Q&A with Bina Jangda of TCM Review

While most licensed acupuncturists head straight into clinic, many also weave in teaching, mentorship, business coaching, or CEU work along the way. Our profession is full of practitioners who notice a gap — and then build something to fill it.

TCM Review is exactly that kind of story: a practitioner who saw brilliant students struggling at the finish line, and created a clear, supportive, high-quality path to help them cross it with confidence.

This week, we’re talking with founder Bina Jangda, whose work has shaped how thousands of acupuncturists prepare for their exams, launch their practices, and step into the field with steadier footing.

Also in this issue: a press story from Taipei featuring Dr. Ho’s acupuncture-first approach to treating ulcers and acute stomach pain; a remarkable COVID-related ACPO case report showing how early acupuncture intervention helped reverse a severe gastrointestinal complication in a 90-year-old patient; and as always, upcoming CEUs.

— Kim

What’s the story behind your business?
TCM Review started because I kept seeing smart, caring students freeze when it came time for the board exams. The material is vast, programs vary in quality, and many people were trying to “DIY” their way through. I wanted to create a structured, high-quality, supportive program that translated the classics, modern textbooks, and exam trends into clear teaching, so students could feel confident and actually enjoy integrating what they’d learned in school.

How does your product or service serve the acupuncture community?
We help students and new graduates pass their NCCAOM, California (CALE), and Pan Canadian board exams and step into practice with more confidence. Our program combines clear Live online and recorded lectures with a custom-built quiz plugin that now includes over 16,000 test questions, so students can practice in a way that mirrors real exam conditions. Very soon, we’ll be launching Bina AI, which will function like a personal tutor on our site—guiding students through questions, clarifying concepts, and helping them study more efficiently.

Beyond test prep, we’ve partnered with four prominent business coaches to offer a free 6-hour practice-building course that is included with every full CALE, NCCAOM, or Pan Canadian course, so students don’t just pass—they’re supported in actually building a sustainable clinic. We also collaborate with a hypnotherapist and provide a free hypnotherapy script for testing anxiety. All of our collaboration partners offer deep discounts to our students, because we see exam success, mental health, and practice-building as interconnected parts of one professional journey.

What’s one thing that sets you apart from others in your field?
We don’t just “teach to the test.” We organize material the way the brain actually learns—layering in repetition, cases, and pattern recognition—so that knowledge is usable in clinic, not just on exam day. We’re also very honest with students about what it really takes to pass, while staying compassionate and encouraging.

Who or what inspires your work right now?
I’m inspired by our students—especially the ones juggling work, family, immigration, or returning to school later in life. I’m also continually inspired by the classical texts and teachers who remind us that every formula and point prescription ultimately exists to relieve real human suffering.

What’s your favorite tip to share with customers that relates to what you do?
Remember that the boards are less about thinking like a seasoned clinician and more about mastering the information as it is presented in the textbooks and exam outlines. Don’t rush straight into endless question drills without a solid content review—and when you do questions, don’t skip the explanations. Slowing down enough to understand why each answer is right or wrong helps you learn the “exam language” while still building the critical thinking you’ll rely on during the exam.

What’s your dream scenario for your business — or the impact you’d like to make in the acupuncture community?
My dream is that every student who wants to practice acupuncture has a realistic, supportive path from graduation to licensure to a sustainable clinic. I’d love TCM Review to be known not only as “the place that helped me pass,” but as a hub that helped practitioners feel confident, ethical, and prosperous in their work.

Any upcoming specials, seasonal offerings, or events to highlight?
Every December we run our CALE “One and Done” special. When you purchase the full CALE course, you receive the full NCCAOM course for free. When you purchase the CALE books, you receive the NCCAOM books for free as well. Together, students get access to an 11,000-question test bank (about 6,000 CALE questions and 5,000 NCCAOM questions) through our custom quiz plugin, so they can prepare efficiently for both exams in one integrated study plan.

How can the acupuncture community best support your business?
Share us with your students, interns, and recent grads who feel overwhelmed about the boards, and let school administrators know we’re happy to collaborate. Honest feedback from faculty and practitioners about what you’re seeing in new grads—strengths and gaps—also helps us keep refining our curriculum.

Anything else you’d like to share?
I deeply believe that when our profession is grounded in solid clinical skills and exam standards and in genuine care for ourselves and our patients, everyone wins. I’m grateful to be part of a community that’s working hard to raise that bar together.

Connect with Bina & TCM Review
If Bina’s insights resonated or you want to learn more about TCM Review, you can connect here:
Instagram • Facebook • tcmreview.com • [email protected]

CEUS

Note: Courses listed are CAB-approved; many also carry other state or NCCAOM approvals. Listings subject to change. Please verify details, CE hours, and eligibility directly with provider. Links point to provider sites; you may need to navigate to the specific registration page.

Dec 8: Latest YNSA Protocols for Meniere's Disease, Tinnitus and Other ENT Disorders
4 CEUs • Lotus Institute of Integrative Medicine

Dec 9: The Integrative Approach to Diagnosing and Treating Hypothyroidism
2 CEUs • California Naturopathic Doctors Association (CNDA)

Dec 10:Clinical Success for Burning Tongue, Sciatica, Infertility in Men with 40+ Years of Herbal Mastery
3 CEUs • Lotus Institute of Integrative Medicine

Dec 12: From Gut to Brain: What Acupuncturists Need to Know About Parasites (Jeffrey Yuen)
18 CEUs • American University of Complementary Medicine

Dec 13: Introduction to Neuro-Meridian Acupuncture
13 CEUs • Poney Chiang

Dec 13: Revolutionary TCM Treatment for Dermatological Disorders – 30 Years of Clinical Experience Revealed
8 CEUs • Lotus Institute of Integrative Medicine

Dec 13: Preventing & Managing Metabolic Syndrome Using TCM with Chief Physician Candong Li
2 CEUs • Treasure of the East

Dec 14: TCM Comprehensive Management for Severe Ovarian Disorders (Gynecology Part III)
8 CEUs • Beverly Hills Acupuncture and Herbology Medical Center

Dec 14: Acupuncture for Headaches, PTSD, & Colitis
4 CEUs • HealthCMI

Dec 16: CSOMA Town Hall
1 CEU • CSOMA

Dec 18: Chinese Medicine and Anxiety: Classical Diagnosis Meets Neurobiology
2 CEUs • Healthy Seminars

Dec 21: Depression, Knee Pain, & Achilles Tendon Treatment
4 CEUs • HealthCMI

Thanks for reading,

Kim Neumann, Publisher