Dear CSOMA Community,

Thanks to everyone who joined us on Tuesday for Frank Turano-Cutler’s webinar, Esoteric Acupuncture Foundations Mini Course. The recording is now available on CSOMA’s YouTube channel.

Just added: Oct 13: Heart Stories: An Integrative Approach to Cardiovascular Health in TCM Practice — with Dennis von Elgg, LAc.

Just 5 days left for early bird pricing at our Oakland conference – register today!

Coming up:

• Aug 31: Signup deadline for CSOMA’s 2027 Call for Presenters

• Sept 8: Protecting Your Practice: Professional Responsibility and Practice Defensibility – with Ann Marie Trione, LAc

• Sept 24 & 25: CSOMA Conference & Expo 2026 in Oakland – Early Bird ends Aug 20!

• Oct 13: Heart Stories: An Integrative Approach to Cardiovascular Health in TCM Practice — with Dennis von Elgg, LAc

When: Tuesday, Sept 8 | 7-9PM PST
Where: Online: Register here
CEUs: 2 CAB(Category 1)
Registration: $32 for CSOMA Members, $80 for non-members, $0/FREE! No-credit option

Meet the speaker: Ann Marie Trione is a seasoned healthcare professional with over 25 years of diverse experience spanning clinical practice, medical professional liability, and public health academia. Currently, she serves as the Direct Account Manager for Acupuncture at the Medical Insurance Exchange of California (MIEC), where she guides acupuncturists through medical professional liability coverage and advances risk management education.

About the class: This course examines how professional liability coverage, California laws and regulations, ethical obligations, and practice defensibility intersect when adverse events and claims arise. Through discussion of common claim trends and real-world scenarios, participants will explore the professional responsibilities that are most
often scrutinized during complaints, claims, and Board investigations, and gain practical strategies to strengthen defensibility, reduce professional risk, and better protect their patients, practice, and license.

Course objectives:

• Explain the purpose and limitations of professional liability insurance and how coverage responds to complaints, claims, and Board investigations.

• Identify key California laws, regulations, and ethical responsibilities that influence professional liability exposure and practice defensibility.

• Recognize common adverse events and claim scenarios in acupuncture practice and understand how they may progress into complaints, investigations, or malpractice claims.

• Evaluate how informed consent, documentation, communication, and professional conduct influence the defensibility of a case.

• Apply practical strategies to strengthen defensibility, reduce professional risk, and better protect patients, practice, and licensure.

Learn more here

Community Bulletin

Integrative TCM Pediatrics Training

Expand your clinical skills with this hands-on pediatric workshop led by Dr. Robyn Adcock, DACM, LAc (Director of Integrative Medicine, UCSF Stad Center). Master Japanese shonishin, pediatric acupressure, and family communication through live patient demonstrations. Open to practitioners and acupuncture students nationwide.

• Dates: September 28–29, 2026 (9:00 AM – 6:00 PM)

• Location: UCSF, San Francisco, CA

• CEUs: 16 Category 1 CA CEUs (includes 4 ethics hours)

• Eligibility: Licensed Acupuncturists & Acupuncture Students

See full details and registration here.

Thank you for reading,

CSOMA

CSOMA Partners

CSOMA is grateful to the partners who support our work and the broader acupuncture community. Their partnership helps sustain our advocacy and education efforts. Please support them!

Meet all our industry partners

Advertise Join CSOMA Subscribe

Dear CSOMA Community,

Join us this Tuesday, Aug 11 for an Esoteric Foundations Mini-Course with Frank Turano-Cutler! Frank usually teaches over multi-day in-person intensives, so we are especially excited to have him share this knowledge in a short-form webinar. Sign up today!

And – just a quick heads up that our Oakland conference is starting to fill up. Since our venue can accommodate up to ~90 attendees, we encourage you to save your spot and register today!

And on that topic, a few words from one of our fabulous presenters, Dr. Jenny Nieters:

Coming up:

• Aug 11: Esoteric Acupuncture Foundations Mini Course – with Frank Turano-Cutler, LAc

• Aug 31: Signup deadline for CSOMA’s 2027 Call for Presenters

• Sept 8: Protecting Your Practice: Professional Responsibility and Practice Defensibility – with Ann Marie Trione, LAc

• Sept 24 & 25: CSOMA Conference & Expo 2026 in Oakland – Early Bird ends Aug 20!

When: Tuesday, August 11 | 7-9PM PST
Where: Online --> Register here
CEUs: 2 CAB(Category 1)
Registration: $32 for CSOMA Members, $80 for non-members, $0/FREE! No-credit option

Meet the speaker: Frank Turano-Cutler, LAc is an acupuncturist and educator with over 15 years of clinical experience as the owner of Healing Path Acupuncture in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. His practice centers on Esoteric Acupuncture, alongside Meridian Style and medical acupuncture. A longtime student of Dr. Mikio Sankey, Frank now teaches NCCAOM- and CAB-approved courses, sharing both foundational and advanced clinical applications.

About the class: This course will give practitioners a brief exposure to the theories of Esoteric Acupuncture. We will also detail one pattern, Esoteric Shaoyin Heart Pattern. I will explain point locations, a visualization that accompanies this pattern, and the pattern's basic theory.

Course objectives:

• Outline how sacred geometry, Tree of Life, fits into acupuncture

• Expand the consciousness of the practitioner and their clients

• Describe how Esoteric Acupuncture is designed to treat wellness and the modern human

• Align oneself with their center and Higher Heart Centers

• Detail Esoteric Shaoyin Heart Pattern to be used in clinic settings

Learn more here

Thank you for reading,

CSOMA

CSOMA Partners

CSOMA is grateful to the partners who support our work and the broader acupuncture community. Their partnership helps sustain our advocacy and education efforts. Please support them!

Meet all our industry partners

Advertise Join CSOMA Subscribe

Dear CSOMA Community,

Last chance! Sign up for tomorrow’s 21st San Francisco Intl. Symposium on Chinese Medicine: Modern Clinical Approaches to Brain Health and save 30% with discount code CSOMA2026.

Thanks to all the amazing speakers who’ve applied for CSOMA’s 2027 educational program. If you’d like to join, complete the CSOMA 2027 Call for Presenters form by August 31, 2026. New and returning speakers are welcome!

Coming up:

• Aug 11: Esoteric Acupuncture Foundations Mini Course – with Frank Turano-Cutler, L.Ac.

• Sept 8: Protecting Your Practice: Professional Responsibility and Practice Defensibility – with Ann Marie Trione, L.Ac.

• Sept 24 & 25: CSOMA Conference & Expo 2026 in Oakland – Early Bird ends Aug 20!

When: Tuesday, August 11 | 7-9PM PST
Where: Online --> Register here
CEUs: 2 CAB(Category 1)
Registration: $32 for CSOMA Members, $80 for non-members, $0/FREE! No-credit option

Meet the speaker: Frank Turano-Cutler, LAc is an acupuncturist and educator with over 15 years of clinical experience as the owner of Healing Path Acupuncture in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. His practice centers on Esoteric Acupuncture, alongside Meridian Style and medical acupuncture. A longtime student of Dr. Mikio Sankey, Frank now teaches NCCAOM- and CAB-approved courses, sharing both foundational and advanced clinical applications.

About the class: This course will give practitioners a brief exposure to the theories of Esoteric Acupuncture. We will also detail one pattern, Esoteric Shaoyin Heart Pattern. I will explain point locations, a visualization that accompanies this pattern, and the pattern's basic theory.

Course objectives:

• Outline how sacred geometry, Tree of Life, fits into acupuncture

• Expand the consciousness of the practitioner and their clients

• Describe how Esoteric Acupuncture is designed to treat wellness and the modern human

• Align oneself with their center and Higher Heart Centers

• Detail Esoteric Shaoyin Heart Pattern to be used in clinic settings

Learn more here

Community Bulletin

21st San Francisco International Symposium on Chinese Medicine: Modern Clinical Approaches to Brain Health

Sign up for an engaging virtual symposium featuring five distinguished professors. Each speaker will present on a unique topic, followed by a live Q&A session.

• Sunday Aug 2, 12pm-8pm PST (3pm-11pm EST)

• Practitioners may earn 8 California CEUs/6.5 NCBHAM PDAs/Florida CEUs (pending approval & live attendance)

• Bilingual lectures will be offered, supporting both English and Chinese participation

• Use promo code CSOMA2026 at checkout for 30% off. Students may register free of charge.

Vote for CSOMA president, Dr. Julie Tran-Olive!

Dr. Julie is currently in the running for New York's Next Runway Star. If Julie wins, she has the opportunity to walk the red carpet at New York Fashion Week, with a chance to win $20,000.

Julie is a member of ASDAH (Association for Size Diversity and Health) and believes that health and beauty come in all sizes. With the winnings, Julie plans to create an initiative to help people who have previously been "overlooked because of financial barriers or body size," with the hopes of assisting more individuals gain access to holistic healthcare and "confidence-building resources" within the wellness industry. 

LET'S GET OUT THE VOTE!!! Each person is allowed one vote per day, with an option to submit more votes, when a donation is made. Donations go towards RISE, a non-profit supporting sexual assault survivors both nationally and internationally. If Julie gets enough votes by Monday, she will automatically advance to the next round. Let's help get Julie on the red carpet!

Cast your vote here - before Monday!

Thank you for reading,

CSOMA

CSOMA Partners

CSOMA is grateful to the partners who support our work and the broader acupuncture community. Their partnership helps sustain our advocacy and education efforts. Please support them!

Meet all our industry partners

Advertise Join CSOMA Subscribe

Dear CSOMA Community,

Thanks to everyone who joined us on Tuesday for Emily Von Urff’s webinar, An Acupuncturist’s Guide to Social Media. The recording is now available on CSOMA’s YouTube channel. (PS: Here’s an example of Emily’s work in action.)

And, a shoutout to Carly Rodriguez who represented Treasure of the East and shared their upcoming Trip to China 2026 – spots still may be available!

Speaking of awesome presenters, we’re officially accepting applications for our 2027 lineup. Complete the CSOMA 2027 Call for Presenters form by August 31, 2026. New and returning speakers are welcome!

And finally, mark your calendars for the August 11th Esoteric Acupuncture Foundations Mini Course with Frank Turano-Cutler.

Coming up:

• Aug 2: The 21st San Francisco Intl. Symposium on Chinese Medicine: TCM Brain vs AI Brain - save 30% with discount code CSOMA2026

• Aug 11: Esoteric Acupuncture Foundations Mini Course

• Sept 24 & 25: CSOMA Conference & Expo 2026 in Oakland – Early Bird ends Aug 20!

When: Tuesday, August 11 | 7-9PM PST
Where: Online --> Register here
CEUs: 2 CAB(Category 1)
Registration: $32 for CSOMA Members, $80 for non-members, $0/FREE! No-credit option

Meet the speaker: Frank Turano-Cutler, LAc is an acupuncturist and educator with over 15 years of clinical experience as the owner of Healing Path Acupuncture in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. His practice centers on Esoteric Acupuncture, alongside Meridian Style and medical acupuncture. A longtime student of Dr. Mikio Sankey, Frank now teaches NCCAOM- and CAB-approved courses, sharing both foundational and advanced clinical applications.

About the class: This course will give practitioners a brief exposure to the theories of Esoteric Acupuncture. We will also detail one pattern, Esoteric Shaoyin Heart Pattern. I will explain point locations, a visualization that accompanies this pattern, and the pattern's basic theory.

Course objectives:

• Outline how sacred geometry, Tree of Life, fits into acupuncture

• Expand the consciousness of the practitioner and their clients

• Describe how Esoteric Acupuncture is designed to treat wellness and the modern human

• Align oneself with their center and Higher Heart Centers

• Detail Esoteric Shaoyin Heart Pattern to be used in clinic settings

Learn more here

Community Bulletin

21st San Francisco International Symposium on Chinese Medicine: TCM Brain vs AI Brain

Sign up for an engaging virtual symposium featuring five distinguished professors. Each speaker will present on a unique topic, followed by a live Q&A session, offering their insights into the clinical applications of AI in TCM.

• Sunday Aug 2, 12pm-8pm PST (3pm-11pm EST)

• Practitioners may earn 8 California CEUs/6.5 NCBHAM PDAs/Florida CEUs (pending approval & live attendance)

• Bilingual lectures will be offered, supporting both English and Chinese participation

• Use promo code CSOMA2026 at checkout for 30% off. Students may register free of charge.

Thank you for reading,

CSOMA

CSOMA Partners

CSOMA is grateful to the partners who support our work and the broader acupuncture community. Their partnership helps sustain our advocacy and education efforts. Please support them!

Meet all our industry partners

Advertise Join CSOMA Subscribe

Dear CSOMA Community,

Welcome to your quick digest of upcoming events and professional development opportunities. We’ve got two updates for you this week:

• This Tuesday: Social Media Success Elevate your practice's online presence with Emily Von Urff’s upcoming class, An Acupuncturist’s Guide to Social Media. (And be sure to check out Emily’s latest post!)

• September Conference: Now CAB-Approved We’re officially approved by the California Acupuncture Board for our upcoming Oakland conference. Join us this September to connect with your peers and earn 10 CEUs. Register now and save (early bird ends Aug 20)

Have a great rest of your weekend, and we hope to see you Tuesday!

Coming up:

• July 14: Emily Von Urff: An Acupuncturist’s Guide to Social Media

• Aug 2: The 21st San Francisco Intl. Symposium on Chinese Medicine: TCM Brain vs AI Brain - save 30% with discount code CSOMA2026

• Aug 11: Esoteric Acupuncture Foundations Mini Course

• Sept 24 & 25: CSOMA Conference & Expo 2026 in Oakland

When: Tuesday, July 14 | 7-9PM PST
Where: Online --> Register here
CEUs: 2 CAB(Category 2)
Registration: $32 for CSOMA Members, $80 for non-members, $0/FREE! No-credit option

👏 Thank you, Treasure of the East for sponsoring this webinar! 🎉

Meet the speaker: Emily Von Urff is the founder of Wellspring Media Collective and a writer with over a decade of experience in media. Merging her interests in storytelling and medicine, Emily helps acupuncturists and TCM brands increase their digital presences and create content based on their unique offerings. Through both her media work and studies, she is dedicated to using social media to elevate and rebrand the medicine for the digital age. Emily graduated from the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York University and is currently a 4th year master’s student and intern at Yo San University.

About the class: In this course, we will explore the current state of TCM online and how you can start creating a digital presence for yourself and your practice. We will compare emerging social media platforms and identify which align with your creative strengths – plus, we will address common blocks and problems that come with content creation as a medical professional. Come with your phones, ready to scroll, post, and have fun!

In this course, you will learn:

• Why utilizing social media is a critical strategy and tool for your practice

• About the current landscape of TCM online and the trajectory of our industry on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Substack, etc.

• Which online platforms are best for your strengths & goals

• Common mental blocks for content creation and solutions to overcome them

• The dos & don’ts of making content as a medical professional

Learn more here

Community Bulletin

Turnkey Acupuncture Business with Proven Growth in OR/WA (ORM102)

Rare opportunity to acquire an established acupuncture and TCM practice operating across two locations in Oregon and Washington, offering immediate scale and regional presence. The practice consistently attracts an average of 22 new patients per month into professionally designed, fully built-out clinical spaces. Ideal transition for an owner-operator or practitioner looking to expand. Contact Ateah Wright at 503-781-9786 or ateah@omni-pg.com. Lic.#201238981 (ORM102). NDA Request: https://omni-pg.com/listing/orm102/

Sponsored

21st San Francisco International Symposium on Chinese Medicine: TCM Brain vs AI Brain

Sign up for an engaging virtual symposium featuring five distinguished professors. Each speaker will present on a unique topic, followed by a live Q&A session, offering their insights into the clinical applications of AI in TCM.

• Sunday Aug 2, 12pm-8pm PST (3pm-11pm EST)

• Practitioners may earn 8 California CEUs/6.5 NCBHAM PDAs/Florida CEUs (pending approval & live attendance)

• Bilingual lectures will be offered, supporting both English and Chinese participation

• Use promo code CSOMA2026 at checkout for 30% off. Students may register free of charge.

Thank you for reading,

CSOMA

CSOMA Partners

CSOMA is grateful to the partners who support our work and the broader acupuncture community. Their partnership helps sustain our advocacy and education efforts. Please support them!

Meet all our industry partners

Advertise Join CSOMA Subscribe

Dear CSOMA Community,

After an active legislative season this past spring, we’re looking forward to an enriching summer of learning. Have a look at our upcoming calendar, and we hope to see you both online and in person.

Coming up:

• July 14: Emily Von Urff: An Acupuncturist’s Guide to Social Media

• Aug 2: The 21st San Francisco Intl. Symposium on Chinese Medicine: TCM Brain vs AI Brain - use discount code CSOMA2026, plus Call for Papers

• Aug 11: Esoteric Acupuncture Foundations Mini Course

• Sept 24 & 25: CSOMA Conference & Expo 2026 in Oakland

When: Tuesday, July 14 | 7-9PM PST
Where: Online --> Register here
CEUs: 2 CAB(Category 2)
Registration: $32 for CSOMA Members, $80 for non-members, $0/FREE! No-credit option

👏 Thank you, Treasure of the East for sponsoring this webinar! 🎉

Meet the speaker: Emily Von Urff is the founder of Wellspring Media Collective and a writer with over a decade of experience in media. Merging her interests in storytelling and medicine, Emily helps acupuncturists and TCM brands increase their digital presences and create content based on their unique offerings. Through both her media work and studies, she is dedicated to using social media to elevate and rebrand the medicine for the digital age. Emily graduated from the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York University and is currently a 4th year master’s student and intern at Yo San University.

About the class: In this course, we will explore the current state of TCM online and how you can start creating a digital presence for yourself and your practice. We will compare emerging social media platforms and identify which align with your creative strengths – plus, we will address common blocks and problems that come with content creation as a medical professional. Come with your phones, ready to scroll, post, and have fun!

In this course, you will learn:

• Why utilizing social media is a critical strategy and tool for your practice

• About the current landscape of TCM online and the trajectory of our industry on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Substack, etc.

• Which online platforms are best for your strengths & goals

• Common mental blocks for content creation and solutions to overcome them

• The dos & don’ts of making content as a medical professional

Learn more here

Community Bulletin

21st San Francisco International Symposium on Chinese Medicine: TCM Brain vs AI Brain

Sign up for an engaging virtual symposium featuring five distinguished professors. Each speaker will present on a unique topic, followed by a live Q&A session, offering their insights into the clinical applications of AI in TCM.

• Sunday Aug 2, 12pm-8pm PST (3pm-11pm EST)

• Practitioners may earn 8 California CEUs/6.5 NCBHAM PDAs/Florida CEUs (pending approval & live attendance)

• Bilingual lectures will be offered, supporting both English and Chinese participation

• Use promo code CSOMA2026 at checkout for 30% off. Students may register free of charge.

Call for Papers – 21st San Francisco International Conference
Theme: TCM Brain × AI Brain: Focus on Clinical Application

This conference aims to advance the integration of TCM clinical practice with AI technology, building a practical and international academic platform for global knowledge exchange. We warmly invite clinicians, researchers, and AI practitioners worldwide to contribute and advance the modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

• Deadline: June 30, 2026

• Review: Mid June to Early July, 2026

• Acceptance: Early July, 2026

• Conference: August 02, 2026（Zoom)

• Please submit to: aacma24ceu@gmail.com

Thank you for reading,

CSOMA

CSOMA Partners

CSOMA is grateful to the partners who support our work and the broader acupuncture community. Their partnership helps sustain our advocacy and education efforts. Please support them!

Meet all our industry partners

Advertise Join CSOMA Subscribe

Dear CSOMA Community,

Medi-Cal updates are as follows:

• AB 1949 passed in the Senate. Now referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee. This is the bill that allows for up 24 visits a year and takes out the restriction of only 2 Acupuncture visits per month for Medi-Cal recipients using acupuncture.

• SB 944 crossed over and passed in the Assembly. Now referred to the Assembly Apropriations committee. This bill protects Acupuncture has a covered benefit for Medi-Cal recipients whether or not there are matching federal funds.

Please stay tuned for next steps.

Thanks to all who attended Dan Bensky’s webinar. You can find the replay on our Youtube channel. Class notes can be found here.

ACAHM is soliciting input via a straw poll (an informal, non-binding vote used to gauge opinion) about possible program changes.

Poll closes June 21st. Please contribute your opinion here: Straw Poll Survey for Program Revision Proposals

Coming up:

• July 14: Emily Von Urff: An Acupuncturist’s Guide to Social Media

• Aug 2: The 21st San Francisco Intl. Symposium on Chinese Medicine: TCM Brain vs AI Brain - use discount code CSOMA2026, plus Call for Papers

• Sept 24 & 25: CSOMA Conference & Expo 2026 in Oakland

When: Tuesday, July 14 | 7-9PM PST
Where: Online --> Register here
CEUs: 2 CAB(Category 2)
Registration: $32 for CSOMA Members, $80 for non-members, $0/FREE! No-credit option

Meet the speaker: Emily Von Urff is the founder of Wellspring Media Collective and a writer with over a decade of experience in media. Merging her interests in storytelling and medicine, Emily helps acupuncturists and TCM brands increase their digital presences and create content based on their unique offerings. Through both her media work and studies, she is dedicated to using social media to elevate and rebrand the medicine for the digital age. Emily graduated from the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York University and is currently a 4th year master’s student and intern at Yo San University.

About the class: In this course, we will explore the current state of TCM online and how you can start creating a digital presence for yourself and your practice. We will compare emerging social media platforms and identify which align with your creative strengths – plus, we will address common blocks and problems that come with content creation as a medical professional. Come with your phones, ready to scroll, post, and have fun!

In this course, you will learn:

• Why utilizing social media is a critical strategy and tool for your practice

• About the current landscape of TCM online and the trajectory of our industry on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Substack, etc.

• Which online platforms are best for your strengths & goals

• Common mental blocks for content creation and solutions to overcome them

• The dos & don’ts of making content as a medical professional

Learn more here

Community Bulletin

Call for Papers – 21st San Francisco International Conference
Theme: TCM Brain × AI Brain: Focus on Clinical Application

This conference aims to advance the integration of TCM clinical practice with AI technology, building a practical and international academic platform for global knowledge exchange. We warmly invite clinicians, researchers, and AI practitioners worldwide to contribute and advance the modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

• Deadline: June 30, 2026

• Review: Mid June to Early July, 2026

• Acceptance: Early July, 2026

• Conference: August 02, 2026（Zoom)

• Please submit to: aacma24ceu@gmail.com

Thank you for reading,

CSOMA

CSOMA Partners

CSOMA is grateful to the partners who support our work and the broader acupuncture community. Their partnership helps sustain our advocacy and education efforts. Please support them!

Meet all our industry partners

Advertise Join CSOMA Subscribe

Dear CSOMA Community,

Acupuncture is on the chopping block again in the 2026-27 Medi-Cal budget, and we need your voice!

• Click the “Compose Email” button (or your email provider button) to launch a pre-written petition addressed to 28 key state legislators.

• Add your name to the bottom of the ready-to-send message before the critical mid-June budget vote.

• Send the email to urge lawmakers to preserve acupuncture services in the 2026-27 Medi-Cal budget.

Together, we can protect this essential health service for the 15 million Californians who rely on Medi-Cal.

We’d like to thank our many new members and organizations for signing up or donating to CSOMA in the last few weeks. Special thanks to the Korean Acupuncture and Asian Medicine Association (KAAMA) for supporting our collective efforts on behalf of 12k+ California licensed acupuncturists.

Coming up:

• Last chance to register! June 9: Dan Bensky: Utility of Palpation in Traditional East Asian Medicine Webinar

• Aug 2: The 21st San Francisco Intl. Symposium on Chinese Medicine: TCM Brain vs AI Brain - use discount code CSOMA2026

• Registration now OPEN! Sept 24 & 25: CSOMA Conference & Expo 2026 in Oakland

When: Tuesday, June 9 | 7-9PM PST
Where: Online --> Register here
CEUs: 2 CAB(Category 1)
Registration: $32 for CSOMA Members, $80 for non-members, $0/FREE! No-credit option

Meet the speaker: Dan Bensky, D.O. My qualifications include a diploma in Chinese medicine from the Macau Institute of Chinese Medicine (1975), a DO from Michigan State University COM (1982), a Masters in Classical Chinese from the University of Washington (1996), and a Doctorate in the Discussion of Cold Damage from the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (2006). I have helped write such books as Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica and the Discussion of Cold Damage with Commentaries for the Clinic. I have been fortunate enough to study with great osteopathic teachers including Jean-Pierre Barral and Robert Fulford and have been sharing what I’ve learned for over 40 years.

About the class: Traditional East Asian Medicine (TEAM) is a dynamic tradition that, while largely text-based, requires genuine engagement rather than rigid adherence to protocols. The gentle diagnostic touch of palpation can serve as a crucial tool for helping patients with TEAM. Course objectives include:

• Understanding our approach to TEAM's core conceptual framework

• Understanding the ramifications of the concept that "the response is the treatment"

• Understanding some of the basic parameters of effective palpation in acupuncture.

• Identifying the phenomena of overtreatment and know how to respond.

• Learning some of the styles of acupuncture that focus on palpation and how to access ways to learn them.

• Understanding the basics of the Engaging Vitality technique called "Qi Signal Assessment" and how to practice it.

Learn more here

We’re excited to welcome back Dr. Jenny Nieters along with Joshua Margolis and Dr. Jamie Hampton for CSOMA’s 4th Annual Conference & Expo in Oakland!

Community Bulletin

Practice for sale in Providence, RI
After years building the practice of my dreams, I met the man of my dreams and married him this April. His work is taking us to NYC, and I am seeking an enthusiastic, heart-centered, and capable acupuncturist (or acupuncturists) to take the helm of a profitable, all-cash clinic with multiple opportunities for growth in a great city with loyal and loving patients. View the listing for photos and more information.
Contact:
Bess Randles, DACM
bess@moonspring.co

Thank you for reading,

CSOMA

CSOMA Partners

CSOMA is grateful to the partners who support our work and the broader acupuncture community. Their partnership helps sustain our advocacy and education efforts. Please support them!

Meet all our industry partners

Advertise Join CSOMA Subscribe

Dear CSOMA Community,

We are thrilled to announce as of TODAY 5/28/26, AB2497 has been defeated:

• AB 2497 did not pass the assembly floor vote today

• They needed 41 yay votes and only got 25

• PT strategy is to keep coming back. We remain vigilant and proactive on this issue. Join the Winning Team here at CSOMA so we can stay strong in our fight to keep acupuncture needles in the hands of licensed acupuncturists!

Next: ensuring Medi-Cal benefits for acupuncture remain intact.

In other news:

• June 9: Dan Bensky: Utility of Palpation in Traditional East Asian Medicine Webinar

• Sept 24-25/Thurs-Fri, CSOMA Fall Conference in Oakland — Save the Date!

When: Tuesday, June 9 | 7-9PM PST
Where: Online --> Register here
CEUs: 2 CAB(Category 1)
Registration: $32 for CSOMA Members, $80 for non-members, $0/FREE! No-credit option

Meet the speaker: Dan Bensky, D.O. My qualifications include a diploma in Chinese medicine from the Macau Institute of Chinese Medicine (1975), a DO from Michigan State University COM (1982), a Masters in Classical Chinese from the University of Washington (1996), and a Doctorate in the Discussion of Cold Damage from the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (2006). I have helped write such books as Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica and the Discussion of Cold Damage with Commentaries for the Clinic. I have been fortunate enough to study with great osteopathic teachers including Jean-Pierre Barral and Robert Fulford and have been sharing what I’ve learned for over 40 years.

About the class: Traditional East Asian Medicine (TEAM) is a dynamic tradition that, while largely text-based, requires genuine engagement rather than rigid adherence to protocols. The gentle diagnostic touch of palpation can serve as a crucial tool for helping patients with TEAM. Course objectives include:

• Understanding our approach to TEAM's core conceptual framework

• Understanding the ramifications of the concept that "the response is the treatment"

• Understanding some of the basic parameters of effective palpation in acupuncture.

• Identifying the phenomena of overtreatment and know how to respond.

• Learning some of the styles of acupuncture that focus on palpation and how to access ways to learn them.

• Understanding the basics of the Engaging Vitality technique called "Qi Signal Assessment" and how to practice it.

Learn more here

Thank you for reading,

CSOMA

CSOMA Partners

CSOMA is grateful to the partners who support our work and the broader acupuncture community. Their partnership helps sustain our advocacy and education efforts. Please support them!

Meet all our industry partners

Advertise Join CSOMA Subscribe

Dear CSOMA Community,

We are pleased to announce AB 2497 was amended to remove dry needling at the May 14th Assemby Appropriations Committee Hearing (announced at 2:25:25).

This achievement is the direct result of our community coming together with one clear, unified voice. We want to extend our deepest gratitude to our dedicated members, the many licensed acupuncturists (including many out-of-state practitioners) students, and patients who stepped forward to advocate for our profession. Whether you traveled to Sacramento, testified at hearings, submitted letters, or shared your stories, your individual contribution made this collective win possible.

A special thanks goes out to the California Acupuncture Coalition (CAC) along with the tireless work of Niccolo De Luca and his team at Townsend Public Affairs.

While we celebrate this milestone, we remain vigilant and proactive. Legislative history shows us that efforts to expand scope into dry needling often resurface in future sessions. Our success today creates a powerful precedent, but our work is not done.

CSOMA will continue to monitor all legislative developments closely. We ask for your continued commitment and engagement as we remain prepared to defend our profession and the safety of the public whenever necessary.

Together, we made this possible. Thank you for standing with us!

In other news:

• Thanks to all who attended last week’s webinar with Joshua Margolis: In the Footsteps of Hua Tuo: Segmental Acupuncture and You. A replay of the webinar can be found on our YouTube channel.

When: Tuesday, June 9 | 7-9PM PST
Where: Online --> Register here
CEUs: 2 CAB(Category 1)
Registration: $32 for CSOMA Members, $80 for non-members, $0/FREE! No-credit option

Meet the speaker: Dan Bensky, D.O. My qualifications include a diploma in Chinese medicine from the Macau Institute of Chinese Medicine (1975), a DO from Michigan State University COM (1982), a Masters in Classical Chinese from the University of Washington (1996), and a Doctorate in the Discussion of Cold Damage from the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (2006). I have helped write such books as Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica and the Discussion of Cold Damage with Commentaries for the Clinic. I have been fortunate enough to study with great osteopathic teachers including Jean-Pierre Barral and Robert Fulford and have been sharing what I’ve learned for over 40 years.

About the class: Traditional East Asian Medicine (TEAM) is a dynamic tradition that, while largely text-based, requires genuine engagement rather than rigid adherence to protocols. The gentle diagnostic touch of palpation can serve as a crucial tool for helping patients with TEAM. Course objectives include:

• Understanding our approach to TEAM's core conceptual framework

• Understanding the ramifications of the concept that "the response is the treatment"

• Understanding some of the basic parameters of effective palpation in acupuncture.

• Identifying the phenomena of overtreatment and know how to respond.

• Learning some of the styles of acupuncture that focus on palpation and how to access ways to learn them.

• Understanding the basics of the Engaging Vitality technique called "Qi Signal Assessment" and how to practice it.

Learn more here

Thank you for reading,

CSOMA

CSOMA Partners

CSOMA is grateful to the partners who support our work and the broader acupuncture community. Their partnership helps sustain our advocacy and education efforts. Please support them!

Meet all our industry partners

Advertise Join CSOMA Subscribe

Dear CSOMA Community,

Thanks to a truly wonderful group of members, speakers, board members, exhibitors, and students who joined us in LA last weekend! A special thanks to the Yo San community for hosting our Spring Conference and providing such a welcoming space once again.

This week’s news:

• AB 2497 is set for hearing on May 14 by the Appropriations Committee. We remain in active opposition and are collaborating with key leaders across the profession to coordinate with our lobbyist and ensure our position is heard loud and clear.

• 5/15 CAB Meeting: See meeting agenda here.

• 5/12 Webinar: In the Footsteps of Hua Tuo: Segmental Acupuncture and You

• Save the Date! Sept 24-25/Thurs-Fri, CSOMA Fall Conference in Oakland

• Community Bulletin: Wabbo, Acu-Care, and Member appreciation

When: Tuesday, May 12 | 7-9PM PST
Where: Online --> Register here
CEUs: 2 CAB(Category 1)
Registration: $32 for CSOMA Members, $80 for non-members, $0/FREE! No-credit option

Meet the speaker: Joshua Margolis, LAc, DAc, DOMTP is a seasoned acupuncturist and instructor with over 20 years of full-time clinical experience. His practice in Santa Rosa integrates medical acupuncture, dry needling, and advanced manual therapies. He specializes in treating musculoskeletal conditions and chronic pain with a highly precise, hands-on, clinically grounded approach.

About the class: You may not use the term “segmental acupuncture,” but you’re already applying its principles—whether needling Back Shu points, Hua Tuo Jia Ji, or distal points that influence pain and internal disorders. Points like SP6 or KD3 are effective for fertility and low back pain because they share spinal segmental innervation with the uterus and sacroiliac region. Understanding how acupuncture points map onto segmental anatomy can refine your assessments and improve outcomes—especially with challenging cases involving referred pain, visceral symptoms, or autonomic imbalance.

Learn more here

Welcome WABBO!

CSOMA is proud to welcome The WABBO Company as our newest Bronze Partner! A trailblazer for over 27 years, WABBO is a premier, California-based manufacturer and wholesaler of high-quality acupuncture and medical supplies. From their meticulously tested signature needles to herbal remedies and TDP heat lamps, WABBO is dedicated to providing acupuncturists with exceptional products and personalized service.

Visit WABBO today to explore their extensive collection of clinic essentials.

Welcome back, Acu-Care!

As a renewing Bronze Partner, Acu-Care remains a steadfast advocate for California’s licensed acupuncturists. Since 1994, they have played a vital role in our profession by navigating the complexities of insurance credentialing and supporting the growth of local practices. We are grateful for their continued commitment to our association and their long-standing partnership in advancing the field of acupuncture.

Visit acucare.com to see how their experienced team can help support your practice.

Thank you, members ❤️

We’d like to thank the many professionals, students and supporting members for joining CSOMA during this busy legislative time, including:

Robin Hays, LAc – Jade Circle Member
Dr. Lloyd Walton, LAc – Professional Member
Kimberly Gilmore, LAc – Professional Member

And to our current and longtime members: your dues support our work year after year… Thank you!

Thank you for reading,

CSOMA

CSOMA Partners

CSOMA is grateful to the partners who support our work and the broader acupuncture community. Their partnership helps sustain our advocacy and education efforts. Please support them!

Meet all our industry partners

Advertise Join CSOMA Subscribe

Dear CSOMA Community,

As we continue to OPPOSE AB 2497 (dry needling), we are asking those of you in Alameda and Contra Costa counties to customize and sign this opposition letter and email a copy to acupuncture lobbyist Niccolo De Luca (ndeluca@townsendpa.com) no later than Friday, May 8. His team is printing and hand-delivering each letter to the Capitol.

At this stage, advocacy is best done through formal letters rather than direct outreach to the Chair or committee members.

To recap, AB 2497 is moving to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, chaired by Assembly Member Buffy Wicks. This is a fiscal committee, not a policy committee, and it does not hold public discussions like that past committee did. Its role is to evaluate the bill’s financial impact on the state, and the opposition letter is written with that in mind.

Our priority now is to gather opposition letters from schools and licensed acupuncturists in Contra Costa and Alameda counties, especially in the following cities: Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond, San Pablo, Piedmont, El Cerrito, Pinole, Albany, and Hercules.

It is imperative that we take action on this bill, right away. THANK YOU!

Thank you for supporting this important effort, and see you in LA this weekend!

Free Registration to Students

Now offering FREE registration to students at our upcoming conference in LA!

When: Tuesday, May 12 | 7-9PM PST
Where: Online --> Register here
CEUs: 2 CAB(Category 1)
Registration: $32 for CSOMA Members, $80 for non-members, $0/FREE! No-credit option

Meet the speaker: Joshua Margolis, LAc, DAc, DOMTP is a seasoned acupuncturist and instructor with over 20 years of full-time clinical experience. His practice in Santa Rosa integrates medical acupuncture, dry needling, and advanced manual therapies. He specializes in treating musculoskeletal conditions and chronic pain with a highly precise, hands-on, clinically grounded approach.

About the class: You may not use the term “segmental acupuncture,” but you’re already applying its principles—whether needling Back Shu points, Hua Tuo Jia Ji, or distal points that influence pain and internal disorders. Points like SP6 or KD3 are effective for fertility and low back pain because they share spinal segmental innervation with the uterus and sacroiliac region. Understanding how acupuncture points map onto segmental anatomy can refine your assessments and improve outcomes—especially with challenging cases involving referred pain, visceral symptoms, or autonomic imbalance.

Learn more here

Thank you for reading,

CSOMA

CSOMA Partners

CSOMA is grateful to the partners who support our work and the broader acupuncture community. Their partnership helps sustain our advocacy and education efforts. Please support them!

Meet all our industry partners

Advertise Join CSOMA Subscribe

Dear CSOMA Community,

Thanks to everyone who took action to oppose AB 2497. Here is the status and next steps:

• AB 2497 passed with a 10-yes and 8-nay vote in the Assembly of Business and Professions on April 21, 2026.

• As we understand it, the bill will next be read at the Committee on Appropriations (date TBA), where there will be another opportunity to oppose.

• CSOMA is meeting with fellow leadership to outline next steps.

• We will continue providing updates. In the meantime, you may wish to sign up to track this bill on the California Legislative Information website.

While we are disappointed in this latest news, we encourage your attendance and participation at our LA conference. Please join us for some much-needed face-to-face time with your fellow colleagues!

Free Registration to Students

Now offering FREE registration to students at our upcoming conference in LA!

When: Tuesday, May 12 | 7-9PM PST
Where: Online --> Register here
CEUs: 2 CAB(Category 1)
Registration: $32 for CSOMA Members, $80 for non-members, $0/FREE! No-credit option

Meet the speaker: Joshua Margolis, LAc, DAc, DOMTP is a seasoned acupuncturist and instructor with over 20 years of full-time clinical experience. His practice in Santa Rosa integrates medical acupuncture, dry needling, and advanced manual therapies. He specializes in treating musculoskeletal conditions and chronic pain with a highly precise, hands-on, clinically grounded approach.

About the class: You may not use the term “segmental acupuncture,” but you’re already applying its principles—whether needling Back Shu points, Hua Tuo Jia Ji, or distal points that influence pain and internal disorders. Points like SP6 or KD3 are effective for fertility and low back pain because they share spinal segmental innervation with the uterus and sacroiliac region. Understanding how acupuncture points map onto segmental anatomy can refine your assessments and improve outcomes—especially with challenging cases involving referred pain, visceral symptoms, or autonomic imbalance.

Learn more here

Less than a week away! Esoteric Acupuncture Advanced Course in Denver, CO

Taught by Frank Turano-Cutler, L.Ac.

👉 Sign up here!

During this three day seminar, participants will learn techniques to balance the Heart and Kidney Harmony, stabilize the Shen which will give one access to their Higher Inner Spiritual Heart, and the ability to advance their consciousness. They will leave the seminar with a diagnostic and implementation framework to immediately apply Esoteric Acupuncture to their practice. The Advanced course builds upon the Foundations course, but the Foundations course is NOT a prerequisite to attend the Advanced seminar.

Frank Turano-Cutler with Mikio Sankey

• May 1-3, 2026

• 24 NCCAOM PDA points and 24 CA CE Credits

• $700 regular, $500 3rd Year Acupuncture Students

• Registration & details

Contact Frank Turano-Cutler, L.Ac. at frank@healingpathacu.com or 970-819-0615 with any questions.

Sponsored

Thank you for reading,

CSOMA

CSOMA Partners

CSOMA is grateful to the partners who support our work and the broader acupuncture community. Their partnership helps sustain our advocacy and education efforts. Please support them!

Meet all our industry partners

Advertise Join CSOMA Subscribe

Dear CSOMA Community,

Please see an important update on 2 things you can do to STOP AB 2497. CSOMA along with our partner organizations have been working tirelessly to stop this bill and we need your help.

We are asking you to call and show up to express our collective opposition:

"I strongly oppose AB2497 because 'Dry Needling' is Acupuncture and should be regulated as such under existing CA laws to ensure public safety."

Webinar recording of “Reverse-Engineering Digestive & Metabolic Disorders” is now available on our YouTube channel.

In our Community Bulletin this week, CSOMA Bronze Partner, Blue Poppy is running a special this month, and Esoteric Acupuncture Early Bird ends TODAY!

Free Registration to Students

Now offering FREE registration to students at our upcoming conference in LA!

Conference Spotlight: CSOMA Town Hall: Our Profession, Our Future: The 2026 Legislative Deep Dive

In the halls of Sacramento, the rules of our practice are being rewritten. From the fight for Medi-Cal flexibility to ensuring acupuncture licensure remains the gold standard against the rise of unregulated dry needling, 2026 is a year of high stakes.

Join CSOMA Executive Director, Dr. Ra Adcock, and CSOMA President, Dr. Julie Tran, for an unfiltered look at our legislative wins and the battles still ahead. Your voice is the medicine our advocacy needs. Are you in?

Learn more here

When: Tuesday, Mat 12 | 7-9PM PST
Where: Online --> Register here
CEUs: 2 CAB(Category 1)
Registration: $32 for CSOMA Members, $80 for non-members, $0/FREE! No-credit option

Meet the speaker: Joshua Margolis, LAc, DAc, DOMTP is a seasoned acupuncturist and instructor with over 20 years of full-time clinical experience. His practice in Santa Rosa integrates medical acupuncture, dry needling, and advanced manual therapies. He specializes in treating musculoskeletal conditions and chronic pain with a highly precise, hands-on, clinically grounded approach.

About the class: You may not use the term “segmental acupuncture,” but you’re already applying its principles—whether needling Back Shu points, Hua Tuo Jia Ji, or distal points that influence pain and internal disorders. Points like SP6 or KD3 are effective for fertility and low back pain because they share spinal segmental innervation with the uterus and sacroiliac region. Understanding how acupuncture points map onto segmental anatomy can refine your assessments and improve outcomes—especially with challenging cases involving referred pain, visceral symptoms, or autonomic imbalance.

Learn more here

CSOMA Bronze Partner, Blue Poppy is running a special this month:

Early Bird Ends TODAY! Esoteric Acupuncture Advanced Course in Denver, CO

Taught by Frank Turano-Cutler, L.Ac.

👉 Early Bird pricing ENDS TODAY 4/17/26 – Sign up here!

During this three day seminar, participants will learn techniques to balance the Heart and Kidney Harmony, stabilize the Shen which will give one access to their Higher Inner Spiritual Heart, and the ability to advance their consciousness. They will leave the seminar with a diagnostic and implementation framework to immediately apply Esoteric Acupuncture to their practice. The Advanced course builds upon the Foundations course, but the Foundations course is NOT a prerequisite to attend the Advanced seminar.

Frank Turano-Cutler with Mikio Sankey

• May 1-3, 2026

• 24 NCCAOM PDA points and 24 CA CE Credits

• Early Bird $600 EXTENDED to April 17, 2026, $700 regular, $500 3rd Year Acupuncture Students

• Registration & details

Contact Frank Turano-Cutler, L.Ac. at frank@healingpathacu.com or 970-819-0615 with any questions.

Sponsored

Thank you for reading,

CSOMA

CSOMA Partners

CSOMA is grateful to the partners who support our work and the broader acupuncture community. Their partnership helps sustain our advocacy and education efforts. Please support them!

Meet all our industry partners

Advertise Join CSOMA Subscribe

Dear CSOMA Community,

We’re please to share that AB 2668 will not be moving forward and will not be heard in committee.

Thank you CSOMA and Yo San communities, and our many supporters whose advocacy helped shape this outcome. We appreciate the engagement from across the field and look forward to continued collaboration.

On 4/8, the CAB announced a new Retired Licensee Status:

New licensing options are now available to apply for retired status of a license, and to restore a retired license to active status. This new option is available to licensees who are no longer practicing acupuncture and do not plan to return to practice.

More information can be found here. Please direct any questions to the CAB.

Be sure to check out this week’s Community Bulletin for The Pithy Book of Blood Labs, written by licensed acupuncturist and CSOMA member, Anne Bailey. Plus, a practice management tip from Jane and in-person Estoteric Acupuncture class that’s coming up fast!

Free Registration to Students

We’re excited to announce… we are now offering FREE registration to students at our upcoming conference in LA!

Conference Spotlight: An Acupuncturist's Guide to Social Media with Emily Von Urff

Merging her interests in storytelling and medicine, Emily Von Urff helps acupuncturists and TCM brands increase their digital presences and create content based on their unique offerings.

In this lively course, you’ll learn how social media can play a critical role in your practice, which online platforms are best for your strengths & goals, some common mental blocks for content creation and solutions to overcome them, the dos & don’ts of making content as a medical professional, and more!
Learn more here

When: Tuesday, April 14 | 7-9PM PST
Where: Online --> Register here
CEUs: 2 CAB(Category 1)
Registration: $32 for CSOMA Members, $80 for non-members, $0/FREE! No-credit option

Many thanks to our Gold Partner sponsor, Health Concerns!

Meet the speaker: Wai To, D.O. is an engineering physician with extensive knowledge and experience in treating complex medical problems (often from untreatable patients dismissed by specialty clinics). His work has revolutionized the application of integrative medicine (Eastern and Western medicine) on both simple and complex medical problems.

What you'll learn: This course rethinks how the digestive and metabolic systems work together, guiding practitioners from complex clinical problems toward clear, practical solutions. We explore how anatomy and physiology—combined with engineering concepts—can be used to design, test, and implement effective medical treatments. Through real-world case studies, the course demonstrates how patients with multiple, seemingly untreatable diagnoses can be reframed into a smaller set of targeted, treatable conditions.

The Pithy Book of Blood Labs

Need a clinical reference manual for lab values?

The Pithy Book of Blood Labs details the complete blood count, iron tests, and electrolytes, as well as the liver, kidney, thyroid, glucose, and lipid panels.

Each chapter includes physiology summaries of the corresponding system. Suitable for the busy practitioner or student. Available for sale here.

Questions? Contact Anne Bailey, L.Ac. at PithyLabs@gmail.com.

Sponsored

Practice Management Tips from Jane

How two practitioners think about business growth 🤔

There are a lot of factors to consider when growing your business. And while Jane can’t interview new teammates or find the perfect location, it can help you with the systems that keep your practice moving. That’s the value of Jane for business owners like Elana Sures and Andrew Sabarre.

Here's what growth looks like with Jane:

• One place to manage it all: Jane supports multiple locations within the same account, and for multi-location practice, that's the kind of thing that quietly saves you time.

• Admin support practitioners and owners love: Before patients arrive for their first session, automated intake forms are sent ahead of time. Patients complete paperwork on their own schedule which means less admin for the team, and more time in the room for actual treatment.

• Growth without the guesswork: Jane’s reporting gives daily oversight of signed notes, accounts receivable, and payment reconciliation, which is important data to have when making business decisions.

To learn more about how Jane can help you and your practice, book a demo with the team. And if you’re ready to get started, you can use the code CSOMA1MO for a one-month grace period on your new account. 

Esoteric Acupuncture Advanced Course in Denver, CO

Taught by Frank Turano-Cutler, L.Ac.

👉 Early Bird pricing extended to 4/17/26 – Register today!

Less than a month away: During this three day seminar, participants will learn techniques to balance the Heart and Kidney Harmony, stabilize the Shen which will give one access to their Higher Inner Spiritual Heart, and the ability to advance their consciousness. They will leave the seminar with a diagnostic and implementation framework to immediately apply Esoteric Acupuncture to their practice. The Advanced course builds upon the Foundations course, but the Foundations course is NOT a prerequisite to attend the Advanced seminar.

Frank Turano-Cutler with Mikio Sankey

• May 1-3, 2026

• 24 NCCAOM PDA points and 24 CA CE Credits

• Early Bird $600 EXTENDED to April 17, 2026, $700 regular, $500 3rd Year Acupuncture Students

• Registration & details

Contact Frank Turano-Cutler, L.Ac. at frank@healingpathacu.com or 970-819-0615 with any questions.

Sponsored

Thank you for reading,

CSOMA

CSOMA Partners

CSOMA is grateful to the partners who support our work and the broader acupuncture community. Their partnership helps sustain our advocacy and education efforts. Please support them!

Meet all our industry partners

Advertise Join CSOMA Subscribe

CSOMA is aware of recent media coverage reporting that Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt experienced a collapsed lung (pneumothorax) following a dry needling procedure. While pneumothorax is a rare complication of needle-based therapies, CSOMA has received an alarming and growing number of reports from the athletic community involving injuries associated with dry needling performed by providers who are not licensed acupuncturists.

In addition to pneumothorax, nerve injury is a known risk of needle-based therapies when performed improperly or by individuals without sufficient training. These risks underscore the importance of appropriate education, anatomical knowledge, and regulated clinical experience when inserting needles into the body.

Our intention in responding is not to comment on the specifics of any individual case, but rather to use this moment to help the public better understand an important and often misunderstood issue: the difference between acupuncture and dry needling. 

Dry Needling Is Acupuncture—by Law and by Science

Dry needling is not a new or separate modality. It involves the insertion of solid filiform needles into the body for therapeutic effect—the very definition of acupuncture under California law. The needles used, the anatomical targets, and the physiological mechanisms are the same.

In California, the insertion of acupuncture needles for therapeutic purposes is legally defined as the practice of acupuncture and is restricted to licensed acupuncturists and physicians. This framework exists for one primary reason: public safety.

Training Standards Matter

Licensed acupuncturists in California complete more than 3,000 hours of formal education, including approximately 1,000 hours of supervised clinical training. Their education includes detailed instruction in anatomy, physiology, depth and angle of needle insertion, contraindications, risk management, and emergency response.

By contrast, dry needling certifications for other healthcare professionals may involve as little as 20–30 hours of coursework, often without standardized oversight or clinical supervision requirements. While many healthcare professionals are highly skilled within their own scopes of practice, brief training courses do not provide equivalent preparation for performing invasive needle procedures safely across all regions of the body—particularly near vital organs such as the lungs.

Acupuncture needles are classified by the FDA as Class II medical devices, meaning they carry inherent risk and require appropriate training and regulation.

CSOMA’s Ongoing Advocacy for Patient Protection

CSOMA has consistently worked to protect the public by advocating for clear, enforceable standards around acupuncture needle use. Most recently, our lobbyist—on behalf of the California Acupuncture Coalition—submitted formal comments to the Physical Therapy Board of California reaffirming that dry needling falls within the scope of acupuncture and should be held to the same licensure and safety requirements.

Allowing invasive needle procedures to be performed without the rigorous training required of licensed acupuncturists creates confusion for patients, undermines California’s regulatory system, and increases the risk of preventable harm.

Our Position Is Simple

Our position is about patient safety, informed consent, and appropriate standards of care.

CSOMA believes that:

• Dry needling is acupuncture.

• Acupuncture should only be performed by practitioners with comprehensive, regulated training per the California Acupuncture Board’s Laws and Regulations.

• California’s existing licensure standards are essential safeguards for the public.

We encourage patients to ask questions about their provider’s training and licensure before receiving any needle-based treatment. We also urge regulatory bodies to uphold the standards that exist to protect the health and safety of all Californians.

Respectfully,
CSOMA

Media contact: Dr. Robyn Adcock, LAc, Executive Director
12/16/25

Dear CSOMA Community,

Today (4/4) is your last chance to register for CSOMA’s 2nd Annual Spring Conference in LA at the Early Bird rate. We hope to see you there!

Thanks to everyone who joined Tuesday’s Town Hall. We had an excellent turnout with lots of passionate participation — your comments, questions, and valuable perspectives were appreciated. The momentum continues, and we’ll keep you posted on the latest developments, including the DPA’s analysis of AB 2668:

AB 2668

Acupuncture: license requirements and title protection.

CSOMA

AB 2497

Physical Therapists.

CSOMA

Watch the Town Hall replay here.

We’re also excited to share this timely edition of Yo San University’s 39GEN Podcast: The Policy Pivot with CSOMA: Loans, Legislation, and the Future of Acupuncture:

Conference Spotlight: Referrals & Relationships, A panel discussion with Dr. Rob Hoffman

One of the most effective ways to grow an acupuncture practice and to help more patients is through the creation of a referral network that channels patients in need to your practice. This dynamic panel discussion will explore ways to improve inter-professional relations between licensed acupuncturists and other referring providers, especially medical doctors.

Among other topics, panelists will discuss effective ways to communicate the principles and clinical applications of acupuncture and Chinese medicine using terminology accessible to Western-trained healthcare professionals.
Learn more here

When: Tuesday, April 14 | 7-9PM PST
Where: Online --> Register here
CEUs: 2 CAB(Category 1)
Registration: $32 for CSOMA Members, $80 for non-members, $0/FREE! No-credit option

Many thanks to our Gold Partner sponsor, Health Concerns!

Meet the speaker: Wai To, D.O. is an engineering physician with extensive knowledge and experience in treating complex medical problems (often from untreatable patients dismissed by specialty clinics). His work has revolutionized the application of integrative medicine (Eastern and Western medicine) on both simple and complex medical problems.

What you'll learn: This course rethinks how the digestive and metabolic systems work together, guiding practitioners from complex clinical problems toward clear, practical solutions. We explore how anatomy and physiology—combined with engineering concepts—can be used to design, test, and implement effective medical treatments. Through real-world case studies, the course demonstrates how patients with multiple, seemingly untreatable diagnoses can be reframed into a smaller set of targeted, treatable conditions.

Top Experts from China: Landmark Clinical Guidance on the Nine TCM Constitutions

The series starts April 11th (next weekend!), and spots are limited, so we encourage you to register as soon as possible. (Save 50% with discount code below)

As of April 1st 2026, China’s TCM practitioners will be held to a new classification standard. Join us online April 11/May 16 to learn the latest insights on the nine TCM constitutions with Professor Jun Tang, Chief Physician at Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of TCM.

Series Details

• Saturdays, April 11 & May 16 | 5-7 pm PT / 8-10 pm ET

• Live Zoom (Chinese w/ English translation) + 45-min Q&A with Dr. Tang, Jun

• 4 PDA/CEUs available (CA, FL, NCBAHM approved)

Use code CSOMA2026 for 50% off, bringing the full series to $50 for 4 CEUs; students can attend for free.

Register today!

Esoteric Acupuncture Advanced Course in Denver, CO

Taught by Frank Turano-Cutler, L.Ac.

👉 Early Bird pricing extended to 4/17/26 – Register today!

Less than a month away: During this three day seminar, participants will learn techniques to balance the Heart and Kidney Harmony, stabilize the Shen which will give one access to their Higher Inner Spiritual Heart, and the ability to advance their consciousness. They will leave the seminar with a diagnostic and implementation framework to immediately apply Esoteric Acupuncture to their practice. The Advanced course builds upon the Foundations course, but the Foundations course is NOT a prerequisite to attend the Advanced seminar.

Frank Turano-Cutler with Mikio Sankey

• May 1-3, 2026

• 24 NCCAOM PDA points and 24 CA CE Credits

• Early Bird $600 EXTENDED to April 17, 2026, $700 regular, $500 3rd Year Acupuncture Students

• Registration & details

Contact Frank Turano-Cutler, L.Ac. at frank@healingpathacu.com or 970-819-0615 with any questions.

Sponsored

Thank you for reading,

CSOMA

CSOMA Partners

CSOMA is grateful to the partners who support our work and the broader acupuncture community. Their partnership helps sustain our advocacy and education efforts. Please support them!

Meet all our industry partners

Advertise Join CSOMA Subscribe

CSOMA OPPOSES AB 2497.

UPDATED April 30, 2026

As we continue to OPPOSE AB 2497 (dry needling), we are asking those of you in Alameda and Contra Costa counties to customize and sign this opposition letter and email a copy to acupuncture lobbyist Niccolo De Luca (ndeluca@townsendpa.com) no later than Friday, May 8. His team is printing and hand-delivering each letter to the Capitol.

At this stage, advocacy is best done through formal letters rather than direct outreach to the Chair or committee members.

To recap, AB 2497 is moving to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, chaired by Assembly Member Buffy Wicks. This is a fiscal committee, not a policy committee, and it does not hold public discussions like that past committee did. Its role is to evaluate the bill’s financial impact on the state, and the opposition letter is written with that in mind.

Our priority now is to gather opposition letters from schools and licensed acupuncturists in Contra Costa and Alameda counties, especially in the following cities: Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond, San Pablo, Piedmont, El Cerrito, Pinole, Albany, and Hercules.

It is imperative that we take action on this bill, right away. THANK YOU!

UPDATED April 17, 2026

URGENT!!!

CA Physical therapists are introducing DRY NEEDLING into their scope this Tuesday, April 20. We need YOUR VOICE to prevent this from happening. 2 things you can do:

1. SHOW UP in SACRAMENTO this Tuesday, April 21 @ 9:00 am to voice your OPPOSITION to AB2497. 

The bill will be read by its author then expert opinions will be provided (both in support and in opposition).

Next, the public (YOU) will have the opportunity to approach the microphone, state your name and that you OPPOSE!

The committee will vote on the bill and decide if it moves forward. 

Business & Professions Committee
Assembly Bill (AB) 2497
Time: after 9:00 am
Location: O Street, Room 1100, Sacramento 
(public parking plentiful, Assembly building is open to public, metal detectors at entry)

This is one of the most powerful ways to stop this bill from moving forward! 

2. CALL - CALL - CALL the following assembly members BEFORE TUESDAY to voice your OPPOSITION to AB2497. 

"I strongly oppose AB2497 because 'Dry Needling' is Acupuncture and should be regulated as such under existing CA laws to ensure public safety."

1. Asm Bauer Kahan (916) 319-2016

2. Asm Addis (916) 319-2030

3. Asm Bains (916) 319-2035

4. Asm Caloza (916) 319-2052

5. Asm Elhawary (916) 319-2057

6. Asm Hart (916) 319-2037

7. Asm Irwin (916) 319-2042

8. Asm Jackson (916) 319-2060

9. Asm Nguyen (916) 319-2010

10. Asm Pellerin (916) 319-2028

11. Asm Lowenthal (916) 319-2069

12. Asm Haney  (916) 319-2017

CALL these legislators this weekend!

Get YOUR FRIENDS to CALL these legislators this weekend!

Get YOUR PATIENTS to CALL these legislators this weekend!

April 9, 2026

Thanks to everyone who submitted their stance on AB 2497 using the California Legislature Position Letter Portal (see below if you have not yet). Another important action you can take is to email staff members of Business and Professions Committee. Instructions are provided by lobbyist Ryan McCarthy:

Email Staff Members of B&P Committee

We need your help to stop this bill.

This bill will be heard soon in the Assembly Business and Professions Committee. Below are links to emails that you can send with one click to the respective staff members for the Business and Professions committee. When you click the link, the email will pop up and you can edit it to make it more personal if you would like. Sending emails to legislative offices is important and shows that there is a broad base of support for acupuncture across California. If you could all please send an email to each one of these offices, that would be incredibly helpful for our advocacy efforts in preventing dry needling in California.

Click on each name to auto-populate an email to the respective staffers for each B&P member office. Ryan notes that the links work best when using a mobile phone.

Berman

Addis

Ahrens

Bains

Bauer-Kahan

Caloza

Elhawary

Haney

Hart

Irwin

Jackson

Lowenthal

Nguyen

Pellerin

Submit your stance at the California Legislature Position Letter Portal

Please register at the California Legislature Position Letter Portal then complete the form as follows:

Select a Bill
Measure: AB 2497
Session Type: Regular
Enter AB 2497 in search and you should see the following:
AB 2497 Physical therapists. Johnson
(Business and Professions Committee will be automatically selected)
Select your stance: Oppose
Enter your stance: Feel free to use/modify the position below:

As a California licensed acupuncturist, I oppose AB2497, particularly its use of the term “tissue penetration,” which appears to encompass needle-based interventions indistinguishable from acupuncture. Acupuncture and dry needling have been established as the same therapeutic modality, requiring comprehensive training in anatomy, safety, and clinical application. Expanding this scope to providers without equivalent education and licensure risks patient harm and undermines established regulatory standards.

Documented adverse events, including pneumothorax in high-profile cases such as NFL player T. J. Watt, underscore the risks associated with insufficient training in needle-based techniques. California’s current framework, regulated by the California Acupuncture Board, ensures rigorous education, examination, and oversight to protect public safety.

Any legislation that broadens access to tissue penetration without maintaining these standards compromises patient care. Needle-based therapies should remain within the clearly defined scope of licensed acupuncturists, who are specifically trained and regulated to perform them safely and effectively.

I urge lawmakers to reject or revise AB2497 to preserve patient safety and uphold the integrity of acupuncture practice in California.

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THANK YOU for opposing this bill, and for participating in California’s legislative process!

April 1, 2026

CSOMA OPPOSES AB 2497 because it creates a pathway for physical therapists to perform needle-based procedures that are legally and clinically equivalent to acupuncture—without equivalent training—raising serious concerns about patient safety, scope of practice integrity, and consumer protection.

CSOMA conducted an emergency Town Hall on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 to discuss the implications on Assembly Bill 2497. A replay is available here.

Bill text of AB 2497 may be accessed here.

Major Concerns with AB 2497

• Framed as scope modernization — but introduces dry needling into scope:

  • It grants licensed physical therapists the authority to use the title "doctor of physical therapy" or "D.P.T.," 

  • Expands their scope of practice to include prescribing nonopioid pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications after consultation with medical boards, 

  • Allows for tissue penetration for evaluating and treating the neuromuscular system

  • Performing and interpreting musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging.

• California law currently does NOT allow physical therapists to perform dry needling

• “Dry needling” uses filiform needles inserted into the body, which matches how acupuncture is defined

Why CSOMA OPPOSES AB 2497

• Patient safety and consumer education

  • Increased risk of serious injury as already documented by unlicensed individuals performing dry needling.

  • Increased confusion among consumers about what acupuncture is vs. dry needling.

• Inadequate training

  • Licensed acupuncturists in California complete thousands of hours of training in needling techniques, including Clean Needle Technique and needle contraindications.

  • In states where PT dry needling is allowed, training can be as little as ~50 hours.

Contact: Dr. Robyn Adcock, LAc, Executive Director

April 7, 2026

AB 2668 will not be moving forward and will not be heard in committee.

Thank you CSOMA and Yo San communities, and our many supporters whose advocacy helped shape this outcome. We appreciate the engagement from across the field and look forward to continued collaboration.

CSOMA OPPOSES AB 2668.

April 1, 2026

CSOMA conducted an emergency Town Hall on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 to discuss the implications on Assembly Bill 2668. A replay is available here.

Bill text of AB 2668 may be accessed here.

Below are key points (“major concerns”) of the Department of Consumer Affairs’ analysis of AB 2668. The full document may be accessed here:

Major Concerns with AB 2668

• Lack of clarity on curriculum requirements

  • The bill increases total and clinical training hours but does not specify how those hours should be allocated across subjects.

  • This creates regulatory uncertainty and forces the Board to redesign curriculum standards without clear legislative guidance.

• Increased regulatory burden and inefficiency

  • The Board would need to realign or redistribute curriculum hours, requiring regulatory amendments.

  • Leads to significant additional workload for program review and approvals without clear benefit.

• Confusing and contradictory “Doctor” title provisions

  • The bill creates ambiguity between:

    • Moving toward a doctoral entry-level profession, and

    • Restricting use of the “Doctor” title unless tied to very specific degree language.

  • Results in internal inconsistency within the law.

• Disconnect between degree and title usage

  • Even if practitioners earn doctoral-level education, they may not be allowed to use the DAHM title unless their degree name exactly matches.

  • This creates a misalignment between education, credentialing, and professional identity.

• Excludes many qualified doctoral graduates

  • Practitioners with equivalent doctoral degrees (e.g., DACM, DAOM, DOM) would be prohibited from using the protected title.

  • Establishes an overly rigid, degree-specific naming requirement rather than recognizing equivalent qualifications.

• Fails to establish a universal professional title

  • Although the bill introduces DAHM, it does not function as a standardized license-level designation.

  • Instead, it ties title usage to specific degree nomenclature, limiting broad applicability across the profession.

• Ignores existing and alternative licensure pathways

  • The bill does not account for current practitioners, students, or alternative pathways to licensure.

  • Raises concerns about transition timelines, fairness, and eligibility impacts.

• Significant cost and administrative burden

  • Curriculum changes would require thousands of hours (2,960) of Board review work and potentially new staffing.

  • Could lead to new fees on schools or licensees to cover increased costs. 

• Unfunded mandate on schools and regulators

  • All programs must revise curriculum and undergo approval, creating system-wide strain during transition.

  • No clear funding mechanism to support this масштаб change.

• Uncertain long-term impacts on the profession

  • Changes may affect applicant volume, licensure access, and workforce pipeline.

  • Potential to reduce entry into the profession due to increased barriers and confusion.

For actions you can take, please refer to the CSOMA Alert:

CSOMA ALERT! PT Bill threatens scope – TOWN HALL 3/31

Take Action! OPPOSE AB 2497 & AB 2668

CSOMA

Contact: Dr. Robyn Adcock, LAc, Executive Director

Dear CSOMA Community,

Big shoutout to Dr. Jamie Hampton, who just joined CSOMA as a Golden Phoenix member! We were thrilled to see so many new members join when we shared this:

CSOMA ALERT! PT Bill threatens scope – TOWN HALL 3/31

Take Action! OPPOSE AB 2497 & AB 2668

csoma.beehiiv.com/p/csoma-alert-pt-bill-threatens-scope-town-hall-3-31

Details from this week’s legislative meeting and CAB meeting will be shared at our Town Hall on Tuesday, March 31, 7-8pm PST.

Please join us – register today! 

Dr. Ra Adcock and Dr. Robert Hoffman outside the State Capitol

CSOMA President Dr. Julie Tran-Olive presenting at the CAB meeting

Please join CSOMA to insure our voices are heard when bills like this threaten our profession, patient safety, and the integrity of our medicine. Every membership helps!

One week left for Early Bird Pricing (through April 4)

Conference Spotlight: Lorraine Wilcox

Known for her scholarship and translations of classical Chinese medical texts, as well as her seminars on moxibustion, classical theory, and traditional medicine making, Lorraine Wilcox presents two practical approaches deeply rooted in tradition. Explore Míng dynasty acupuncture, emphasizing fewer needles, shallow insertion, and breath-based timing, alongside ironing (熨法 yùnfǎ), a smoke-free heat therapy for warming and moving qi. Both methods are adaptable, clinically effective, and designed for modern practice, including safe patient home use.
Learn more here

When: Tuesday, April 14 | 7-9PM PST
Where: Online --> Register here
CEUs: 2 CAB(Category 1)
Registration: $32 for CSOMA Members, $80 for non-members, $0/FREE! No-credit option

Many thanks to our Gold Partner sponsor, Health Concerns!

Meet the speaker: Wai To, D.O. is an engineering physician with extensive knowledge and experience in treating complex medical problems (often from untreatable patients dismissed by specialty clinics). His work has revolutionized the application of integrative medicine (Eastern and Western medicine) on both simple and complex medical problems.

What you'll learn: This course rethinks how the digestive and metabolic systems work together, guiding practitioners from complex clinical problems toward clear, practical solutions. We explore how anatomy and physiology—combined with engineering concepts—can be used to design, test, and implement effective medical treatments. Through real-world case studies, the course demonstrates how patients with multiple, seemingly untreatable diagnoses can be reframed into a smaller set of targeted, treatable conditions.

Esoteric Acupuncture Advanced Course in Denver, CO

Taught by Frank Turano-Cutler, L.Ac.

👉 6 days left for Early Bird pricing – Register today!

• May 1-3, 2026

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During this three day seminar, participants will learn techniques to balance the Heart and Kidney Harmony, stabilize the Shen which will give one access to their Higher Inner Spiritual Heart, and the ability to advance their consciousness. They will leave the seminar with a diagnostic and implementation framework to immediately apply Esoteric Acupuncture to their practice.

Contact Frank Turano-Cutler, L.Ac. at frank@healingpathacu.com or 970-819-0615 with any questions.

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Thank you for reading,

CSOMA

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