This is now my third blog post on the subject of how to find the right acupuncturist for what you want to accomplish. The first, posted in 2019, was written for normies. The second, shared in 2025, is for people with HSD/hEDS, POTS, and/or MCAS but it’s mainly directed towards folks with HSD/hEDS. This post, as the title indicates, is for people with MCAS.
Yes, there is overlap and I will link some quotes from the older pieces. I don’t want to rewrite the same blog post for the third time. But there are some areas that are specific to MCAS that warrant a blog post of its own, so here you have it, dear reader: some info that (I hope) will make it a lot easier to find the right acupuncturist and to have a good experience when they treat you. And yes, it’s a bit of a long read… but if anyone is extra, it’s someone with MCAS. This is all useful info, I think.
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~~Benefits~~
But first… what can Chinese medicine do for you, a person with MCAS? This is a good question because, by the time you try acupuncture, you probably have been from pillar to post in your efforts to find relief. It’s not unusual for people to only try East Asian medicine when they get to a point of desperation, having tried all the other options first. So, again… what can Chinese medicine do for you and why might it be worth trying?
First and foremost: it is common for people with MCAS to be plagued by a sensitive and even volatile nervous system. Chinese medicine has a number of modalities that can address this issue (I’ll get back to this subject later, not to worry). We also have excellent herbal options for people who need options, especially if your skin is your hot spot for MCAS symptoms. Chinese medicine practitioners are usually obsessed with gut health and our nutrition paradigm could be a resource for you.1 Depending on which system is affected, we can soothe or nurture the organ(s) involved and potentially ameliorate your symptoms.
There’s a lot that an acupuncturist can do for a person with MCAS, but please be aware that you need to go to an actual practitioner of Chinese medicine. As you can see if you refer to the blog post mentioned here below, there are shifts in vocabulary and culture that imply what is not necessarily factual. Bottom line: no, your chiropractor is not delivering Chinese medicine when they give you a dry needling treatment. If you want the real deal, work with a licensed practitioner (LAc):
“Acupuncture as a term was coined in the 17th century by Dutch physician, Willem ten Rhijne, to describe what he observed in Asia. The word combines two Latin words: acus (“needle”) and puncturus (“pricking” or “piercing”). Common parlance over time made this word representative of what happens when you go get poked at your licensed practitioner of Chinese medicine’s office.
—A Short Dictionary of Terms: The Language of Chinese Medicine
And yes, this has begun to change recently. It started with “medical acupuncture,” blossomed via “drying needling,” and really got some legs with “trigger point therapy.” Language does change with the times, and so did the word acupuncture.
[…]
Anyway, when we say acupuncture, I view this as [Chinese medicine’s] version of needling, and if we’re talking trigger point therapy, we can keep in mind that even the ancient texts referred to needling places that hurt (“ashi” or “Oh, yes, this spot!”) points. These are needle-worthy spots on your body that do not correspond with acupuncture points but which, instead, are painful or reactive. However, if you do equate the term “acupuncture” with CM, then no, you’re not getting at the chiro’s, the PT’s, or the doctor’s office(s). Over there, you’re getting dry needling or, perhaps, trigger point therapy.”
~~Read their website carefully~~
On that note… it is important to look carefully at the practitioner’s website before you set an appointment.
Most acupuncturists specialize and they list what they do fairly clearly. It is easy to see that I specialize in HSD/hEDS and the common comorbids because I’ve got my original website, where it is evident (my earliest blog posts on the topic are from 2017), plus now I have this website, which is for our folks and entirely dedicated to our concerns. And I wrote a book on the topic. So yes, it’s quite obvious. That’s not always going to be the case, but it’s not a reason for despair. Knowing what to look for can help you to find the right practitioner even if you have to dig a little extra to get there.
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If you don’t have a lot of options because there just aren’t a lot of practitioners where you are or you have too many of them because you live in a big city or a place with a plethora of choices (Austin, Texas where I am, for instance) then you need to be a little more attentive. If the practitioner says that they work with our conditions, then that’s helpful. If they at least work with autoimmune diseases or allergies, they are potentially an option. But at least look for something that indicates ability to treat complex conditions.
VERY IMPORTANT: Look for any mention of moxibustion. Moxibustion is a form of heated herbal therapy and the smell is strong. I cannot be around it because it gives me an anaphylactic reaction. You might experience the same thing. Best to avoid unless you are sure you wouldn’t be triggered by the smell. Look on the page that lists what the practitioner offers. If moxibustion is on the menu you may want to reconsider that practitioner. Not everyone will react to the smell but those who do, really do. Keep that in mind as you search.
Of course, you do want to know about credentials. Your practitioner should be licensed and, as per the laws of your state, certified on the national level. For more on that, refer to my previous commentary on the subject:
“When you check their web site, it should say “L.Ac.” (licensed acupuncturist) and reference being an NCCAOM diplomate, which is the designation for having passed one’s board exams.1
—Acupuncture & EDS: How to Find a Practitioner of Chinese Medicine When You’re a Zebra
Different states have different requirements for licensing. In Texas, a practitioner of Chinese medicine must complete two years of herbal study as part of their program and pass a rigorous board exam before they are granted a license to practice acupuncture. Anyone who wants to call themself an herbalist can do so in Texas. A person can take a weekend course (or do nothing at all) and call themselves an herbalist here. But if you want to be a licensed acupuncturist in Texas, the standards are different. Either you complete the herbal coursework and pass the herbal board exam or you cannot get a license to practice acupuncture.2 “
~~Pre-visit communication~~
I do not have the slightest issue with new patients sending me an email about their concerns before even meeting me. No, I do not want a novella before I’ve even met you, but yes, if you are worried about whether or not my office is scent-free or you have any other specific concerns, then email and I will respond. If your potential acupuncturist ignores your email or is dismissive, then that’s your answer.
I do send a “welcome email” with paperwork to fill out before you get to my office and basic, helpful information about things like how to easily find my office in the office park, what you might want to wear (loose, comfortable clothing), a note about masking (I still mask in my office), and a declaration that my office is scent-free (so don’t wear perfume or clothes with heavy laundry soap smells).
If a patient asks, I will gladly let them know that the cleaning products used in my office are scent-free and the toilet paper and Kleenex tissues are scent-free too. I do not eat peanut butter sandwiches for lunch because I worry that I might have residue somewhere that would trigger an allergic patient. I keep fans blowing to move the air, have an air purifier to help reduce airborne risk, and the air conditioner filters are checked and changed regularly. I’m glad to share this information. A practitioner who treats MCAS patients should be perfectly happy to outline precisely what they are doing to make you safe. If they are not, then that says something about what they know or do not about MCAS.
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~~The treatment itself~~
There is a goal for your first treatment, and no, it’s not to try to ameliorate your issues. If that happens, that’s icing on the cake. What your practitioner should be doing on the first treatment is focusing on your reactions. They should start slowly, use few or no needles, and make sure not to overstimulate your system. Once they know you better, and once they know how you react to treatment, then they can pursue an outcome. But the first treatment or two should be dedicated to figuring out how to treat you without causing a flare.
I mentioned different modalities earlier. We have more than just acupuncture to offer you. When I have a mastie patient, I will often avoid the needles altogether at first. Instead, I might want to try a one-finger tui na (pronounced “twee nah,” this is Chinese manual therapy) treatment via a technique called yi zhi chan tui fa. I may also try a Japanese pediatric treatment called shonishin where I’d only touch the acupuncture point with a specific small tool that is used on little children in lieu of needles. Maybe I’d pick ear seeds or magnets instead of needles.2
Once I see how that goes, I could opt to place a needle or two, but gently and not in places that tend to hurt. And for the first treatment (and even maybe the second and third, if the patient is especially sensitive), I will either stay in the room with the patient or leave the door open so that they can call me if they feel like things are getting activated. At all times, a patient should feel safe and as though I am there and ready to remove the needle or change things as needed. I don’t know how others do it, but I communicate with my patients. I let them know my philosophy of practice and encourage them to express any concerns so that we can address them.
I also only treat one patient at a time because most of my folks are complicated and need my focused awareness, plus I do a lot of combined tui na/acupuncture appointments so I can be in two places at once anyway. Not all acupuncturists do that; many treat several patients in an hour. This could be problematic if they put a lot of needles in you and leave you while your qi shifts and the needles work their magic. That’s how people end up with flares if they have MCAS. A practitioner who treats multiple patients at once should have a bell or other method to call them to your room if you become uncomfortable.
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Bottom line: it really is important that the practitioner will start low and slow, and that they are attentive to you, whether or not they remain in the room throughout your whole treatment. People with MCAS can experience a really nice response from gentle treatment that is very responsive to the way their systems ebb and flow. That only happens when the practitioner is light-handed with the needles and attentive, though.
~~To recap~~
- Check the website carefully before setting your appointment;
- Pay attention to the practitioner’s communication style;
- Expect a “low and slow” approach until you know how you react;
- Do not waste your time on a practitioner that doesn’t seem willing to work with you, a person with MCAS.
This may seem like a lot, and yes, it is (I guess). But you know, and I know, that recovering from flares is a slog. We already have enough of a challenge with MCAS. We do not need to make things worse, or to let anyone gaslight us into accepting treatment that only hurts us.
Chinese medicine can be an excellent resource though. I resolved a lot of my own issues with it and I keep myself stable by keeping up with my treatments, both what I do myself at home and what happens at my weekly acupuncture appointment with my trusted practitioner. And yes, I’m lucky to be able to take care of myself, but when we find our right practitioner, that is indeed an act of meaningful self-care. I think it’s worth the front-end effort, anyway.
What do you think?
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Dr. Paula Bruno, Ph.D., L.Ac., is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, an AOBTA-CP traditional Chinese bodywork therapist, an author, and a health coach. She maintains an active and growing practice at Two Hearts Wellness, her Austin, TX office. Dr. Bruno is also available for distance appointments for wellness consultation or coaching.
In her first career, she was a Spanish professor.
Dr. Bruno’s specialties as a Chinese medicine practitioner include: • Musculoskeletal health (acute or chronic pain relief; Ehlers Danlos syndrome & hypermobility support) • Digestive support, gut health, and weight loss • Aesthetic treatment, including scar revision • Men’s health • General preventative care and wellness support for all persons.
She is the author of Chinese Medicine and the Management of Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome: A Practitioner’s Guide.
When you are ready to discover what traditional medicine plus a vibrant and engaged approach to holistic health can do for you, either contact Dr. Bruno or book an appointment online.
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Two Hearts Wellness/Holistic Health & hEDS does not accept paid advertising on this website and only relies on strictly necessary cookies. All our copy is generated by human effort (there is no AI slop here!)
Note: Material on this web site site is not intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease, illness, or ailment. A Chinese medicine practitioner in Texas identifies syndrome patterns but does not diagnose illness. Material on this web site does not purport to identify syndrome patterns.
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- I shared a heartfelt blog post on the subject of the holiday season and MCAS (“Holidays and MCAS: Surviving and Thriving From November To January“) that discusses this topic from a personal perspective. ↩︎
- I need to write an updated post about seeds, but another golden oldie that still has good info for you today is “Magic is in your Ears: Ear Seeds for Stress Relief, Weight Loss, Sleep Support, and More.” Biomagnetism, or magnet therapy, is also a wonderful option. Take a look at this recent blog post, “Magnet Therapy for Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: Gentle, Effective, and … Amazing” for more info on what magnets can do for you. ↩︎
