Introduction
Acupuncture, a therapy rooted in traditional East Asian medicine, has become a common complementary therapy in the Peach State, but it wasn’t always this way. In Georgia, acupuncture was written about by the medical community much earlier than you may imagine. The positive effects of acupuncture were described in 1836, 1837, and 1859 in the Southern Medical and Surgical Journal, a Georgian publication. However, even though acupuncture was written about favorably for pain reduction, these articles did not create significant acceptance of acupuncture as a medical treatment, and discussion of it faded in Georgia until the 1970s.
Dr. William Markley Lee – Physician and Acupuncturist in the South in the Early 1800s
William Markley Lee, M.D. was born November 10, 1809 in Charleston, South Carolina. He is one of the first physicians in the United States to publish an article about acupuncture in a U.S. medical journal. In 1836, Dr. Lee wrote about his positive experience with acupuncture in the Southern Medical and Surgical Journal, and in the same year, he also published an article entitled “Acupuncture as a Remedy for Rheumatism” in the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal.
In Dr. Lee’s 1836 article in the Southern Medical and Surgical Journal, published through the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia, he recommended acupuncture for pain relief. He said, “In sub-acute Rheumatism, I consider acupuncture a prompt and efficacious remedy. I frequently employ it, much to the surprize of my patients, from the trifling pain which it causes, and the promptness of relief; and equally to the astonishment of the attendants, who rarely have faith in the remedy until proved by positive demonstration.” He later stated, “I consider acupuncture entitled to far more attention than it has yet received in the United States. It is not painful. I have never introduced the needle without the patient expressing the greatest surprize at the trifling degree of pain; indeed, some have declared that if asleep it would not awaken them. Of this, I have some doubts. It is not inconvenient. Every house can furnish needles. It is prompt and effectual. I have never failed to produce the desired effect, in appropriate cases, within the space of a quarter of an hour; and in such cases, the relief was permanent. I therefore repeat it as my opinion, that physicians have not duly appreciated its therapeutic efficacy.” Despite Dr. Lee’s enthusiasm, acupuncture was not widely discussed in Georgia again until 1973.
Acupuncture in the 1970s in the United States
In 1971, acupuncture became a topic of public interest because of James Reston. James Reston worked for The New York Times as an editor, vice-president, and columnist at various times in his career. In 1971, Mr. Reston and his wife traveled to China, and this is where the story of acupuncture in America began to gain public attention.
On July 15, 1971, while in Beijing on their summer trip to China, Mr. Reston noticed abdominal pain. Two days later, he had an appendectomy with conventional drug anesthesia. Two nights after the surgery, he was experiencing post-operative pain, and this is when he had acupuncture for the first time. In the hospital, he was treated with three acupuncture needles and moxibustion. Mr. Reston’s writing about this experience on the front page of The New York Times on July 26, 1971, entitled “Now, About My Operation in Peking,” played a crucial role in sparking American interest in acupuncture.
Acupuncture now captured public interest, and many firsts for acupuncture in the United States began to happen. The first legal acupuncture clinic was established in Washington, D.C. in 1972. The first state to pass a comprehensive acupuncture practice law was Nevada in 1973, and the first registered school for acupuncture, the New England School of Acupuncture, was started in Massachusetts in 1975.
Acupuncture Act of Georgia
During the early 1970s, interest in acupuncture also grew in Georgia. To better understand the legality of acupuncture in Georgia, on August 9, 1973, Arthur K. Bolton, the Georgia Attorney General, gave his opinion that “The practice of acupuncture is certainly a branch of the healing arts, and, as a result, falls within the definition of Code § 84-901. Since there are no specific statutory exemptions regarding acupuncture in Georgia, it is my official opinion that to the extent the practice of acupuncture is not otherwise limited, only licensed physicians may utilize this method of treatment in Georgia.” He then concluded by saying, “In light of the foregoing, it is my official opinion that the practice of acupuncture constitutes the practice of medicine under the laws of Georgia. In the absence of specific regulatory action, there are no restrictions on such practice if conducted by licensed physicians; however, based on adequate administrative findings, the Board of Medical Examiners may conclude that the practice of acupuncture constitutes ‘unprofessional conduct’ justifying imposition of a sanction with respect to a physician’s license to practice.”
On November 20, 1974, the Georgia General Assembly adopted an original rule entitled “Acupuncture.” This rule came into effect on December 10, 1974. With this rule, licensed physicians in Georgia could practice acupuncture, but only physicians could perform acupuncture in Georgia.
1997 National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference on Acupuncture
In the 1990s, acupuncture regained popularity nationally. In 1997, the NIH acknowledged acupuncture for its value in relieving pain, nausea after surgery or chemotherapy, and morning sickness, and its effectiveness in treating conditions such as headaches, asthma, stroke rehabilitation, and fibromyalgia. They also stated that “there are other situations, such as addiction, stroke rehabilitation, headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma, in which acupuncture may be useful as an adjunct treatment or an acceptable alternative or be included in a comprehensive management program.”
This Consensus Statement on Acupuncture marked another significant turning point in the integration of acupuncture within Western medicine. This statement boosted its legitimacy and alleviated previous safety concerns by assuring the safety of acupuncture when performed by trained professionals. The NIH also encouraged further research to better understand acupuncture’s mechanisms and its wider potential in medical treatment, leading to increased funding for scientific studies. Following the consensus, acupuncture saw a rise in utilization, broader insurance coverage, and the establishment of more stringent educational and licensing standards for practitioners. This consensus not only enhanced acupuncture’s credibility but also expanded its acceptance among health professionals and the public.
Licensed Acupuncturists in Georgia in 2001
In 2000, after years of hard work by acupuncturists, the Georgia General Assembly amended the original acupuncture rule, ER. 360-6-0.10-.01, to allow non-physician acupuncturists to practice acupuncture in the state if they fulfilled the established licensing requirements. In early 2001, history was made again for the acupuncture community in Georgia when the Composite State Medical Board started issuing acupuncture licenses to new and existing non-physician acupuncturists in the state. his milestone in 2001 was of great value to the citizens of Georgia because it provided greater access to acupuncture.
Current Acupuncture Licensing Process in Georgia
Currently, those looking to practice acupuncture in Georgia must complete several key steps, including obtaining certification from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), completing a Clean Needle Technique Course and Practical Examination (CNT) approved by the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM), and providing three professional references. Additionally, applicants must engage in a year of supervised practice if they have less than one year of post-graduate clinical experience.
Impact of the 2000 Amendment of Acupuncture Act of Georgia
Before 2000 non-physician acupuncturists could not obtain a medical license to practice, acupuncture was practiced secretly and was unregulated. The 2000 amendment of the Acupuncture Act of Georgia increased the safety of acupuncture for Georgians and broadened healthcare horizons for residents of the state. Now, Georgians have more access to acupuncture and acupuncturists that provide safe and effective treatments for a variety of physical and psychological conditions. The inclusion of licensed acupuncturists has not only provided Georgians with increased healthcare options but also contributed to the growth of awareness of the importance of holistic health across the state.
Over the past few decades, almost all states have enabled practitioners to obtain a license to practice acupuncture; however, surprisingly, there are still a few states where acupuncturists are unable to obtain a license. For example, Alabama, Georgia’s neighboring state, does not license acupuncture. In Alabama, only a medical doctor, osteopath, or chiropractor may practice acupuncture. The state of Alabama takes the position that, “Acupuncture is deemed by the Medical Licensure Commission to be an experimental procedure of which the safety and medical effectiveness have not been established. The Commission therefore determines that while acupuncture practice by licensed physicians should not be absolutely prohibited, some safeguards are necessary to ensure that the public is not harmed or victimized by unprofessional practices, such as the unskilled or uninformed application of acupuncture treatment, or unfounded claims of effectiveness.”
Future Perspectives
The future of acupuncture in Georgia looks promising. With continued research validating its benefits and an increasing number of healthcare providers integrating it into their practices, acupuncture is set to become a significant part of Georgia’s healthcare landscape. For example, over my two decades as an acupuncturist in Georgia, I have worked for Emory Healthcare and at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. I was also an employee for over ten years at the Atlanta Center for Reproductive Medicine, providing acupuncture for patients undergoing assisted reproductive technologies like in vitro fertilization. Before 2000, this would not have been possible in Georgia.
2001 and Beyond
I moved to Georgia just months after it became possible for acupuncturists to become licensed. As one of the early licensed acupuncturists in Georgia, holding license number #39, I have witnessed firsthand the evolution of regulations governing our practice. Now, Georgia offers more options to its residents than ever before. As of January 18, 2024, the Georgia Composite Medical Board has 305 active acupuncture licenses.
Since 1998, Metro Acupuncture has been providing acupuncture to Georgians. We are committed to offering professional and compassionate care that addresses both physical and emotional well-being with high-quality acupuncture.
If you’re interested in making an appointment for acupuncture treatment with us, you can do so online here.
