What Does a Chiropractic Acupuncture (DABCA) Specialist Do?

The holistic therapies of both chiropractic care and acupuncture are designed to eliminate pain and improve function without the use of drugs or surgery. So it’s natural for these two therapies to work in conjunction with one another, and a Chiropractic Acupuncture (DABCA) specialist employs the benefits of each to treat patients.

Acupuncture is an ancient form of Chinese medicine that works with the energy that flows along the body’s meridians. This energy can become blocked, leading to pain and dysfunction. The insertion of very fine needles (which can usually not be felt) at specific points along the meridians is used to clear these blockages and restore the free flow of energy once again. Chiropractic works in a similar way, in which the impulses that travel along the nerves sometimes become blocked by vertebral subluxations, which are corrected by a chiropractic adjustment.

Chiropractic acupuncture has been around since the late 1960s, and has gained a greater following with the increased awareness of the benefits of drug-free therapies that are more effective and less harmful than conventional treatments. According to the Council for Chiropractic Acupuncture (CCA), chiropractic acupuncture refers to “the art, science and philosophy of treating disease and injury by stimulating specific energy modulating points on the skin and is an approved specialty within the chiropractic profession. Methods of stimulation include, but are not limited to: needle insertion, electrical stimulation, light, heat and pressure. Chiropractic acupuncture treats a wide variety of health conditions which includes all systems and tissues of the body and focuses special attention to the relationship between the spine, nervous system and the meridian system.”

There are a number of chiropractic colleges, postgraduate courses and state associations that are accredited by the CCA where a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) can receive the training and credentials necessary to specialize in this field. The American Board of Chiropractic Acupuncture (ABCA) was created to ensure that safe, effective and knowledgeable practitioners were properly trained to meet nationally recognized standards in chiropractic acupuncture.

In order to become a Diplomate of the American Board of Chiropractic Acupuncture (DABCA), the ABCA has a number of requirements that must be met by DCs. First, they must complete a minimum of 300 hours of postgraduate training in chiropractic acupuncture. The first 100 hours consists of basic acupuncture training, of which 60 percent is lessons and 40 percent is hands-on training. The second 200 hours must be at least 30 percent hands-on training, with the rest consisting of lessons, 90 percent of which must be done on-site (10 percent distance learning is allowed).

So to enjoy the benefits of both chiropractic and acupuncture, look for a DABCA chiropractor in your area and find out what he or she can do for you!