The role of complementary medicine such as acupuncture has been gradually rising in the world. The WHO has developed guidelines for safe practice of acupuncture and for training of acupuncture practitioners. The US Food and Drug Administration estimated that about 10 million acupuncture treatments by Chinese traditional medical therapists occurred yearly in the US in the early 1990’s, and that about seven thousand non-physicians practiced acupuncture together with herbs, massage, and other traditional therapies to treat a broad range of health problems across the country.
A lot of patients seek traditional medicine for treatment of musculoskeletal and psychosomatic health problems because they are not satisfied with, or have concerns about existing medical treatments. Acupuncture emphasizes naturalism and balance. Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, life energy flows in the body through the channels called Meridians. Any disruption of the life energy will result in health problems. Acupuncture includes inserting needles into acupoints along the Meridians. Scientific studies have repeatedly shown that acupuncture is promising in treating dental pain, pregnancy-related nausea, emesis, etc. Even the least promising scientific study results suggest that acupuncture should be part of a complete treatment program for dealing with health conditions such as substance abuse.
This article is contributed by Britannia Acupuncture Clinic.
Gale Benz is an alternative health commentator and blogger. She has interest in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture.