Celebrating Black History
Celebrating Black History
And it’s significant contribution to acupuncture in the USA
While acupuncture was likely brought to the US in the 1800s by early Asian immigrants, it didn’t become known until the 1970s. During this time, acupuncture was commonplace use in the USA by Mutulu Shakur, the Black Panthers, and the Young Lords. The New York Lincoln Detox Center birthed The People’s Drug Program. It was the first drug rehabilitation treatment center to incorporate acupuncture in the USA, but it was also the first mass use of acupuncture by a private institution in the USA.
As an Doctor of Acupuncture, Mutulu Shakur worked for and led the Lincoln Hospital Detoxification Program in the Bronx in New York from 1971 to 1978. He later went on to find and direct the Black Acupuncture Advisory Association of North America. He didn’t just treat addiction disorders. He made high quality, low-cost alternative health care available to everyone in the area. Acupuncture became commonplace as a low-cost effective solution that was provided for persons of color.
This platform brought acupuncture onto the scene of healthcare and gave it credibility in our western world. The black contribution to acupuncture today in this country is substantial and that’s why I wanted to honor it here.
Pure Balance Holistic Healing, LLC does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, or gender in treatment or participation in its programs, services and activities. Everyone is welcome here and treated equally.