FALL 2025 LICENSE RENEWAL BEGINS OCTOBER 1, 2025
Some Fluids Are More Important Than Others
July is Cord Blood Awareness Month. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists,
cord blood is that which is left from a baby in the umbilical cord and placenta after birth, containing hematopoietic stem cells. These special cells can be used to treat certain types of diseases and disorders.
The first cord blood transplant was completed by a team led by Dr. Elaine Gluckman in 1988. This success is the cornerstone of the cord blood industry to date including, harvesting & storage, research and the treatment of a variety of maladies.
Blood is just one of the body’s more than one dozen fluids. What are bodily fluids? Simplistically, they are substances produced by the body that are necessary to life. According to a National Library of Medicine (NIH) article,
Physiology: Bodily Fluids, our body composition is majority fluid. More specifically,
“Human beings are creatures that are primarily composed of water. It is
the essence of life and the aqueous base solution in which all essential biochemical processes occur that produce life. Humans are approximately
75% water by mass as infants and 50% to 60% water by mass as adults. Furthermore, fluid is always in flux through various regulatory mechanisms
to maintain appropriate concentrations throughout the various compartments of the body. “
Another NIH article,
In brief: What does blood do? documents that one of the essential components of blood is water. The four essential components are red & white blood cells, platelets and plasma. Plasma is majority water. In both Western and Eastern medicine, blood is referred to as essential to overall body function. It is so consequential to life because it flows throughout the body performing essential functions such as 1) regulating body temperature, 2) fighting infection, 3) removing waste products, 4) managing the healing process for bleeding and 5) carrying nutrients & oxygen to the whole body.
In Traditional Chinese/East Asian Medicine (TCM/EAM)blood is revered as a vital lifeforce with even more responsibility than is characterized by Western medicine. In addition to the five functions listed above, blood in TCM: 1) nourishes the body, 2) moistens the body, 3) harboring the mind, and 4) managing menstruation.
In TCM blood has its origin from two sources: Grain Qi and Essence. The first is founded on food & drink and the second bone marrow. Blood is a Yin substance that is inseparable from Qi because without it there would be no life force.
So both Western and East Asian medicine agree that while blood is not the only bodily fluid, it is the most important fluid. Cord Blood Awareness Month supports the emphasis espoused by both Western and East Asian medicine and research continues to demonstrate that EAM supports Western medicine in the health of Americans. To learn more check out the resource list below.
Resources:
Regulatory Basics You must have a license to practice. It is illegal to practice acupuncture and use East Asian medical therapies without a license. You must also obtain additional certification to practice on animals. Certain non-acupuncturist professionals may practice as
Auricular Detoxification Specialists if they register with the Board and renew their registration. If your license or registration has lapsed please take action to reinstate before you practice.
The
National Auricular Detoxification Association (NADA), is the professional organization for all certified Auricular Detoxification Specialists (ADS). NADA offers the training to become a certified ADS in Maryland, offers membership and is a valuable resource for ADSes.
The
American Acupuncture Society (ASA), the practice’s professional organization, has a Maryland arm - The
Maryland Association of Acupuncture and East Asian Medicine (MAAEAM)- that offers membership. MAAEAM is a valuable resource for Licensed Acupuncturists.
About Paper Licenses The Board does not issue printed licenses. Please visit the
License Verification and Roster Information page to print and/or save a copy of your license status.
About Forms of Payment The Board no longer accepts checks or money orders. All payments must be made by credit or debit card.
About Practice Scope The practice statutes and regulations can be accessed from the Board’s landing page via the
Regulations, Board Meeting Minutes & Newsletters menu item on the left. The Board does not have the authority to interpret statute or regulations. Please consult with a legal professional if additional understanding is required.
About Continuing Education At present the Board does not approve/accredit/endorse specific
continuing education (CEU) providers. Licensees should ensure that the CEU provider is legitimate and provides content that meets industry standards. From time to time the Board does share training information. This does not mean that the Board has a relationship with this provider.
About License Status The Board has two renewal cycles annually: Spring & Fall. This means that the renewal system is only open twice a year beginning April 1st and October 1st. Spring renewals expire on May 31st and Fall renewals on November 30th. The Board sends notices by email and mail to licensees when it is time to renew.
About Contact Information The Board must be able to contact licensees at all times. This means that the Board must have licensees correct contact information at all times. If you change your address, phone number or email address please
inform the Board of the change so that we may reach you.
About Contact Information Licensees are required to advertise and practice in the name for which they are licensed. Name changes must be
reported to the Board with supporting documentation.
*The form to report contact and name changes can be accessed in two ways on the Board’s website: 1) on the
Apply for an Acupuncture License page and on the
Resources, Requirements & Information Requests page.
WHAT’S ON THE 2025 CALENDAR:
- July Fourth Holiday - office closed
- July 8th Board Meeting
- Labor Day Holiday September 1st - office closed
- September 9th Board Meeting
- Fall License Renewal Season: October 1st - December 31st
- Columbus Day Holiday October 13th - office closed
- November 4th Board Meeting
- Veterans’ Day Holiday November 11th - office closed
- Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Fall Conference (Virtual) November 12th - 14th
- Thanksgiving Day Holiday November 27th - office closed
- American Indian Heritage Day Holiday November 28th - office closed
- Christmas Day Holiday December 25th - office closed
- Maryland State Legislative Session January 2026
- 9th Edition of International Conference on Traditional Medicine and Integrative Health June 22-24, 2026 | Barcelona, Spain
