The first reference to the practice of acupuncture is found in the 4,700-year-old Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, the oldest medical textbook in the world, which was itself a chronicle of much earlier practices to treat circulation, pulse, and heart-related conditions (Singer, 2007). Acupuncturists can use as many as nine types of needles today, though only six are commonly used. These needles vary in length, width of shaft, and shape of head (Singer, 2007).
Preclinical studies have documented acupuncture's effects, but they have not been able to fully explain how acupuncture works within the framework of the Western system of medicine that is commonly practiced in the United States, as Western medicine does not believe in the concept of energy blockage or ying and yang. Various theories as to acupuncture's efficacy have been proposed, including the theory that it stimulates pain-killing endorphins, encourages the release of neurotransmitters that promote healing of the immune system, that the treatment improves circulation, or that a combination of all of these reactions benefit the immune system and desensitize the perception of pain ("Acupuncture," 2006, NIH).
Discuss potential hazards or cautions regarding the therapy, and describe any licensing, certification, or governmental regulations related to therapy.
Acupuncture has become increasingly accepted in the mainstream medical community, and many insurance companies even cover the therapy (Trujillo, 2007). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a specific type of acupuncture needle that can only be use by licensed practitioners in 1996. These needles must be sterile and nontoxic needles and labeled for single...
Alternative Medicine The Role of Alternative Medicine in Society A variety of alternative medicines and therapies have been becoming popular in mainstream western culture. In fact, in Australia as well as the United States and the U.K., the alternative medicine industry has grown into a multi-billion dollar a year industry that is growing at an estimated rate of thirty percent annually (International Study, 2012). Yet, despite the incredible growth trend, these alternative
Alternative Medicines in Australia Background and Importance of the Issue Healing wounds, making sick people healthy again, determining the exact condition of people who are ill, and keeping society as healthy as possible -- these are all goals of the healthcare industry in Australia. There are very few things as important to a nation as the good health of its people. There are always incidents and injuries in any society, and there
Alternative Medicine CAM refers to complementary, alternative, or integrative medicine. Sometimes the terms are used interchangeably, but they actually mean different things to practitioners. The term complementary "generally refers to using a non-mainstream approach together with conventional medicine (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2013). The term alternative "refers to using a non-mainstream approach in place of conventional medicine" (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2013). Integrative medicine is
Studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine and elsewhere also have found no link. Even after thimerosal [the alleged, offending substance] was removed from infant vaccines, the autism rate has continued to climb" (Vaccine, 2008, CNN). Attributing illnesses to conventional medicine is often based upon anecdotal and emotional evidence, little else. Conventional medicine takes a preventive perspective as well, stressing proper diet and nutrition, but a more realistic
In contrast to other work in this field, this book views alternative health as a social movement, and shows commonalities between the cultural left and the religious right that can help form a new healthcare paradigm. National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine 2000 Expanding Horizons of Healthcare: Five-year Strategic Plan, 2001-2005. National Institute of Health Publication No. 01-5001. Gaithersburg, Maryland: National Institutes of Health. In this report, the National Center for Complementary and
The latter, performed by chiropractors, some conventional medical doctors, and other health care professionals involves applying force to a joint of the spine and moving it beyond its normal range of motion. This serve to alleviate back pain. Movement therapies, another CAM category, are movement-based approaches intended to promote holistic well-being. Examples include the Feldenkrais method, Pilates, Alexander technique, Rolfing Structural Integration, and Trager psychophysical integration. Manipulation of energy fields is
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