Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most commonly used medical
procedures in the world. Originating in China more than
2,000 years ago, acupuncture began to become better known
in the United States in 1971, when New York Times reporter
James Reston wrote about how doctors in China used needles
to ease his pain after surgery.
The term acupuncture describes a family of procedures
involving stimulation of anatomical points on the body
by a variety of techniques. American practices of acupuncture
incorporate medical traditions from China, Japan, Korea,
and other countries. The acupuncture technique that has
been most studied scientifically involves penetrating
the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated
by the hands or by electrical stimulation.
is a technique of inserting and manipulating needles into
"acupuncture points" on the body. According to acupunctural
teachings this will restore health and well-being, and
is particularly good at treating pain.
The definition and characterization of these points is
standardized by the World Health Organization [1]. Acupuncture
is thought to have originated in China and is most commonly
associated with Traditional Chinese medicine. Other types
of acupuncture (Japanese, Korean, and classical Chinese
acupuncture) are practiced and taught throughout the world.
Whether acupuncture is efficacious or a placebo is subject
to scientific research. Scientists have conducted reviews
of existing clinical trials according to the protocols
of evidence-based medicine; some have found efficacy for
headache, low back pain and nausea, but for most conditions
have concluded that there is insufficient evidence to
determine whether or not acupuncture is effective.
The World Health Organisation (WHO), the National Center
for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) of
the National Institute of Health (NIH), the American Medical
Association (AMA) and various government reports have
also studied and commented on the efficacy of acupuncture.
There is general agreement that acupuncture is safe when
administered by well-trained practitioners, and that further
research is warranted.
According to the NIH Consensus Statement on Acupuncture,
there have been many studies on acupuncture's potential
usefulness, but results have been mixed because of complexities
with study design and size, as well as difficulties with
choosing and using placebos or sham acupuncture. However,
promising results have emerged, showing efficacy of acupuncture,
for example, in adult postoperative and chemotherapy nausea
and vomiting and in postoperative dental pain.
There are other situations--such as addiction, stroke
rehabilitation, headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow,
fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, low-back
pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma--in which acupuncture
may be useful as an adjunct treatment or an acceptable
alternative or be included in a comprehensive management
program. An NCCAM-funded study recently showed that acupuncture
provides pain relief, improves function for people with
osteoarthritis of the knee, and serves as an effective
complement to standard care.7 Further research is likely
to uncover additional areas where acupuncture interventions
will be useful.
