History Of Acupuncture In The United States

The History of Acupuncture in the United States

The practice of acupuncture is one that is thousands of years old and originated in Asia. Although primarily practiced in China, acupuncture was also popular in other countries such as Egypt. This therapy uses the insertion of strategically placed needles to treat a variety of different ailments. The history of acupuncture in the United States begins in the 1970s, when a New York Times journalist received the treatment as an anesthetic during an emergency appendectomy while in China. Suddenly, this practice spread to the Western world and is now practiced all over the United States and Europe.

These days, you can find acupuncture practitioners all over the world. There is a large interest in holistic medicine and a number of schools focusing on this type of healing. Many Western doctors with degrees in traditional medicine are expanding their repertoire to include alternative therapies such as acupuncture. Many believe that a prudent combination of Western and Eastern therapies can provide patients with the maximum benefit. A practitioner does not have to be a medical doctor to offer acupuncture, but must be certified and licensed to do so by an accredited educational facility.

Acupuncture is so widespread at this point, there is currently a bill being considered by Congress that allows patients to pay for acupuncture with their Medicare benefits. The NIH, or National Institute of Health, has even formed a department devoted to alternative medicine and is currently addressing the need for funding in this area. So how exactly does acupuncture work? Hair thin, rounded tip needles are gently inserted into specific areas of the body for a certain purpose. There are 360 areas that can be stimulated via acupuncture. The needles are left in for an average of 30 to 45 minutes, then removed. Acupuncture is not considered painful and is used for everything from weight loss to detoxification and much more.

Now that you know a little more about the history of acupuncture in the United States and how this therapy is used, you may want to try it out for yourself. It's likely you've got at least one qualified practitioner in your area. Or maybe you want to heal others with acupuncture. If so, there are a variety of schools around the nation and the world which can provide you with the education you need.

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Acupuncture News:

US Air Force Using Medical Acupuncture (Medical News Today)
Medical acupuncture, which is acupuncture performed by a licensed physician trained at a conventional medical school, is being used increasingly for pain control. Richard Niemtzow, MD, PhD, MPH, Editor-in-Chief of Medical Acupuncture, a peer-reviewed journal http://www.libertpub...

EUR˜Without wrong turn this collie could have died (icWales)
BORDER Collie Emilys life hung in the balance when she was left for dead at the side of the road...

Acupuncture Blog Chicago: 38 % of Adults Use. | Gather
Dec 25, 2008 New Government Survey, 38 Percent of Adults and 12 Percent of Children Use Alternative Medicine On December 10th the The National Ce...

Needle Use in Traditional Acupuncture Minimized
What is particularly interesting about this study, though, is that there was no difference between the two acupuncture groups at all: the effectiveness of traditional acupuncture treatment, with needles, and those who received ...

Docs to learn battlefield acupuncture - United Press International

Docs to learn battlefield acupuncture
United Press International - Dec 22, 2008
22 (UPI) -- The US military is adding acupuncture its repertoire for relieving chronic pain, said Pacific College of Oriental Medicine officials. .

Rolling back the fertility clock - CNN

Rolling back the fertility clock
CNN - 16 hours ago
Kolk also received weekly acupuncture and made changes to her diet. She added wheat germ and nuts and swapped low-fat dairy foods with whole-milk foods. .

Rolling back the fertility clock (CNN)
A treasure map to a baby?..

Alternative Medicine: Acupuncture Pt 3 | Health and Healthcare Info
Alternative Medicine: The Evidence Series Professor Kathy Sykes from Bristol University - shows acupuncture has a powerful and measurable effect on the...

Docs to learn battlefield acupuncture (UPI)
SAN DIEGO, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- The U.S military is adding acupuncture to its repertoire for relieving chronic pain, said Pacific College of Oriental Medicine officials...

Military tries 'battlefield' acupuncture to ease pain - Baltimore Sun

Military tries 'battlefield' acupuncture to ease pain
Baltimore Sun, United States - Dec 11, 2008
The technique is proving so successful that the Air Force will begin teaching "battlefield acupuncture" early next year to physicians deploying to Iraq and .

Acupuncture or office | Acupuncture and IVF
Acupuncture may help ease Raynaud's - Los Angeles TimesI've suffered with Raynaud's disease in my hands for two years. There is no underlying cause, such as...

Medical Acupuncture Gaining Acceptance by the US Air Force - MarketWatch

Medical Acupuncture Gaining Acceptance by the US Air Force
MarketWatch - Dec 18, 2008
NEW ROCHELLE, NY, Dec 18, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Medical acupuncture, which is acupuncture performed by a licensed physician trained at a .

Acupuncture to be used on bases, battlefield - AirForceTimes.com

Acupuncture to be used on bases, battlefield
AirForceTimes.com, VA - Dec 24, 2008
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. EUR” Sitting in the Defense Departments only acupuncture clinic with needles sticking in his .

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