 www.redrootacupuncture.comHi there friends. It's been a minute. 2024 was a rough year for me physically, spiritually, emotionally, in community and i needed a break. My chronic illnesses were not in check. I stepped away from social media. I broke off connections with some people i was in relationship and work partnership with. My very good friend and co-conspirator died.
Since October 2025 I have been doing deep self work, tending to my current relationships, re-establishing a loving relationship with myself, navigating disability and reading. I've been reading. I committed to reading only Black and Brown authors this year. and as of November 2024 i have read 35 authors of non fiction and fiction. I took up beading. in 2024 i took a series of classes on beading style basics at shipwreck but in January i took a 9 course online class to learn bead sculpture for anatomy with Teresa Sullivan, a brilliant bead artist and student of Joyce J. Scott. I have been helping out some farmer friends, doing herb stuff. I finished up a community Herbalist course through now and then herb school in May of 2024 I have been tending to relationships. I've been doing activism. Right now I am working in community to bring awareness to the new legislation that passed and was signed into law June 11, 2024 that allows non acupuncturists to become 5NP technicians. I learned about 5NP in 2020 when Canoe Journey Herbalists brought two instructors Monica Lucero and Arlo Star from Red Root Acupuncture in New Mexico (https://www.redrootacupuncture.com). It was on Puyallup territory and they were training the herbalists who show up to support canoe families during journey. It was the beginning of the pandemic, and it was the beginning of a shift for me. How, as a person who grew up in Chicago, with a background in public health and harm reduction care, did i not know the history of the Black Panthers Party and the collaboration of the Young Lords and their work in the South Bronx - Anti Blackness and Racism is why. but that's another story... you can learn more yourself here. I didn't get trained that year when Monica and Arlo taught, I learned and was trained through CJH in 2022 with Phyllis Spears. Non sequitur but i swear it's relevant-- Okay so, I'm a disabled vet and i rely on the VA hosptial for my health care. I have chronic pain and in 2024 i was finally able to get referred to the pain clinic at the VA. A process that required a 10 page essay application packet, an interview panel and months of waiting. it wasnt until mid 2024 that i learned that i could get acupuncture at the VA from a doc. You know what i got? 5NP...and it was really really helpful. I got ear seeds too. and other acupuncture points. but the thing is 5NP up until March 1 2026 can only be provided by a licensed acupuncturist, or MD. Unless you are on tribal lands those laws and regs don't apply ...which is why i got to experience it and learn to provide it to my community. 5NP is a community healing modality https://baaana.com/lincoln-detox-center-the-seed/ I was privileged to participate in an advisory committee to the Oregon Medical Board this past month, (2 dates in August, 1 in September) with a group of people comprised of Acupuncturists, Doctors, and Community members. I was interested in participating because as soon as i heard it was an initiative going to the capitol, I wanted to share my experience with 5NP and show support for it's passing and allowing people like me, who are community care-workers, who aren't ever gonna be a doctor, but do good work and have good community reputations, to offer this healing modality to their communities who would otherwise not receive it. Leading to gateways of opening up care routes that may not have been considered. I have been able to offer ear seeds and at the 2023 and 2024 come thru market free boot for Juneteenth and Black August we offered ear seeds at the 5 points for community. I offered ear seeds to protestors at PSU during the student protests in 2023. i've shared zines and showed others how to use the seeds. This new legislation would allow me to offer the needles as a registered technician. and you could too. This matters for communities that are historically excluded in Oregon, a state that was established as a white haven. it matters for us to have the legacy of the work of the Black Panthers Party and the Young Lords to be honored like community clinics and free breakfast and community schools. They were revolutionaries, and we are touched by their work every day. SO you made it this far, I have an ask. Will you participate in helping us push for the regulations for 5NP techs to be accessible? I have homework for you and it comes with a quick turn around time deadline. because it's important. Shit, i got back on the internet to ask you to join me. I need you to show up this Friday September 12 to the meeting OMB is having to discuss the regulations further. We need as many people as possible to show up to a virtual meeting next Friday 9/12 from noon to possibly 2 pm. You don’t have to speak or have your screen on! We just need to show up in numbers, the more of us the better. You can also provide written comments if you submit them no later than 24 hours ahead of time, by Thursday. Email them to [email protected] That would also be great! If you testified at the Capitol, feel free to recycle your testimony. Here’s the Zoom link for the meeting: ACUPUNCTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE DATE: Friday, September 12, 2025 TIME: 12:00PM to completion of business Public Attendance: Members of the public who wish to listen or provide public comment during Public Session of the Acupuncture Advisory Committee meeting may attend via Zoom at https://omb-oregon.zoomgov.com/j/1605126889?pwd=0NiMTKJPr0aVPVvEaCx0p2mUJvnPut.1 or by calling into the meeting at 1-669-254-5252 and entering the Meeting ID: 160 512 6889 and Passcode: 9676645022. We got through the work group, that's the thing i was on. it was 9 hours of my time. I learned A Lot. The next step is that the Oregon Medical Board’s Acupuncture Advisory Committee has to review the documents from the work group. It is a matter of public record so you can see what's up here. https://www.oregon.gov/omb/Topics-of-Interest/Documents/WG%20Packet%2009.03.25.pdf) And so it’s VERY important that we send a message that the public is watching this process. After my time on the committee, i do trust that the Oregon Medical Board supports the spirit of the law -- but in a way the OMB needs our help too. They are required to listen to Oregonians which includes the acupuncturists who are yelling that 5NP is dangerous. We need to show up so that the OMB can demonstrate that they are listening to us too. Tell your friends and your family! Even short written comments like “I support 5NP” are helpful. Join in on Sept 12, i'll be there, i've submitted testimony and i requested to speak at the community comments part of the meeting. Will i see you there? Okay. I gotta feed my pups. I am sending love and solidarity I hope to see you at this meeting and out in community. letty dogheart
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
