Bing Yang
Introduction
Acupuncture has been practiced in the United States since the 1970s, and in that time many scholars and practitioners have devoted themselves to the evolution and advancement of both the quality and status of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in the US. Dr. Xiaoming Tian, a world-renowned senior acupuncturist, has greatly contributed to these efforts.He is currently the Director of the Academy of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and his clinic the Wildwood Acupuncture Center in Bethesda, Maryland. While I have known Dr Tian personally for many years, this was the first time I had talked with him about his own experiences in clinical practice and public service.Besides a busy clinical practice, he has also actively advocated for the use of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. He has received many awards for his contributions in the United States and Worldwide, from organizations including the National Institutes of Health, the US Senate, and the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
For many years Dr. Tian served as the vice president of the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies. He was an advisor on Traditional Chinese Medicine for the World Health Organization, and the Pan American Health Organization from 1986 to 1989. From 1991 to 2005 he was a clinical consultant and developed the first acupuncture clinic at the NIH Clinical Center. He served as a member of the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy (WHCCAMP) in 2001 to 2002, and most recently in 2008 to 2013 he was a member of the National Advisory Council for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.His other interests include research into clinical applications of acupuncture for Fibromyalgia through a grant from the NIH. He has also developed several new supplements to help treat and prevent osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and manage sports injuries.
Dr. Tian obtained his medical degree from Beijing Medical University where he became interested in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. He went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship in bone pathology at Johns Hopkins University, and worked on biochemistry and the ultrastructure of bone at the National Institute on Aging and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research from 1982 to 1986.
In 1986 he established the Wildwood Acupuncture center in Bethesda Maryland. and over the years he and his team have treated more than 30,000 patients in the Greater Washington DC area. In 1996, he established the Academy of Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine to do research on herbal medicine and dietary supplements.
Interview content
In an interview in April of 2018, I asked him about his public service and his clinical success. Additionally, since he has observed the historical development of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in the U.S. I asked him to share his thoughts on the present and future of the development of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine.
As a practitioner, I was curious about the way he managed his clinic and what made it so successful. When asked what the most important characteristic an acupuncturist should have, Dr. Tian said he believes that the practitioner’s strong intention to care for patients is the most valuable factor, followed by good skills and techniques. He said “There are so many difficult diseases that we can’t deal with. However, if the practitioner is trying his best to help the patients, they can feel and appreciate that.
He also provided some details about the management of the clinic, saying that the practitioner should be always available to the patients. The availability includes being able to see the patients as soon as possible, and returning phone calls in a timely way. It is also important to make helpful suggestions and refer the patients to other doctors as necessary.
Secondly, the clinical effects must be satisfactory. Most times Chinese medicine doctors are the practitioners of last resort, the patients having already been to other western doctors before they come to see a Chinese medicine practitioner. Their conditions tend to be complex and challenging, which puts a high demand on Chinese medical practitioners. One needs to feel confident in Chinese medicine to treat the patients in accordance with Chinese medical principles and rules. According to Dr. Tian, he and his team have treated 250,000 to 280,000 patients in the past 32 years. These were often difficult cases which western medicine had not helped.
Third, as successful practitioners, they must get along well with doctors and other practitioners. Chinese medicine and western medicine are very different but often complementary systems, like the left and right hands. Sometimes these two, working together, can yield better results. Over the last three years（2016-2018）， roughly 70% of his referrals were from western doctors and other CAM practitioners. His clinic has a good reputation and maintains a healthy relationship with other hospitals and clinics.
We also discussed his experiences in the last 32 years in clinical practice and public service for the NIH and White House, along with recent historical milestones for acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. As a pioneer in this field, his experiences are unique, having contributed to and observed the gradual acceptance of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in the U.S.
His biggest challenge was legislation around Chinese medicine in the early 1980s. At that time, the validity of Chinese medicine was not recognized, and its effects were generally regarded as a placebo. The director of the NIH said they would not support Chinese medicine. In response to this Dr. Tian established his clinic in 1986, in hopes of providing treatment for patients who had not had results with western medicine. After having successfully treated a White House consultant with severe sciatica pain, along with many other difficult cases, the NIH eventually accepted acupuncture, and brought it into their clinical center in 1991. This was significant as it was the first time that the NIH ever had an alternative medical system practiced in their clinical center. “I was appointed head of the clinic and worked there for 16 years, treating a large number of patients, many of whom worked in the White House or congress. It was this patient base that finally made the legislation around acupuncture and Chinese medicine possible, since they were shocked to see how beneficial it was. “
Following that milestone, in 1998, the National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine was founded. Then, in 2002 the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy published their final report, and inside, the term “Traditional Chinese Medicine” first appeared in a White House document. It was regarded as a breakthrough for the development of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, since it acknowledges Chinese medicine as a medical system, which includes acupuncture, herbal medicine, tuina, and other therapies. The report was approved by the FDA, NIH, White House and Congress. To this day, this report is still recognized as a guideline for the development of complementary and alternative medicine, and healthcare reform. His own educational background as a doctor of both western and Chinese medicine allowed him to get along with both Western doctors, as well as other CAM practitioners. In his mind, all medicine, regardless of its source, belongs to humankind and should work towards the same goal, the improvement of human health and wellbeing. When he realized that it was of great significance to make the NIH acknowledge and approve the safety and effectiveness of acupuncture, he worked even harder to push it forward and get legislation established. As he said, “It is not easy and will take time, but we have to push forward, little by little, and we will get there. ” He spent over 30 years helping in the legislation process and promoting the acceptance of Chinese medicine, and he feels this was his biggest contribution, saying “This was also a process of learning how mainstream Americans think, and what we can do to push the Chinese medicine profession forward.” Being the first to lead the acupuncture clinic at the NIH clinical center, and as a member in the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy, he contributed to the legislation and acknowledgement of acupuncture and Chinese medicine. “I did what I could and felt satisfied with my work. ” He certainly should be proud of his work. According to a national survey in 2008 sponsored by National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, nearly 38% of Americans had experienced CAM treatments, and over 3,700,000 Americans had utilized acupuncture or Chinese medicine (Barnes, Bloom & Nahin, 2008). Since then the utilization of acupuncture has increased, prompting interest in the funding of biomedical research into acupuncture. (Austin, Ramamonjiarivelo, Qu and Griffith, 2015)
My last question was regarding the status and the future of acupuncture and Chinese medicine in the U.S. healthcare system. Dr. Tian was very optimistic, saying that “Acupuncture and Chinese medicine will develop faster and faster as more patients benefit from it. ” This is very true. Patients increasingly seek alternative and complementary therapies for the difficult diseases. The side effects of pharmaceutical drugs are often substantial, and rising healthcare costs are a heavy burden. The relatively low cost and few side effects of Chinese medicine make it a good fit for the American healthcare system.
Author information:
Bing Yang is an acupuncturist in Massachusetts. She received her bachelors and Master’s degrees in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine in the 1990s and her Doctoral degree from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS). Currently she is the associate professor and Director of Chinese Herbal Programs of New England School of Acupuncture, MCPHS. She also maintains a private practice in Boston.
