Acupuncturists Without Boarders

After Hurricane Katrina, I was searching for volunteer opportunities for nurses as I figured there was nothing I could do as an acupuncturist. I was wrong . . . sort of. Acupuncturists Without Boarders, an organization that provides free community acupuncture in various venues, attempted to render assistance in New Orleans but had to undergo a few rounds of battle with the Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners. In the end, the acupuncturists won out and were able to offer hundreds of free acupuncture treatments to the victims and were able to obtain waivers for out-of-state practitioners. This is a fantastic move forward in spreading awareness not only about acupuncture and oriental medicine, but the role community-style acupuncture can play in traumatology and environmental stressors.

The mission of Acupuncturists Without Borders is to help alleviate suffering of people worldwide in urban and rural communities in need, and to support self-empowerment, through community acupuncture treatment and training. Your support of AWB helps establish and maintain our programs so that the benefits of this beautifully simple and effective treatment can be brought to these communities.

AWB was established to develop and implement acupuncture based programs that help facilitate community and personal healing in the face of large-scale traumatic events and their aftermath. When left untreated, the emotional and psychological consequences of trauma have the potential to compound the damages, further unraveling lives.

Acupuncturists Without Borders (AWB) is devoted to bringing compassionate and effective relief to underserved communities affected by natural disaster, war, conflict and poverty around the world. Utilizing community acupuncture, and working through local alliances, our initial presence in an area is devoted to overcoming the immediate effects of trauma. In some cases where the situation is not acute, but the need is great, we will develop longer term training programs for local professionals in basic acupuncture.


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