Dr. William Hendry, DAOM
Board-Certified Acupuncturist & Functional Medicine Practitioner | 25+ Years Clinical Experience | Serving Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson & Upstate SC
Credentials at a Glance
The Prisma Health Opioid Alternative Study
Dr. Hendry served as a co-investigator on a landmark 3-year research study conducted at the Prisma Health Emergency Department — one of the leading health systems in South Carolina. The study examined needling techniques as non-opioid alternatives for acute pain management in an emergency care setting.
The study, titled "Alternatives to Opiates," represented a direct clinical response to the opioid crisis and demonstrated that acupuncture and dry needling can provide meaningful, measurable pain relief without the risks associated with opioid analgesics. For Dr. Hendry, this research was not abstract — it was applied at the bedside, in real time, with emergency patients.
This work earned Dr. Hendry a 9-year appointment with hospital privileges at Prisma Health — an exceptional distinction for an acupuncturist, and a testament to the level of trust the medical community placed in his clinical judgment and skill.
Read on PubMed — PMID 36673962 • DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021206
25+ Years of Clinical Excellence
Dr. Hendry began his formal training in acupuncture and oriental medicine in the late 1990s and graduated with his Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) from East West College of Natural Medicine in December 2008 — completing the highest academic credential available in the field. He passed his NCBAHM board examinations and has maintained active board certification ever since, with his current certification valid through August 2029.
Over more than 25 years, Dr. Hendry has treated thousands of patients across a wide range of conditions — from chronic back pain and fibromyalgia to fertility challenges, anxiety and stress, and complex chronic illnesses. His approach is both disciplined and creative: grounded in the classical literature of Chinese medicine, yet continuously informed by the latest functional medicine research.
He holds active licenses in both South Carolina (ACUP141) and Florida (AP2646), and is a certified Injection Therapy practitioner — enabling him to offer biopuncture and nutrient injection therapies unavailable at most acupuncture clinics.
Research & Publications
Dr. Hendry has authored or co-authored 5 peer-reviewed research publications with a combined 52 citations. His research spans acupuncture as a non-opioid pain alternative in emergency medicine, HRV biofeedback for cancer survivor symptom management, acupuncture for chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, and the neuroscience of integrative care.
Emergency Department Alternatives to Opioids: Adapting and Implementing Proven Therapies in Practice
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health — Jan 2023
Floyd SB, McGarby S, Cordero Romero S, Garrison S, Walker K, Hendry W, Moschella PC
3-year Prisma Health Emergency Department study demonstrating that implementing acupuncture and needle-based alternatives (ED-ALTO) reduced opioid prescriptions and morphine milligram equivalents for comparable diagnoses.
Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback — Jun 2020, 45(2):99–108
Burch JB, Ginsberg JP, McLain AC, Franco R, Stokes S, Susko K, Hendry W, Crowley E, Christ A, Hanna J, Anderson A, Hébert JR, O'Rourke MA
Randomized, wait-list-controlled pilot trial showing HRV biofeedback training significantly reduced sleep disturbance symptoms among cancer survivors, with positive trends for stress, fatigue, PTSD, and depression.
Use of Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Biofeedback for Symptom Management Among Cancer Survivors
Journal of Clinical Oncology — May 2017, 35(15 Suppl):10099
O'Rourke MA, Franco RA, Sofge J, Ginsberg J, Susko K, Crowley E, Anderson A, Christ A, Hanna J, Hendry W, Burch J
ASCO annual meeting presentation of the feasibility trial: HRV biofeedback for autonomic dysfunction and late cancer treatment effects including pain, fatigue, stress, and depression. 179 screened, 34 enrolled, 31 completed.
Evaluating the Effects of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Taxane-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
Prisma Health Patient Engagement Studio — Clinical Research
Hendry W et al.
Clinical study evaluating acupuncture as an intervention for taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy (TIPN), a common dose-limiting side effect of chemotherapy in cancer patients.
Neurogenesis: Implications for Integrative Care of Neurological Conditions
Peer-Reviewed Journal — November 2013
Hendry W
Review examining the implications of neurogenesis research for integrative and acupuncture-based care of neurological conditions.
Teaching, Speaking & Professional Contributions
In November 2016, Dr. Hendry was invited to present a webinar for Acupuncture Today — one of the leading professional publications in the field — titled "Medicating Our Microbes: Herbs, Supplements and the Microbiome," sponsored by Biotics Research Corporation. The presentation explored how Chinese herbal medicine intersects with modern microbiome science, reflecting Dr. Hendry's commitment to bridging traditional knowledge with contemporary evidence.
Philosophy of Care
Dr. Hendry's clinical philosophy is built on a foundational belief: the body has an extraordinary capacity to heal itself when given the right conditions. His role — as he sees it — is to remove obstacles, restore balance, and support the body's innate intelligence. That philosophy translates into personalized, whole-person care that respects each patient's unique history, constitution, and goals.
He is equally at home working with a patient navigating autoimmune disease as he is treating a high-performance athlete recovering from a sports injury. Whether prescribing a classical herbal formula or interpreting functional blood chemistry, Dr. Hendry brings the same rigor, curiosity, and compassion to every patient encounter.
His membership in the American Academy of Ozone Therapy (AAOT) reflects his commitment to staying at the frontier of integrative medicine, including emerging therapies like medical ozone therapy that are gaining traction in evidence-based circles.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dr. Hendry
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