OMD: Understanding Oriental Medical Doctors & Their Scope of Practice

Oriental medical doctor (OMD) is a professional designation used in the United States for practitioners of traditional East Asian medicine, including acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, moxibustion, cupping, and other traditional techniques. OMDs are licensed to practice acupuncture and/or Chinese herbal medicine in most states in the US, and are considered healthcare providers by many insurance companies. However, OMDs are not medical doctors (MDs) and are not trained in Western medicine. Therefore, they are not able to practice medicine or perform surgery.