Book Recommendations For Acupuncturists & Acupuncture Patients
Let’s get something out in the open: I’m a huge book nerd. I collect books of all kinds (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, anyone?). Maybe you do, too?
There are the acupuncture and practice management books that I’ve found to be particularly useful. The prices are just for reference from Amazon – obviously they may change over time.
Some of these links may be affiliate links, and I earn a commission if you click them and place an order (with no extra charge to you). I’m recommending these books because I find them useful and I think you will too!
(If you have personal favorites on these topics, let me know; I’ll review them on the blog and maybe include them here!)
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT BOOKS:
Making Acupuncture Pay: Real-World Advice for Successful Private Practice, by Matthew Bauer, L.Ac. – from $8.50, Used
A comprehensive practice management guide from Matthew Bauer, L.Ac., an expert who has been in practice almost 30 years and sees up to 100 patients a week. Thorough, real-world advice. Like Points for Profit, this one should be required reading for every student, no exceptions. You might also recognize Matthew Bauer as the founder of The Acupuncture Now Foundation (ANF). ANF’s goal is to educate the public about acupuncture that so it becomes more widely accepted, which in turn will make acupuncturists more successful as a whole. Don’t miss this book!
The Practitioner’s Journey, by Dan Clements and Tara Gignac, ND – from $11.88, Used
The Practitioner’s Journey is a great read; it combines both storyline and practical advice and is meant to inspire as much as it instructs. I definitely recommend this book! Dan Clements and Tara Gignac, ND, run the amazing Practitioner’s Journey Blog, which is a practice management and marketing resource for complementary practitioners of all kinds. They write advice for practitioners of all kinds, not just NDs.
Escape 101: The
Four Secrets to Taking a Sabbatical or Career Break Without Losing Your Money or Your Mind, by Dan Clements and Tara Gignac, ND – from $7.15, Used
This is such a great read! Again, part story and part advice, this book helps you see that you can take a break (or even just a vacation, or maternity leave!) from your practice without sacrificing your business. An inspiring read for anyone who needs a little time off but fears they can’t ever afford to take it.
Points for Profit, by Honora Wolfe – from $14.81, Used
This is a classic, written by Blue Poppy powerhouse Honora Wolfe (wife of Bob Flaws). It provides info on practically every topic in practice management, including “Legal Stuff,” “Business Models,” “Working in Hospitals,” “Creating a Business Plan,” “Growing Your Life and Avoiding Burnout,” and much more. A pleasant, easy read. Bonus: it comes with a CD with helpful documents to use in your clinic. It will help you think like a business person-acupuncturist.
The Success Principles, by Jack Canfield – from $0.27, Used
A great book to help you hone your goals. Jack Canfield is the dude behind the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, so inspirational books are his specialty, and this is his coup de grâce. (Or at least I think so.) If you feel a little lost or stuck, like you have a specific vision for your practice in your mind but it just isn’t coming to fruition, this is the book for you. It’ll lead you step-by-step through how to achieve your personal version of success.
The Ultimate Small Business Marketing Guide, by James Stephenson – from $0.15, Used (<< Yep.)
This book from Entrepreneur Magazine offers 1500 quick-read tips on how to reach more clients and expand awareness of your business. I loved it for those quiet weeks at the office, when I felt like, “Where are all the patients this week?” When those weeks happen, choose at least one tip per day to boost your marketing. Since there are 1500+ ideas, there are plenty you haven’t thought of before. It’s so cheap, there’s no reason NOT to give it a try!
Acupuncture Research – Strategies for Establishing an Evidence Base, by Dr. Hugh MacPherson – from $47.79, Used
I’m going to include this in the Practice Management Books category because I think it’s important to be able to talk to potential patients (and naysayers) about acupuncture research and when it’s valid or not. It’s also important to know how to assess some of those crazy articles people post on Facebook – to be able to follow the links and decide for yourself if a study is valid. This book will teach you how to do that with confidence.
BOOKS TO RECOMMEND TO PATIENTS:
Pocket Atlas of Chinese Medicine, by Marnae Ergil & Kevin Ergil – from $33.35, Used
A fantastic book for the layperson who wants to learn more about acupuncture, written in a very easy-to-read style. It has tons of great pictures and covers a wide range of TCM topics, including tui na, qi gong, tai ji, Chinese dietetics, the history of acupuncture, TCM research, and of course, acupuncture and herbs. I recommend this one first, to get people used to the big concepts in Chinese medicine, and then if they want more TCM theory, I direct them towards The Web, below.
The Web That Has No Weaver, by Ted Kaptchuk – from $5.95, Used
I’m sure everybody’s familiar with this classic already, but it’s worth a good mention. I recommend this one to patients or incoming students who are interested in some deeper reading. This one’s not necessarily for someone who wants a general overview, but it’s fantastic for someone with serious interest in acupuncture from a Chinese medicine perspective.
Feed Your Face – Younger, Smoother Skin and a Beautiful Body is 28 Delicious Days, by Dr. Jessica Wu – from $4.36, Used
When I was in private practice, one of my specialties was cosmetic or facial rejuvenation acupuncture, and this was my favorite book to let patients borrow. Written by a dermatologist in Hollywood, I used to recommend it for patients to use while they’re getting cosmetic acupuncture treatments, because I (personally) felt the whole foods, low-sugar lifestyle it promotes resonates with Chinese medicine dietetics. It’s also a fun read, with excerpts from celebrities that Dr. Wu has treated, and great before/after pictures.
Letting Go of Stress (Relaxation and Meditation CD), by Dr. Emmett Miller and Stephen Halpern – from $3.88, Used
This is my all-time favorite relaxation and meditation CD, for my own use and to recommend to patients. It’s outstanding in that everything is pitch-perfect – the imagery is wonderful (beaches, for example) and the content is not cheesy or strange, like some meditation CDs. The music is just right, mostly synthesizers and piano. Overall, it’s a CD that even someone who doesn’t like meditation (like myself) can really enjoy.