Acupuncture is not just an exotic spa service

When I was in school I was taught that people would only value acupuncture if it were expensive. We were told to charge more than the going rate; so all the patients would think we were exclusive and special. Does that business concept actually work? I was raised in a working/lower middle class neighborhood and I don’t know anybody who would buy into that. Charging prices that most people couldn’t afford didn’t sit well with me.

I have practiced in a few different settings during the past five years. I have learned a lot about acupuncture and the true value of this medicine. I had the amazing opportunity to provide free acupuncture to lower income patients in San Diego. Most of my patients were Hispanic, many spent hours at the border crossing to get to the clinic. Most of these patients had no clue what acupuncture was, but they were willing to try it. The treatments were successful and the patients loved acupuncture. The experience changed my life. It was such a joy to treat people who would never be able to afford high priced private treatments.

I recently moved back to my hometown of Detroit. I wanted to start a practice I could feel good about. My first step was speaking with local practitioners. The only advice I received was to find a wealthy community where the residents have a large amount of disposable income. I became so angry about this idea, which would mean excluding everyone I knew. I couldn’t even have a conversation with local practitioners without wanting to rip their heads off. I just felt there had to be another way to practice. Acupuncture was not designed to be an exotic spa service for wealthy people to indulge themselves in. Acupuncture is medicine for the people and has been for thousands of years, it works just as well in a humble clinic near the Mexican border as it does in a fancy spa like setting. I couldn’t understand why no one else seemed to question this. I became so frustrated I couldn’t even talk about starting a practice. I have no problem with acupuncturists choosing to practice in wealthy areas, my frustration was that no one could see beyond that idea. One day, during a goggle search, the heavens opened, angels sang, I found a group of people on the CAN website who had the same questions as I did and had found a real answer.

I found a supportive community and a workable business model. I am currently talking to an acupuncture student (soon to be graduate) about a possible partnership. Metro Detroit needs a community acupuncture clinic. I no longer fear for my future, I just know in my head and my heart that my CA clinic is going to be successful.