The history of acupuncture in Iowa was another challenge and opportunity. For decades, acupuncture was only found among a few MDs and DOs, with their limited knowledge and training, and a few renegade Asian Americans who practiced in their own communities. In the late 1980s two traditionally trained acupuncturists (one Asian and one Caucasian) began practicing amongst the mainstream society in Des Moines. They were quickly popular, maybe a bit too much so! This competition resulted in an Osteopathic Medical Board resolution that limited acupuncture to licensed D.O.s, thereby ceasing the practice of the higher trained traditional acupuncturists, who left the state to survive.

        Of course, as we have seen repeatedly in Iowa's history, the people of Iowa refuse to be limited in their choices. A group of patients of the traditional acupuncturists teamed up with some brave legislators and took on the Medical Boards' rulings. In 1993, this group prevailed in passing a limited Registration law for nationally trained acupuncturists, a unique success in the US! Iowa is the only state to pass acupuncture legislation without any actively practicing, renegade acupuncturists leading the fight! For instance, Illinois had hundreds of renegade acupuncturists practicing as felons. It took them until the late 1990s to pass licensure, and they are still restricted from using herbal medicine.

        When we opened our clinic at 1221 Center Street, Des Moines in January of 1997, we worried that the limits placed on Registered Acupuncturists would prevent us from thriving. We were only the 4th & 5th people to become registered in Iowa, and only one other was actively practicing (Elisa Buenaventura in Fairfield). The law stated that in order to perform acupuncture we must get written permission from a licensed MD, DO, DC, Psychiatrist, Nurse Practitioner or Podiatrist for each patient and separate permission for each condition we would treat. We had moved from states (New Mexico & Colorado) that allowed us to practice openly and thoroughly, and worried about whether practicing in Iowa was even feasible. How was this going to work? Would we really get permission from a MD to treat colitis or PMS with acupuncture? Was a psychiatrist really going to let us treat their depressed patients? In desperation, we created a form for prospective patients to take to their doctor that had to be signed before we could see them. Imagine the stress that resulted when a desperate person in pain had to go back to their inefficient medical professional, tell them the standard care was failing and ask for permission to see an acupuncturist. Everyday, our compassion and patience was being tested. Yet, everyday brave people faced their doubting (and sometimes outraged!) medical professionals and asked to try this ancient yet novel therapy.

        Our practice grew and our reputation spread! This young idealistic couple, pouring passion into the iowa acupuncture clinic, and our patients rewarding us with referrals and their gratitude!

         Knowing that the law needed to change, in 1998 we set about trying to do so. We contacted Iowa Senator Elaine Szymoniac and asked for sponsorship of a Licensed Acupuncturist legislation. This bill was modeled after the standard licensure that was passing all over the US and whose most important feature was the removal of the referral requirement. This effort took 3 years and its success lead to the expansion of acupuncture in Iowa. At present time, there have been almost 70 Licensed Acupuncturists approved in Iowa--a tiny but growing fraction of the thousands of acupuncturists in the whole US.

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