Photo Credit Antonika Chanel
THE MISUNDERSTOOD TREATMENT
Unveiling the Mysteries of Acupuncture
BY DAPHNE ORTIZ
hile many
individuals may have
heard of
acupuncture or experienced it firsthand, few people can explain its underlying mechanisms or how it diverges from conventional medical practices in its approach. Most respond with “it just works!”
In her new book, Demystifying Acupuncture: Modern Answers About Ancient Medicine, Sina
Smith, MS MA LAc MD, uses her 27 years of medical experience and expertise as a professional educator to adeptly pull back the curtain on acupuncture, sharing the art, science, and evidence-based principles behind the ancient practice to educate readers and encourage them to take control of their wellness journey.
Once a skeptic herself, Smith combines a deep understanding of acupuncture with her extensive conventional medical training, drawing from her own experience as an acupuncture patient. She earned her MD from the University of Illinois Chicago in 2004 and pursued general surgery training. However, her aspirations were derailed when she developed radial tunnel syndrome, resulting in temporary paralysis of her hands and consequently the abandonment of her lifelong dream of becoming a surgeon. Encountering acupuncture as a treatment for her condition sparked a profound shift in her career trajectory, and she transitioned to become a board-certified, licensed acupuncturist, and integrative medicine practitioner.
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