Acupuncture

Encyclopedia of Medicine, Apr 06, 2001 by Kathleen Dredge Wright

There are instances where more traditional Western medicine is the treatment of choice, including life threatening infection, severe trauma, or the need for surgical procedures, such as open heart surgery. In China, this understanding has led to the practice of both systems side by side, with the strengths of each system complementing the weaknesses of the other. Acupuncture used in conjunction with Western procedures can speed the recovery and rebalancing of the individual. In China, acupuncture is routinely used for anesthesia in some types of major surgical procedures.

Caution is advised for the use of electrical acupuncture in patients with cardiac pacemakers. The United States Food and Drug Administration regulates acupuncture needles along with other medical devices such as surgical scalpels and hypodermic syringes, requiring good manufacturing practices and single-use standards of sterility. Needle insertion is considered an invasive procedure. Most states require an adequately trained physician or a certified acupuncturist to perform and/or supervise the procedure. Although the American Association of Medical Colleges reports that no medical school in the United States provides acupuncture training, some chiropractic schools have elective 200 hour programs. The American Holistic Medical Association has developed a 300 hour program for physicians, although some experts in the field feel that these programs do not allow for full mastery of the materials and skills involved. Several programs located throughout the country offer rigorous comprehensive preparation that may take as long as 36 months and include a clinical residency, with 500 hours of supervised clinical work before licensure is granted. As of 1998, non-physician acupunturists, including dentists, podiatrists, and chiropractors, were licensed, registered, or certified in 34 states plus the District of Columbia. The National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncturists offers a competency test that is used in some states. Since not all states regulate the profession, checking on credentials is important.

Before the first treatment, the acupuncturist will obtain a thorough medical history and study the patient carefully. Since a disturbance in qi can be caused by external influence, like cold, excess anger or poor diet, all aspects of the individual are considered. The practitioner will observe the person's tone of voice and body language, as well as discussing many aspects of health, including eating habits, sensitivity to temperature, emotional distress, and urine color. The focus of treatment is on balancing the qi energy in the body.

Since acupuncture treatment is individualized to each patient, care afterwards will depend on the condition being treated and the patient's response. The acupuncturist may recommend changes in diet, exercise, and lifestyle to improve the patient's condition.

Serious side effects are unusual, but localized congestion is frequently reported after needle insertion. Less commonly reported adverse effects may include fainting, black and blue marks (hematoma formation), and a collapsed lung.