TULSA, Okla. — Right now, there are no regulations in Oklahoma involving acupuncture.
This means that anyone could insert needles into your body, without licensing or oversight.
Dr. Tamara Hall spent eight years earning her master’s and doctorate in acupuncture and oriental medicine. She has completed boards and biomedicine and eastern medicine, so she can read and understand lab work, x-rays, and MRI’s.
But right now, many of those offering acupuncture in Oklahoma do not have to have those advanced degrees.
“There’s just a lot of safety concerns that are not being addressed,” said Dr. Hall.
Andrew Buckner owns Dancing Crane Acupuncture and Wellness in midtown Tulsa. He received his master’s in oriental medicine, and like Dr. Hall, was shocked when he relocated to Oklahoma, to learn that acupuncture isn’t regulated in the Sooner State.
“It didn’t occur to me that you could practice anywhere in the country without a license,” said Buckner.
“We put needles in people, of all different lengths, in all different locations in the body, and there’s nothing that requires any type of oversight or training,” said Dr. Hall. “It’s so dangerous, it’s absolutely dangerous.”
Kathy Clarke is one of Dr. Hall’s patients. She moved to Oklahoma from New Jersey several years ago.
“I knew a doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine was the only person I’d ever let lay their hands on me,” said Clarke. “Someone else who’s not? no way... so finding out that Oklahoma doesn’t have the requirements in place saddened me.”
Proposed legislation would create the Oklahoma State Board of Acupuncture. Dr. Hall is meeting with the state health department next week, and she’s hopeful that lawmakers will push the legislation forward next year.
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