03/26/2026
In Memory of Laura Cooley: A Legacy of Liberation
If you have visited our Manchester or Merrimack locations, you may have noticed the Ancestors of Liberation Acupuncture portraits on our walls. These works—created by acupuncturists James Shelton and Kate Kampmann—honor the pioneers who paved the way for accessible, community-led care.
Among them is the portrait of our dear friend, Laura Cooley.
Laura passed away two years ago this week, and we miss her dearly. She leaves behind a profound legacy of "liberating" acupuncture through her tireless work as a trainer with the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA). In her 30-year career, Laura trained nearly 1,000 people in the practice of auricular acupuncture, empowering them to bring healing directly into their own communities.
Laura’s mission of making this medicine accessible inspired the Ear Seed Kits we now sell at MAS. She believed that everyone should have the tools to support their own nervous system, and these kits carry that spirit of self-care forward.
At MAS, we are honored to continue her work through our ear acupuncture trainings through the People’s Organization of Community Acupuncture (POCA). To learn more about Laura’s incredible life and impact, we invite you to read a recent tribute written by our friend, journalist Tracey Brannstrom in Vermont Seven Days.
https://www.sevendaysvt.com/life-lines/inmemoriam/in-memoriam-laura-ellen-cooley-1956-2024/
