468 The Challenge of Chinese Medicine • Alex Jacobs

As acupuncture and Chinese medicine face regulatory pressure and institutional change on both sides of the Atlantic, many practitioners are asking what it takes to preserve the tradition while still being taken seriously as medical professionals.In this conversation, we visit with Alex Jacobs, CEO of the British Acupuncture Council, we explore the relationship between tradition and regulation, and how this balance shapes education standards, professional identity, and public trust in the medicine.We also discuss the value of holding contradiction in clinical practice, the difference between the "disciple" and the "heretic" as two complementary ways of learning, and the deeper role of listening and the heart in diagnosis.Listen in for a discussion on regulation, lineage, and mastery, and staying rooted in the Dao of the medicine while navigating the demands of practicing it today.