Acupuncture. Yes, that thing where people actually pay someone to stick needles in their body…but there's more to it than that. Most practitioners consider the needles only one part of a larger course of treatment that can include cupping, herbalism, and something called moxibustion (sounds awesome, doesn't it?). Put it all together, and you realize that "acupuncturist" is really just a simpler way of saying "someone who practices traditional Chinese medicine."

 

Recent cupping appointment or victim of rogue alien space squid? You be the judge. (Source)

Chances are decent the first time you saw acupuncture was in a movie or cartoon. The main character goes into a clinic, and before they know it, they're more porcupine than human. Ha…ha…yawn. But while the joke may be stale, it still manages to demonstrate an important component of practicing TCM (that's how the cool kids refer to "traditional Chinese medicine," by the way) in the West: Lots of people don't take this stuff seriously.

But hey, maybe you do take it seriously. That's great, because if you want to be making the $85,000 a year that master acupuncturists generally do, then you really sort of have to. You'll also have to be okay averaging at around $50,000 in the middle of your career (source). It's important to know that many people are not going to agree with your approach to medicine, and that could have an impact on you socially, professionally, and in some cases, legally.

The American scientific and medical community doesn't universally accept acupuncture as proven or effective, so laws regulating its practice are all over the place. In fact, it's so bad that in many states it hasn't even been entirely legal for all that long. If you want to practice this style of healthcare on other people, you're going to need to do some research on what your state requires before you even think about choosing a school.

So just what is this hotly debated poking, anyway? TCM peeps believe in qi (pronounced "chi," and sometimes like "key"). Qi is an invisible flow of energy present in all living things, and TCM folks believe that disruptions of this flow can cause just about any ailment we get. By applying the tips of needles to specific points in this energy's path, acupuncturists return a person's qi to balance, thereby curing what ails them.

 

"Oh hey, nice hair pin. Wait a second, that's not a—GAHH!" (Source)

Acupuncture has probably been around since people were living in caves, and there have been little to no changes in the field beyond the social reactions we were talking about earlier. In a sense, that's a good thing; unlike, say, neurology, once you've learned acupuncture, you've learned it. But in another sense, you may end up feeling restricted by tradition, especially after years of mastery. If chasing down new medical knowledge thrills you, acupuncture may not be the career path for you.

Acupuncture is a good career fit for a very specific kind of person. Not only do you need a firm grasp on ancient Chinese practices, culture, and religion, you must also stay in excellent health, be an incredible communicator, and have really steady hands. Acupuncturists can only succeed by attracting and maintaining patients, so being living, breathing proof that acupuncture does a body good is key.

Do these traits sound a bit like you? If so, grab yourself some needles (no, not the sewing needles...what's wrong with you?) and find a school. 

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