My professional association ASDC
The Acupuncture Society of the District of Columbia (ASDC) serves the public as well as practitioners of acupuncture and Chinese medicine. “Acupuncture” means the stimulation of a certain point or points on or near the surface of the body by the insertion of needles to prevent or modify the perception of pain or to normalize physiological functions, including pain control, for the treatment of certain diseases or dysfunctions of the body and includes the techniques of electroacupuncture, cupping, and moxibustion. Historically, Acupuncture includes not only meridian acupuncture, but also trigger point/Ashis point/dry needling , auricular, scalp, stomach acupuncture, and other kinds etc.
The criteria of top acupuncturist or best Chinese medicine practitioner may be very different from different perspectives.
Some patients may pay more attention on providers’ professional background, such as whether the provider had enough training in acupuncture or Chinese medicine, and whether the provider has experience in the field of patient’s condition, such as OB/GYN illness or disorder; However, some others may concern more about the affordable issue, it is not uncommon–some patients assume all acupuncturists or Chinese medicine practitioners had same quality in their training as long as they have license, and the patients may prefer to go the provider who charge patients less.
To my understanding and agreement with some of my fellow practitioners, the “Top Acupuncturists” or the “Best Chinese Medicine Practitioners” (Oriental Medicine Doctors- OMDs, Chinese Medicine Doctors- CMDs, etc) should have:
(1) Best education in acupuncture/Chinese Medicine: 3 years training in acupuncture (1400 to 1800 hours) is acceptable, but if the practitioner had 4,000 to 5,000 hours college/University training (such as in China), even better. Such providers may have master or doctor degree in Chinese Medicine / Acupuncture.
(2) Have post- college training and extensive clinical experience, such as internship, residency (in Chinese medicine hospital), etc. And, every sub-specially, if the doctor/practitioner also had apprenticeship with a famous Chinese medicine doctor, it will be a very good additional training.
(3) If possible. the provider has some specialty training, esp.hospital experience, such as Chinese Internal medicine, Chinese pediatrics, Chinese OB/GYN, Chinese dermatology, Chinese neurology, Chinese ENT, Chinese Ophthalmology, acupuncture (it is a specialty, also be used in other specialty as a therapy), etc.
(4) If the practitioner also had training in conventional medicine, even better. Because such practitioners understand how to bridge the Chinese medicine with western conventional medicine, help patients much broader and deeper.
(5) Treating patient with love and passion.
To find out DC licensed acupuncturists and also ASDC members, please go to http://dcacupuncture.org/find-practitioner/.