| Beauty Articles :: Work It :: This Acupuncturist Has What It Takes to Make a Difference |
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| This Acupuncturist Has What It Takes to Make a Difference |
| by Robyn Tellefsen |
If you've ever questioned the validity of acupuncture, you're not alone. Tess Hahn, a licensed Acupuncturist practicing acupuncture and traditional Chinese herbal medicine in rural north Idaho, was skeptical when she first entered the field, too. But her mind was soon put at ease. "The more I questioned, the more I learned that acupuncture works to provide the right cues to the body's physiology to prompt it to do what it is designed to do -- to heal," she explains.
She may have never realized the need for acupuncture if she wasn't already working in the health care field. "With a background in nursing, I had seen gaps in what conventional Western medical care could treat," says the 57-year-old. She would recommend patients try acupuncture as a last resort, and she consistently received glowing reports. "I decided to study acupuncture to help me give people a better quality of life," explains Hahn, who has been practicing acupuncture since 1981.
It Takes Training
After attending acupuncture college, Hahn completed a clinical internship at a Traditional Chinese Medicine hospital in Beijing, China. "This was a great opportunity to learn from the source all of the many conditions that can be helped by acupuncture and herbal therapy," she says.
Even as a licensed acupuncturist with a diplomate in acupuncture from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), Hahn isn't finished learning. She completed specialty training in acupuncture orthopedics as well as courses leading to a doctorate in Oriental medicine, and she recently studied the use of acupuncture for cosmetic restoration. "Continuing education plays an important role in my professional life," she says.
Plus, these continuing education hours help her qualify for recertification by NCCAOM, which is required for licensure in most states.
It Takes Practice
What exactly does an acupuncturist do? "I help people get back to their own healthy selves using the science and art of traditional Oriental medicine," explains Hahn.
Her patients' symptoms range from musculoskeletal problems and chronic illness to stress and addictions. "People have been told they must 'just learn to live with it,' yet with acupuncture, the right prescription of Chinese herbs, and perhaps some advice on beneficial foods and exercises, they find that their life can be much more enjoyable," she says.
And there's nothing more fulfilling for an acupuncturist than playing a part in changing someone's life. "My favorite part of the job is helping someone whose mind and emotions have been feeling strained and seeing how rapidly they become centered and more themselves," she says.
If you're an aspiring acupuncturist, hear Hahn's words of encouragement. "It's a great profession for anyone who likes helping people heal," she says. "And, it has contributed greatly to my own well-being, too. I have the best job in the world."
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