Acupuncture

Encyclopedia of Science, The, October, 2005

Acupuncture is an ancient method of therapy that originated in China more than 2,000 years ago. It consists of inserting solid, hair-thin needles through the skin at very specific sites to achieve a cure of a disease or to relieve pain . Although it is not part of conventional medical treatment in most of the Western world, a 1998 consensus statement released by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States said evidence clearly shows acupuncture helps relieve many types of chronic and acute pain; nausea and vomiting associated chemotherapy, anesthesia , and pregnancy; and alters immune system functions.

The World Health Organization, in conjunction with the International Acupuncture Training Center at Shanghai College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, declares acupuncture can be effective for dozens of problems—from bed wetting and allergies to chronic fatigue syndrome and anxiety disorders. Although many American physicians remain skeptical about its use as ...