Does Acupuncture Really Work?
Yes, but don't take my word for it…
Acupuncture has been successfully used by millions of Americans and is recognized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Mayo Pain Clinic.
The NIH published their Consensus Statement stating: "The data in support of acupuncture are as strong as those for many accepted Western medical therapies. One of the advantages of acupuncture is that the incidence of adverse effects is substantially lower than that of many drugs or other accepted medical procedures used for the same conditions." *
The FDA regulates acupuncture needles as medical devices in the category of "safe and effective."
The WHO recognizes over 40 health conditions effectively treated with acupuncture.
The Mayo Pain Clinic has been using acupuncture since 1974.
Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most commonly used medical procedures in the world. Many experts estimate that acupuncture has been used for over 2000 years, so you have to ask yourself, would something that does not regularly achieve positive results stand the test of time? I think the answer is obvious.
Acupuncture originated in China and spread all over the East before being brought to Europe and finally to the United States in the 1970’s. President Richard Nixon was planning a trip to establish relations with Communist China at the time, and an American journalist for the New York Times by the name of James Reston was accompanying him. While on the trip, Mr. Reston had an acute appendicitis attack and needed surgery. He was quite surprised to find out that doctors in China inserted very fine needles into specific points on his body to control the pain. Everyone was so intrigued by this seemingly bizarre event that upon returning to the States, Mr. Reston decided to write an article on his recent experience with acupuncture. That was the spark that ignited the interest of the American public.
Shortly after the article was printed, American scholars were quick to jump on airplanes headed for China to see this intriguing procedure performed for themselves. Chinese medical textbooks were being translated into English and acupuncture schools started popping up in the States.
Currently acupuncturists trained here in California require 4 years of Masters Degree training in acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage, nutrition and exercise before being allowed to sit for a rigorous series of licensing exams. Once the practitioner has successfully completed the schooling required and passes the examinations administered by the California Acupuncture Board, he or she receives the title Licensed Acupuncturist or L.Ac.
In the next issue, I will be discussing how acupuncture works from a western medical viewpoint and the conditions commonly treated with acupuncture.
*National Institutes of Health Consensus Statement on Acupuncture, 1997