Acupuncture for Hard-Working Texans: From Soldiers to Seniors — Who and When to Use It
- China Acupuncture Clinic Tyler
- Aug 11
- 6 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
When you hear “acupuncture,” you might picture incense, sitar music, or tie-dye shirts. But these days, it’s helping folks all across Texas—right in military hospitals, NFL locker rooms, and UT Health clinics—supporting everyday people just like you and me.
The truth is, acupuncture has earned its place in modern health care because it works — and it’s being used by soldiers, veterans, professional athletes, and salt-of-the-earth Texans who want to take back control of their health, without surrendering to a lifetime of medications or pain.
Your Texas Acupuncturist with World-Class Training: Blending Modern Medicine and Ancient Healing
“Acupuncture is more than relieving pain — it’s about giving people their life back with accessible, affordable, and effective care, so they can do the things that matter most.” — Erica Wang, Licensed Acupuncturist & Clinic Owner
With over nine years of clinical experience, Erica Wang brings a rare combination of modern medical knowledge and time-honored healing traditions to her patients. Trained in the Nursing Department of Taipei Medical University, Erica began her career in a hospital rehabilitation room, where she witnessed the remarkable results Traditional Chinese Medicine brought to stroke patients.
That experience inspired her to dedicate her life to acupuncture — using safe, evidence-based treatments to help people restore mobility, manage pain, improve sleep, and regain their quality of life. Today, she cares for Texans from all walks of life, including many veterans, offering compassionate, personalized care without heavy reliance on medications.
Acupuncture: Expert Care, Right Here in Tyler
Acupuncture uses ultra-thin, hair-fine needles to stimulate specific points on the body, restoring balance, and activating your body’s natural healing response by improving circulation. It effectively treats conditions such as back pain, sciatica, arthritis, migraines, insomnia, digestive issues, and side effects from cancer treatments.
Our clinic is the only one in Tyler with licensed acupuncturists — Erica Wang and Michelle She are both licensed by the Texas Medical Board — enabling us to offer a full spectrum of acupuncture therapies. We work closely with our chiropractor partners in the area, collaborating to provide the best individualized care. Interested in understanding how acupuncture differs from chiropractic treatments? Stay tuned!
Recognized as a proven and trusted therapy by healthcare authorities, acupuncture is now covered by many health insurance plans. We recommend checking with your insurance provider or contacting our clinic to help verify your coverage and benefits.
Acupuncture is often chosen by patients seeking natural pain relief, support for chronic illness recovery, or management of conditions not improved by other treatments. It is especially beneficial for older adults with osteoarthritis, neuropathy, or post-stroke rehabilitation. Because our licensed acupuncturists provide all treatments, patients can trust they are receiving effective, expert care. Acupuncture benefits a wide range of people — from military veterans managing service-related injuries to athletes recovering from intense training, and even busy parents juggling work, family and health.
Here are a few stories from veterans we’ve helped right here in Tyler.
Caring for Our Veterans with Skill and Respect
For many veterans, acupuncture isn’t just about reducing pain — it’s about taking back control of their health, mobility, and quality of life.
Many VA medical centers, including those here in Texas, refer veterans to our clinic for acupuncture as part of their ongoing care. Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of helping many veterans manage pain, recover from injuries, and maintain their health without over-reliance on medications.
Ray G., Veteran, CW2 U.S. Army, shared that after rods and screws were inserted in his lower spine, pain medications weren’t an option for him. Acupuncture treatments every other week have helped him manage chronic pain far better than any pill could, offering true, long-term pain management rather than a quick mask for symptoms.
K. Brown, CPO, USN (Ret), first came for migraine relief, seeing them drop from several a month to only 1–2 every couple months. Later, acupuncture supported his rotator cuff surgery recovery and ongoing knee treatment. He praises our clinic’s smooth coordination with VA referrals, ensuring care without delays or hassles.
Real words from real patients:
On the World Stage: Olympic and Professional Sports
Acupuncture — and its related therapy methods, cupping, gua-sha, and electrical stimulation — has been embraced by some of the most competitive athletes in the world:
Michael Phelps made headlines at the 2016 Rio Olympics when the round marks from cupping were visible on his back and shoulders. Other Olympians, like gymnast Alex Naddour and several U.S. swimmers, also used these therapies for faster recovery.
NBA teams, including the Oklahoma City Thunder, have incorporated cupping and acupuncture into their players’ recovery routines to keep them performing at their best.
Many NFL players, rodeo riders, and college athletes rely on acupuncture to manage pain, reduce inflammation, and recover more quickly after injuries.
While these high-profile examples highlight acupuncture’s effectiveness for elite athletes, the treatment is highly adaptable. Licensed acupuncturists like Erica Wang carefully assess each patient to determine the best combination of treatment methods. For example, Erica shared that some elderly patients may not be suitable candidates for cupping due to fragile or thinner skin compared to younger athletes. This personalized approach ensures safety and effectiveness for everyone, regardless of age or activity level.
A Practical Option for Everyday Texans
Here in East Texas, most of the folks we treat aren’t Olympians or NBA players — they’re hard-working ranch hands, small business owners, veterans, teachers, and grandparents who want nothing more than to get back to the honest, tough work they love — to show up strong and provide for their families, come rain or shine.
Acupuncture can help with:
Back pain from years of hard physical work
Joint pain or stiffness from old injuries or arthritis
Post-surgery recovery to reduce swelling and speed healing
Poor sleep, stress, or tension from long work hours
Smoking cessation and other health goals
When to Consider Acupuncture?
If you’re wondering when to start, acupuncture isn’t just for “when nothing else works.” It can be most effective when you catch problems early. You might consider booking a session if you:
Want to reduce or avoid reliance on pain medications for chronic pain, arthritis, or nerve issues.
Are recovering from injury or surgery and want to speed healing naturally.
Struggle with stress, sleep problems, or emotional imbalance that affect your daily life.
Live with chronic conditions like migraines, neuropathy, or autoimmune disorders.
Need accessible support beyond willpower to quit smoking or maintain healthy habits — for example, if you’re taking cholesterol medication but still battling food cravings.
Want to maintain peak performance — whether you’re a veteran, rancher, weekend golfer, or athlete.
The bottom line: You don’t have to wait until pain controls your life. Acupuncture can be part of your health toolkit to stay active, independent, and in control — without over-relying on medication.
Why Acupuncture Is Safe and Evidence-Based
Acupuncture is not just traditional wisdom — it’s backed by real research and trusted health organizations, making it a safe and effective option for many conditions.
Licensed acupuncturists use sterile, single-use needles thinner than a human hair.
Studies show acupuncture can stimulate nerves, muscles, and connective tissue to release the body’s natural painkillers, helping reduce chronic pain from arthritis, back pain, and migraines. (Vickers et al., 2018)
Research also shows acupuncture helps calm the nervous system to reduce stress and anxiety, and supports faster recovery with less inflammation after surgery or injury. (Zhang et al., 2014)
Acupuncture can aid smoking cessation and ease withdrawal symptoms, providing accessible support beyond willpower alone. (White et al., 2014)
It’s often used alongside — or in place of — conventional treatments to help reduce reliance on medications. (NIH Consensus Statement, 1997)
UT Health includes acupuncture as part of their integrated patient care services.
Trusted sources to learn more:
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) — U.S. government research on complementary health approaches
Veterans Affairs – Acupuncture: Ancient Therapy Used by Modern-Day Providers — how VA clinics are incorporating acupuncture for veterans’ care
UT Health Acupuncture Clinic — Texas health authority integrating acupuncture into modern patient care
Mayo Clinic: Acupuncture — a well-respected nonprofit medical practice and research organization offering recommendations on acupuncture and related health topics
Take Back Control of Your Health
You don’t have to accept chronic pain or depend on a growing list of prescriptions as your “new normal.” Acupuncture offers a way to take back control — working with your body to restore balance, reduce pain, and improve your quality of life.
If you’ve never tried it, talk to a veteran who found relief at our clinic, a rodeo rider who’s back in the saddle, or a neighbor who’s finally sleeping through the night again.
We’d be glad to answer your questions and help you see if it’s a good fit for you!
References
Vickers AJ, Vertosick EA, Lewith G, et al. Acupuncture for chronic pain: Update of an individual patient data meta-analysis. J Pain. 2018;19(5):455-474. PubMed
Zhang R, Lao L, Ren K, Berman BM. Mechanisms of acupuncture-electroacupuncture on persistent pain. Anesthesiology. 2014;120(2):482-503. PubMed
White AR, Rampes H, Liu JP, Stead LF, Campbell J. Acupuncture and related interventions for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;(1):CD000009. PubMed
NIH Consensus Statement on Acupuncture. National Institutes of Health. 1997.
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