Dear CSOMA Community,
We are pleased to announce AB 2497 was amended to remove dry needling at the May 14th Assemby Appropriations Committee Hearing (announced at 2:25:25).
This achievement is the direct result of our community coming together with one clear, unified voice. We want to extend our deepest gratitude to our dedicated members, the many licensed acupuncturists (including many out-of-state practitioners) students, and patients who stepped forward to advocate for our profession. Whether you traveled to Sacramento, testified at hearings, submitted letters, or shared your stories, your individual contribution made this collective win possible.
A special thanks goes out to the California Acupuncture Coalition (CAC) along with the tireless work of Niccolo De Luca and his team at Townsend Public Affairs.
While we celebrate this milestone, we remain vigilant and proactive. Legislative history shows us that efforts to expand scope into dry needling often resurface in future sessions. Our success today creates a powerful precedent, but our work is not done.
CSOMA will continue to monitor all legislative developments closely. We ask for your continued commitment and engagement as we remain prepared to defend our profession and the safety of the public whenever necessary.
Together, we made this possible. Thank you for standing with us!
In other news:
Thanks to all who attended last week’s webinar with Joshua Margolis: In the Footsteps of Hua Tuo: Segmental Acupuncture and You. A replay of the webinar can be found on our YouTube channel.
Dan Bensky: Utility of Palpation in Traditional East Asian Medicine
When: Tuesday, June 9 | 7-9PM PST
Where: Online --> Register here
CEUs: 2 CAB(Category 1)
Registration: $32 for CSOMA Members, $80 for non-members, $0/FREE! No-credit option
Meet the speaker: Dan Bensky, D.O. My qualifications include a diploma in Chinese medicine from the Macau Institute of Chinese Medicine (1975), a DO from Michigan State University COM (1982), a Masters in Classical Chinese from the University of Washington (1996), and a Doctorate in the Discussion of Cold Damage from the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (2006). I have helped write such books as Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica and the Discussion of Cold Damage with Commentaries for the Clinic. I have been fortunate enough to study with great osteopathic teachers including Jean-Pierre Barral and Robert Fulford and have been sharing what I’ve learned for over 40 years.
About the class: Traditional East Asian Medicine (TEAM) is a dynamic tradition that, while largely text-based, requires genuine engagement rather than rigid adherence to protocols. The gentle diagnostic touch of palpation can serve as a crucial tool for helping patients with TEAM. Course objectives include:
Understanding our approach to TEAM's core conceptual framework
Understanding the ramifications of the concept that "the response is the treatment"
Understanding some of the basic parameters of effective palpation in acupuncture.
Identifying the phenomena of overtreatment and know how to respond.
Learning some of the styles of acupuncture that focus on palpation and how to access ways to learn them.
Understanding the basics of the Engaging Vitality technique called "Qi Signal Assessment" and how to practice it.
Save the Date!
Sept 24-25/Thurs-Fri, CSOMA Fall Conference in Oakland
CSOMA 2026 Events
Thank you for reading,
CSOMA
CSOMA Partners
CSOMA is grateful to the partners who support our work and the broader acupuncture community. Their partnership helps sustain our advocacy and education efforts. Please support them!
