I realized this weekend while sitting in a seminar that most people don't understand
that practitioners are often herbalists OR acupuncturists, seldom both. I myself am
primarily an herbalist, although, of course, I practice acupuncture. The classic texts
of Chinese medicine are filled with famous doctors who were one or the other.

During my protocol for IC, I advise people to not have acupuncture or other treatment 
modalities performed on them so as not to influence their treatment. This is because
another practitioner may influence that person's health changes dramatically and
redirect their energy thereby negating the very changes that I am trying to make.

Not having acupuncture does not mean you will get better any more slowly than the
person having it. I actually have not noticed any changes in the rate of improvement
between those having acupuncture and those not having acupuncture.
 
This is only IC as I see it, mind you. This information is from my point of view and
from my methodology. I am not saying that there may not be a person in the world
that may be able to do this work with acupuncture only--maybe there is. But,
the methods that I use are very specific and finely developed based on many different
factors.