Anatomy of an Acupuncture Needle

More than occasionally, we're asked by a patient, "can i take one of those home to show my husband (or mother or neighbor)? They're scared of needles and maybe this will help". Well, no, we can't send you home with a needle. But, the following article has some great images of the kind of needles we use, along with some basic information. We hope it's useful.

http://acutakehealth.com/the-anatomy-of-an-acupuncture-needle

Thanks to POCA Tech Contributors

Our POCA Tech fundraiser has been a big success. We raised about $750 in December through mostly donations of five to fifteen dollars. Thank you all so much for contributing, and for moving us all a step closer to making an affordable acupuncture school happen so we can train the future punks we so desperately need to keep community acupuncture strong and growing.

Thanks to: Jean M, Laura BL., Loretta A, Steve Z, Mary D, Karen L, Ted S, Joan N, Shawn O, Alycia M, Karlo B, Lehlohorolo M, Sarah M, Gail A, Laura G, Barbara P, Anne S, Lucille R, Karyl C, Juan D, Kari T, Kathy K, Natalie J, Donna D, Forest M, Ana Christina, Barbara T, Anthony A, Bob W, Terry L, Ashley T, Robert A, Lucille R, Carmen C, Arthur L, Lori O, Steve M, Mary H, Beth T, Aimee M, Laura R, Liz A, Gale G, Deirdre H, Alan B, Louella H, Bob S, Sue b, Jim S, Susan H, Emma S, Gregory S.

The Coop: solidarity among clinics, and participation from many stakeholders

This weekend, the New England regional node of The People's Organization of Community Acupuncture met at the clinic. A warm and jovial mood filled the place as old and new friends arrived from New York, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. We were there, ostensibly, to keep the planning going for POCA Fest 2013 which will happen this spring here in Rhody.

Among the participants were front desk persons and administrators from various clinics, patients, people interested in attending POCA Tech, POCA members who'll be teaching or leading activities at the fest, owners and acupunks at existing clinics, and one long time acupuncturist who hopes to open a second Rhode Island clinic soon. As our international coop, POCA, heads in the direction of a more horizontal and less hierarchical structure, the meeting felt like a wonderful and important step in that process.

Everyone offered ideas and volunteered for various jobs at POCA Fest, about which we're all very excited. It'll be the first big community acupuncture happening planned and attended by not only acupuncturists, but by all these stakeholders in the coop.

Stay tuned for more info about POCA Fest 2013, taking place May 31 - June 2 at Camp Aldersgate in N. Scituate, RI. We'll be putting up a website soon, where you can register for a day or the whole weekend. Any of us at the clinic can answer questions about the event as well.

why we love our jobs

These two old blog posts from Lisa Rohleder, and the reader comments which follow them, keep coming up in my mind. Every day I work with patients at PCA, I feel grateful for my job, and for how I get to spend my time.


Please read, and enjoy. And, Happy New Year!

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