Traditional Chinese Medicine on a Budget: It isn’t Covered
One of the worst aspects of the way our health system runs revolves around the total exclusion of all holistic and proven ancient modalities for healing disease, even though they are generally much less costly. Forcing healthcare for those who are just beyond being subsidized takes away the money some put aside for supplements and non-insured approaches to healing and better health without side effects.
But here are some strategies available for using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), including both TCM’s herbal pharmacology and acupuncture.
Herbs and Consultations
Most Chinese medicine doctors have the title Doctor of Oriental Medicine (DOM). They charge an initial consultation fee that lessens once you start herbal treatments. The most traditional DOMs prescribe raw herbs they have in store, and you’re expected to brew them as teas in a traditional clay pot which can be purchased from them.
Weekly or bi-weekly, the herbs are adjusted according to the patient’s progress. Perhaps once a month you may be required to have another visit for the DOM to read your pulse and examine your tongue. Some DOMs specialize in brewing their own herbal concoctions and selling them inexpensively each time your pulse and tongue are examined.
Naturally, some DOMs are better than others. Unlike western allopathic medicine, TCM doesn’t have the one-size-fits-all mindset. It’s a healing art that’s meant to adjust to individuals. You can search out a good DOM and go strictly herbal with good results without breaking the piggy bank. Acupuncture is a booster rocket for TCM’s herbal remedies, and can even suffice as a stand-alone protocol.
But it’s pricier. Usually $50.00 or more for a session that gets you an hour under the needles. DOMs don’t push acupuncture with fear-based coercion, though. After all, there’s no insurance to cover it, so you can get by without acupuncture if it’s beyond your budget.
Although specific injuries and short term maladies can be handled quickly with TCM, constant treatments may be necessary to gain permanent benefits for overall health. You can receive acupuncture at lower costs.
Acupuncture on A Budget
Most oriental medicine acupuncture schools are set up to obtain at least an acupuncturist certificate (L.Ac.). They offer student sessions monitored by DOM teachers, and they are cheap at $15 to $20 per session. These schools usually have a pharmacy of herbal medicines to compliment your acupuncture or use without the needles.
Problem is, those schools are more concerned with teaching and producing professional acupuncturists and DOMs than following up on your case. And their sessions are usually set at 20 minutes or so.
A recent revolution was started in Oregon and has spread throughout North America, sort of a people’s acupuncture arrangement. It’s called the People’s Organization of Community Acupuncture (POCA), and they have clinics located in many areas throughout North America.
The clinics have an honor system sliding scale starting at $15 to $20, usually cash only. Each acupuncturist is at least an L.Ac (licensed acupuncturist). They also sell prepared TCM patent herbal medicines.
You can enjoy hour-long or more sessions under the needles, but they’re in a group setting with reclining “Lazy-Boy” type chairs. All that needs to be exposed in this setting are your arms and hands, lower legs and feet, your face and head, and the upper most area of your chest. Almost everyone falls asleep restfully under the needles. You can see if there’s a Community Acupuncture Clinic near you here.
This article would be informative without your ridiculously biased anti-Affordable Health Care rant. As is typical in a biased rant, your information is incorrect. The Affordable Health Care Act has opened up the possibility of insurance coverage of Traditional Chinese Medicine. http://www.aaaomonline.org/?page=supremecourt
Do a little bit of research next time.
I agree, but I don’t think that will happen. The biased rants and bad writing will continue here. Too bad, because they have a pretty good thing going, otherwise.
Lee and Mary; Are you two taking the same drugs? Is it possible that you can explain yourselves without ranting?
Lee and Mary are trolls ignore them and take control of your own health care. Your life is literally in your hands, do your research, go and meet with doctors of all types of practices, including Chinese Medicine, Acupressure etc.
Why didn’t you post my comment that corrected information you posted that wasn’t true. I work in the field!
For starters, it’s the Affordable Care Act. You, as a journalist, should write accurately. While I admire your website and most of its contents, I also use a lot of alternative med methods. However, the ACA never could have passed, even with its warts and all, had not the allopaths, i.e., approved, along with Big Pharma. At least it’s a start. If the naturopaths, homeopaths, et al., had been included, we’d have nothing.
Mary, apparently you know what it is, so what is the big deal? Now take a sip of your drink and go back to sleep.
For those who are desiring acupuncture, there is something called Community Supported Acupuncture or CSA that is a spreading movement to get acupuncture to people more affordably. I pay $15-$35 per session depending on their sliding scale. I highly recommend looking in to it if you need acupuncture treatments. Other professional Acupuncturists in town where I work charge between $50-$80 per visit.
Obamacare won’t cover it, because it means a cure without drugs.
Healthcare is all a facade, for it is not about your health concerns that matters, it is about the welfare of the giant food industry, drug sales, chemical/farm and medical industry’s to make money.
A cure means the money stops coming in and that includes the multi-billion dollar yearly donation industry.