefer a practitioner who is well versed in Western medical practice. Many of the acupuncture training programs for Western medical professionals are unfortunately and necessarily somewhat abbreviated when it comes to Eastern medical theory, techniques and diagnosis (typically 150-300 credit hours vs. 2,500+ credit hours of an L.ac). So if you’d like a practitioner that has a strong Western medical lens balanced with a deep Eastern lens, it’s worth seeking out an M.D. who is also a board certified L.ac, has completed an accredited acupuncture program, or has otherwise immersed themselves in a path of continued education that is well suited to your needs.

Phd — Education! Lots of it. Medical education is indisputably a great thing. Like anything else, it’s incredibly important but not everything. If your acupuncturist holds a Phd in acupuncture and Eastern medicine, it’s likely they’ve chosen a specific path that they’re passionate about and have taken a deep dive into. Here like everything else, the key is balance: the balance of deep academic knowledge of a subject with real world clinical expertise and experience is a powerful combination.

DACM — Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese medicine — this is quickly becoming the standard for most board certified licensed acupuncturists. While all L.acs will have graduated with a Master of Science in Acupuncture and are well qualified to practice acupuncture, many are choosing to pursue acupuncture at the doctorate level. While there is perhaps less academic focus than a Phd, many DACMs are practitioners who are seeking to take their clinical practice to the next professional level. Like a Phd, and M.D., “Doctor” is a title that signifies a deeper commitment and exploration of the medicine, however a balance with clinical experience and clinical focus is always paramount.

• Clinic Feel — While perhaps not a ‘be all, end all’ when choosing an acupuncturist, this is important too! You want to feel comfortable where you’re receiving acupuncture. You may be one who feels more comfortable in a traditional “doctor’s office” setting; brightly lit, white lab coats, etc. or you might feel more comfortable in a clinic that is as far as possible from a doctor’s office; relaxed atmosphere, warm lighting, soft music — one is not objectively better than another! The one that you feel most comfortable in is the one that has a better chance of being a good fit for you. In many cases the style of a clinic will reflect the style of the practitioner, it’s worth spending a little time on a practitioner/clinic’s website and social media feeds to get a good sense of what you’d be experiencing and line up a with a clinic that you feel most drawn to.

• What modalities are offered?

In East Asian countries, it’s rare that a practitioner will practice all modalities of Eastern medicine — acupuncture, herbal medicine, qi gong, bodywork and lifestyle/dietary therapy. Typically a student will choose one path and stay solely dedicated to that modality.

Here in the United States, Licensed acupuncturists are typically trained in all aspects of Chinese medicine, to varying extents. While you can find practitioners who excel at all modalities, typically you’ll find acupuncturists who focus on only one or a combination of a few. In any case, best practice is to find the practitioner who focuses on the modalities and application of said modalities that will be most helpful for your situation. If you’re unsure, you can always reach out to a practitioner and kindly ask if your situation will be a good fit for the way they practice.

There are certainly more things worth considering, and perhaps we can dig into more detail in future blog posts, but hopefully this will give you a good place to start in your acupuncture journey.

I’m a big believer that a rising tide floats all ships, helping people find the right fit for their acupuncture needs is a net win for the practice of acupuncture as a whole. Feel free to reach out with any questions on this topic, would be happy to help you pointed in the direction of the best care possible.

Best,
Dr. Shamus