To mark his first 100 days in office, President Obama participated in a town hall meeting in Missouri and answered questions from the audience there.

One participant, a Licensed Acupuncturist and Licensed Massage Therapist, asked the President how the administration’s health care program would incorporate alternative medicine.

This was Obama’s reply: “Well, look, my attitude is that we should — we should do what works. So I think it is pretty well documented through scientific studies that acupuncture, for example, can be very helpful in relieving certain things like migraines and other ailments — or at least as effective as more intrusive interventions. I will let the science guide me.”

That short paragraph has acupuncturists everywhere talking. The President of the United States called acupuncture “effective”! What a great endorsement!

But will these statements actually have an impact on acupuncture use in our country? President Obama did not explicitly say that acupuncture or other holistic treatments would be covered under his proposed new health plan.

Also, an endorsement from a famous person doesn’t necessarily mean that people will be flocking to try acupuncture. In 2007, Oprah Winfrey devoted the majority of an entire show to acupuncture. Although Oprah is seen to be a major trendsetter, only one new patient in my office mentioned that she decided to try acupuncture because of the show.

The best endorsements for acupuncture, as with most products and services, are the testimonials of satisfied patients. If you have benefited from acupuncture, please think about telling someone you know who might find it helpful. If you have never tried acupuncture before and are curious about it, ask someone you know who has tried it. Or, contact a Licensed Acupuncturist near you; many offer free telephone or in-office consultations.

You can also stay tuned to future blog posts, which will include an incredibly easy way to decide if acupuncture is a good option for you!

It is one of my life’s missions to bring awareness about acupuncture and Chinese medicine to as many people as possible.   To this end, I gave two acupuncture presentations this month; one at the Leicester Senior Center, and one to nursing students at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) in Worcester.  As a result, there are now about 50 more people who have a greater understanding of Chinese medicine, and I hope that they will pass this information on to others.

Knowledge is the first step in allowing us to make well-informed decisions about our health.  Educated consumers can impact our nation’s health-care system, influencing the system to provide greater support and reimbursement for complementary and alternative (CAM) therapies.

While some states have comprehensive health-insurance coverage for acupuncture, many, including Massachusetts, do not.  Surveys in Iowa and in Washington state show that the majority of consumers believe that health coverage should include any licensed health-care professional, including CAM providers.  Florida and British Columbia are beginning to implement programs to include acupuncture coverage in their Medicaid/ Medical Services Plans for low-income patients.

I am encouraged by these reports, because I truly believe that almost everyone can benefit from Chinese medicine to some extent.  This medicine is an excellent complement to Western medical care and may even provide an alternative to more invasive treatments.

If you agree that health insurance in Massachusetts should cover acupuncture treatments (with full coverage, not just discounts), I encourage you to contact your insurance company and your legislators, to make your opinion known.