Acupuncture News
News Archive
11-10-04
Studies show acupuncture promising for many ailments
Acupuncture is an ancient practice of healing that has its origins more than 2,000 years ago in China. It has been defined by the National Institutes of Health as a "family of procedures involving the stimulation of anatomical locations of the skin by a variety of techniques." The most common of these techniques is the insertion of very thin needles.
Acupuncture is practiced in the United States in many diverse forms. It, along with other forms of complementary therapies, is increasing in popularity. It is estimated that several million individuals receive acupuncture every year. Providing these services are an estimated 14,000 licensed acupuncturists as well as several thousand physicians who have pursued additional training in acupuncture.
With the growing interest in acupuncture has come additional interest in studying it - how it works, whether it is effective and what role it may play in treating a variety of health conditions and diseases. Initially, well-designed studies have demonstrated acupuncture's usefulness as a method of treating nausea and vomiting. There are also promising results for some types of chronic pain. In addition, acupuncture has many other possible indications, including, but not limited to, digestive complaints, menstrual problems, joint problems and muscle pain.
As with all types of therapies, healthcare practitioners are guided by the principle of "Primum non nocere," or "First, do no harm."
The treatments that we provide and recommend for our patients must be safe. The practice of acupuncture has been found to be a relatively safe procedure with few risks of complications when done by a competent practitioner.
