Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Day 2025: A Heartfelt Thank You for the Journey in Flatiron NYC

October 24, 2025
By Marc J. Gian, L.Ac., LMT | MJG Acupuncture & Massage

Hey my amazing New York community — patients, students, and fellow “healers” lighting up Flatiron, Union Square, Gramercy, and Chelsea. Today, October 24, 2025, is Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Day, and I’m filled with gratitude as I sit in my Flatiron studio with the city humming outside. Without you — your trust, your stories, and your courage to heal — none of this would exist.

From nurses grinding through shifts to creatives chasing dreams in Chelsea, you’ve been my teachers, my spark, and my reason to keep going. Today isn’t just about acupuncture or Oriental medicine. It’s about us — building wellness together in the city that never slows down.

Let’s take a moment to explore the heart of this practice, how my journey began with Tui Na in 1998, and how acupuncture found its way into the American story. Thank you for being part of it all.

What’s Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Day All About?

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Day, celebrated every October 24 by the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, is a tribute to more than 2,000 years of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It’s a time to reconnect with Qi — the vital energy that flows through the body — and to restore harmony between body and spirit.

In a city like New York, where the pace never slows, this day is an invitation to pause, breathe, and find balance again. At MJG Acupuncture & Massage, every session in Flatiron and Brooklyn carries that same spirit — healing that fits your life.

For me, this work is deeply personal. Every needle I place and every story you share fuels my purpose. From Flatiron professionals to Gramercy artists, your openness makes this possible. Today, I’m saying thank you for trusting me to guide your wellness and for teaching me as much as I’ve ever taught you.

My Journey: From Tui Na in ’98 to a Calling to Heal

Back in 1998, I was a massage student studying Tui Na, the traditional Chinese medical massage focused on moving Qi to release pain and tension. The first time I felt a client’s energy shift beneath my hands, I knew I had found something bigger than technique — I had found purpose.

That moment became a doorway into Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture, a path that allowed me to help people on every level: body, mind, and spirit. I dove into studying meridian theory, herbal medicine, and the philosophy of balance — not for credentials, but for the people I knew would someday walk into my clinic needing this medicine.

More than 25 years later, I’m still here, with clinics in Flatiron and Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Your stories have shaped everything — from earning the Kamwo Meridian Award to launching Meridian Biologix essential oils and writing Holistic Aromatherapy and The Inner World of Night Dreams. None of it would exist without your trust.

The Benefits of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in NYC

If you’re caught in the NYC grind — tight shoulders from subway crowds, anxiety from deadlines, or fatigue from long days — acupuncture and Oriental medicine offer real, lasting relief. These therapies view the body as a whole, balancing energy flow to treat root causes rather than symptoms.

Melting Stress and Anxiety

The city’s pace is relentless. Acupuncture helps calm the nervous system, lowers cortisol, and increases serotonin for a deep, natural calm. I often pair Heart 7 with a drop of palmarosa oil for emotional balance. One Union Square teacher told me, “Marc, your needles were like a reset button — I’m finally sleeping again.”

Oriental medicine also integrates herbs like chamomile and breathing practices that help you stay centered even on the busiest days.

Easing Pain and Restoring Movement

From hours at a desk to pounding the pavement in Chelsea, NYC life takes a toll. Acupuncture stimulates blood flow and endorphins, easing chronic pain and supporting recovery. I often combine it with Gua Sha or cupping, especially for athletes and office workers.

Herbs like turmeric and frankincense oil help reduce inflammation so you can move more freely in the city that never stops moving.

Boosting Immunity and Energy

As fall settles in, acupuncture strengthens Wei Qi — your body’s natural defense energy. Clients often tell me they notice fewer colds and more stamina. Pairing treatment with astragalus herbs or eucalyptus oil supports the lungs and immune system for the colder months ahead.

Balancing Digestion and Calm

New Yorkers run on coffee and quick bites, and that often catches up with the gut. Acupuncture along the Stomach and Spleen meridians helps ease bloating, IBS, and sluggish digestion. A Union Square client told me, “My stomach has been calm for the first time in years.”

Peppermint oil on Stomach 36 is one of my favorite home remedies — simple, effective, and grounding.

Sharpening Mind and Heart

Mental fog and burnout are part of city life, but acupuncture helps clear and steady the mind by balancing Heart and Kidney meridians. One Gramercy teacher said, “Your sessions keep me focused for my students.” Adding adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha can enhance clarity and resilience for those long New York days.

Acupuncture’s Journey to the U.S.: A Quick Timeline

2000 BC — Ancient Chinese texts like the Huangdi Neijing describe meridians and Qi.
1820s — U.S. physicians experiment with acupuncture, though it remains obscure.
1971 — Journalist James Reston’s acupuncture story in The New York Times sparks national curiosity.
1972 — Dr. Yao Wu Lee opens New York’s first acupuncture clinic.
1976–1980s — States begin licensing practitioners; public trust grows.
1997 — The NIH recognizes acupuncture for pain and nausea.
2000s–2020s — Acupuncture becomes mainstream in hospitals, spas, and wellness centers.
2025 — NYC thrives as one of the global acupuncture capitals, with practices like MJG Acupuncture & Massage leading the way.

Gratitude for Our Shared Milestones

My 25-plus years in this field are really a thank-you note to this community. From my first Tui Na class in ’98 to teaching at the Swedish Institute, every student and patient has helped shape who I am as a healer. The Kamwo Meridian Award, Meridian Biologix oils, and my books all exist because of your belief in this medicine.

MJG’s Flatiron Vibe: Healing That Fits NYC

In Flatiron, MJG Acupuncture & Massage is your sanctuary from the rush. We treat stress with Pericardium 6 and chamomile oil, relieve back pain with Tui Na and cupping, and work with clients whose insurance (Aetna, Blue Cross, NYSNA) often covers sessions. One Flatiron executive told me, “Marc, your work feels like home.” That’s exactly what I want every client to feel.

Wrap-Up: Thank You for This Journey

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Day 2025 is about gratitude — for you, for this medicine, and for the healing we build together. From that first Tui Na lesson in 1998 to every session today in Flatiron and Brooklyn, your trust means everything.

Email marcgian@gmail.com or call (845) 519-9256 to book your next session in Flatiron or Crown Heights. Here’s to more balance, more connection, and more life — together.