Print
EmailMedia Gallery
 |
Visiting an Acupuncturist
|
|
Finding an Acupuncturist
|
 |
Alternative Arthritis Therapies: Acupuncture
|
play video
Precautions
Acupuncture is generally a very safe procedure. If a patient is in doubt about a medical condition, more than one physician should be consulted. Also, a patient should always feel comfortable and confident that their acupuncturist is knowledgable and properly trained.
Research and general acceptance
Mainstream medicine has been slow to accept acupuncture; although more MDs are using it, the American Medical Association does not recognize it as a specialty. The reason for this is that the mechanism of acupuncture is difficult to scientifically understand or measure, such as the invisible energy of chi in the body. Western medicine, admitting that acupuncture works in many cases, has theorized that the energy meridians are actually part of the nervous system and that acupuncture relieves pain by releasing endorphins, or natural pain killers, into the bloodstream. Despite the ambiguity in the biochemistry involved, acupuncture continues to show effectiveness in clinical tests, from reducing pain to alleviating the symptoms of chronic illnesses, and research in acupuncture is currently growing. The Office of Alternative Medicine of the National Institute of Health is currently funding research in the use of acupuncture for treating depression and attention-deficit disorder.
BOOKS
Fleischman, Dr. Gary F. Acupuncture: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know. New York: Barrytown, 1998.
Kakptchuk, Ted. The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine. New York: Congdon and Weed, 1983.
Requena, Yves, MD. Terrains and Pathology in Acupuncture. Massachusetts: Paradigm, 1986.
PERIODICALS
American Journal of Acupuncture. 1840 41st Ave., Suite 102, P.O. Box 610, Capitola, CA 95010.
OTHER
American Association of Oriental Medicine. <http://www.aaom.org/> (December 28, 2000).
North American Society of Acupuncture and Alternative Medicine. <http://www.nasa-altmed.com/> (December 28, 2000).
Douglas Dupler
KEY TERMS
Acupressure—Form of massage using acupuncture points.
Auricular acupuncture—Acupuncture using only points found on the ears.
Chi—Basic life energy.
Meridian—Channel through which chi travels in the body.
Moxibustion—Acupuncture technique which burns the herb moxa or mugwort.
Tonification—Acupuncture technique for strengthening the body.
Yin/Yang—Universal characteristics used to describe aspects of the natural world.
 |
Author Info: Douglas Dupler, The Gale Group Inc., Gale, Detroit, Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 2002 |
Related Learning Centers |
 |
 |
 |
Advertise | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy