Introduction to Acupuncture

 

In recent years, interest in acupuncture among physicians and patients has increased dramatically. Acupuncture is a therapy that has its origin in classical Chinese medicine. Classical Chinese medicine is a model of health and disease that spread from Chinese culture, philosophy and science. Acupuncture has been respected in Asia as helpful treatment in the entire spectrum of human and veterinary illnesses for over 3,000 years.  Although the model of Chinese medicine is different from that of molecular pathophysiology upon which Western medicine is based, Eastern and Western medicine can complement each other to provide an expanded understanding of diseases and therapy. Chinese medicine is based upon a biophysical model rather than a biochemical one; treatment is not symptomatic, but based upon the cause of the disease as it is understood according to the holistic principle of Chinese medicine. [1]

In 1997, the National Institutes of Health organized a consensus panel to investigate the scientific evidence for acupuncture therapy. This was a non advocate panel of experts in fields of physiology, biostatistics, specialties of internal medicine, public health and others.  The panel reviewed over 2000 scientific references and listened to the presentations of 25 invited international speakers.  In the panel’s conclusion, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, it stated “ the evidence shows clear efficacy for a number of disorders” and it indicated that it was useful as part of a comprehensive treatment program for some conditions and as a reasonable primary therapy in others.  Specific medical conditions mentioned in the report included nausea and vomiting of chemotherapy, post operative surgery pain, post operative dental pain, myofascial pain, fibromyalgia, headache, carpal tunnel, tennis elbow, osteoarthritis, low back pain, stroke rehabilitation, menstrual cramps, asthma and addictions.

Furthermore, the NIH consensus report stated “among the advantages of acupuncture is the lower incidence of adverse effects than that of many drugs or other accepted medical procedures used for the same conditions”. The report cited the examples of conditions such as fibromyalgia, myofascial pain and tennis elbow which are often treated with non steroidal anti inflammatory agents (aspirin, ibuprofen, naprosyn, etc) or steroid injections.  Both of these standard medical treatments have well documented potential for deleterious side effects (stomach ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding from NSAIDs, osteoporosis, avascular necrosis of the bones, and immune system suppression from corticosteroids).  

The NIH report stated also that as more research is done it is expected that we will find that acupuncture therapy is helpful in even more conditions. 

The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (AAMA) is a national organization of physicians who have trained in the use of acupuncture and include it in their practice. We include it in our medical practice because its safety and efficacy make it a very good treatment choice for many medical conditions. If you have questions about the potential benefit for a problem you have, you are welcome to call a member of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the AAMA near you. We will be happy to talk to you. There is a list of members on this website.

 

s and Settings\mitchell krause\My Documents\My Site\Site3\nav\nav_3_may-conference_av.gifabout.acupunctureFAQcalendarlibrarymembers pagephysicianContact _PCAAMALinks picturesapplicationmay meeting