A Revolutionary Use of Acupuncture: The Real Story Behind Its U.S. Roots
Most acupuncture histories in the U.S. begin with James Reston, the New York Times journalist who famously wrote about receiving acupuncture for post-operative pain during Nixon’s historic trip to China in 1971. His article brought mainstream attention to this ancient medicine.
But the real turning point in bringing acupuncture into U.S. communities—especially underserved ones—wasn’t in the headlines. It was in the hands of the Black Panthers and the Young Lords, radical activist groups who believed healthcare was a human right.
In the early 1970s, these groups established the Lincoln Detox Center in the Bronx, offering community-based, drug-free treatment for heroin addiction. Unsatisfied with the methadone model, they turned to acupuncture—still only approved for clinical trials by the FDA at the time—and began training practitioners and treating thousands of patients for free.
Mutulu Shakur and the Birth of a Movement
One of the most powerful figures in this movement was Dr. Mutulu Shakur, an acupuncturist and co-founder of the Black Acupuncture Advisory Association of North America (BAAANA) and the Harlem Institute of Acupuncture. Dr. Shakur, also known as Tupac Shakur’s stepfather, was a visionary who saw acupuncture not only as a healing tool, but a vehicle for liberation and self-determination in Black communities.
Under his leadership, the Lincoln Detox Center helped develop the NADA protocol (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association), a five-point ear acupuncture treatment now used worldwide to support addiction recovery, PTSD, trauma, and mental health.
The ripple effects were profound. This grassroots acupuncture program helped legitimize acupuncture in the U.S., inspired the creation of state acupuncture boards, and opened doors for future generations of integrative health practitioners.
Erasure and Resilience
Despite its success, the Lincoln Detox Center was eventually shut down during the U.S. government’s COINTELPRO operation, an effort to dismantle radical political movements. This closure, and the silencing of its legacy, is part of a broader pattern of erasing Black innovation in healthcare.
Today, we reclaim this history. We honor it. And we say their names.
Moving Forward with Respect and Reciprocity
At Lotus Leaf Health & Wellness, we are proud to practice a medicine that has crossed cultures, borders, and generations. Chinese medicine has always been about harmony and balance—not just in the body, but in society.
We recognize the powerful role African American leaders have played in bringing this medicine to U.S. soil—not through academic institutions, but through community action, resistance, and a deep commitment to healing.
This month, we invite you to explore this history more deeply, and to join us in advocating for equitable, culturally competent care in all health systems. We’ve compiled a list of resources to support the health and wellness of the African American community, and we welcome your suggestions on how we can continue to learn, engage, and uplift.
Resources to Explore:
Healing is not apolitical. It’s revolutionary.
To our African American siblings: thank you for your courage, your vision, and your lasting imprint on the heart of Chinese medicine in the West.
With reverence and solidarity,
Cally Huttar, PhD, LAc, FABORM
Lotus Leaf Health & Wellness
