Are you NCCAOM (National Board) certified in BOTH acupuncture AND Chinese Herbology?
Some acupuncture practitioners never study herbs as part of their formal education, but can, with an acupuncture license in most states, recommend and sell herbs to their patients, even without any academic training. If your practitioner will be recommending herbal formulas, be certain they are NCCAOM certified in Chinese herbology–the minimum standard certification they should hold to dispense herbs in their practice. It is also advisable to seek a practitioner who can create custom formulas to match your individual patterns and presentation. Being able to offer custom loose-herb formulas or granules is a good sign that the practitioner is not just practicing “cookbook” style herbology and can make a sophisticated formula that not only meets your needs but will be safe in all phases of your menstrual cycle. Also, if you are taking pharmaceutical medications, your practitioner should be aware of potential herb-drug interactions and contraindications. Some herbs are potentially toxic a
