On April 26 2025 our Vendors Coalition introduced ourselves to the attendees at the 2025 ASA National Conference. Following is our presentation:
Welcome! We‘re happy you are here.
Why Now?
The Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Coalition (AHVC) came together in 2025 because we’re at a turning point. We are a part of the East Asian medicine (EAM) community, and our beloved community is facing big challenges: shifting education and regulatory frameworks, supply chain disruptions, economic pressure, and the push for better integration into mainstream healthcare.
As longtime businesses and vendors within this community, we have supported the clinical and herbal backbone of the profession for decades. But now, more than ever, we believe it’s time to work closely and deliberately with each other, as well as with our other professional organizations. This is an opportunity to bring our voices and experience to the table, to collaborate more directly, and to make sure we’re all moving forward together.
The Role of the AHVC
The AHVC is a shared space where we can plan, respond, and support the long-term health of East Asian medicine in the U.S. We formed this coalition to:
- Collaborate more closely with national organizations on legislation, certification, education, and access.
- Offer a unified voice from the supply side to help shape policies that keep herbs and clinical tools safe, available, and affordable.
- Stay ahead of challenges like tariffs, import restrictions, and market disruptions that could affect access to key materials.
- Support the infrastructure this profession needs to thrive—so that future practitioners, educators, and patients inherit something strong and sustainable.
On Tariffs and Economic Pressures
The current disruptive tariff changes on Asian imports are a good example of why this coalition matters right now.
As vendors, we sit right in the middle of trade policy, compliance, and practitioner access. We thus have a unique perspective—and valuable data—to help guide a coordinated response to these evolving pressures. We’re actively working on strategies to ease the impact of these changes, and we hope to work in concert with the other professional organizations in our community in order to tackle this together.
Supporting a Shared Vision
The future of our medicine depends on all of us moving in the same direction—vendors, educators, certifiers, and clinicians ALL have a stake in the future.
The AHVC exists to help bridge gaps, share resources, and bring decades of experience to the table. We want the future of this medicine to stay accessible, respected, and financially viable.
That might mean:
- Helping schools adjust to evolving curriculum standards
- Keeping GMP-compliant herbs available and affordable
- Supporting policies that improve reimbursement and licensing
BOTTOM LINE!
This is a time of change—but also a time of opportunity. We are here to be part of the solution—and to do it in step with you.
The AHVC came together because we believe this is a moment that calls for real cooperation. By pooling our experience, skills, and relationships, we can help others by bringing clarity to a complex landscape—and to do our part to nurture this medicine for all stakeholders. We’re excited to work with you, to listen, and to see where we can best support the evolution of this medicine.
We welcome new members!
Please join us.