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Acupuncture: Art or Science
I get a kick when people ask me if acupuncture really works. I have to wonder why, after 5,000 years, there's any question. While scientists are still unraveling the various mechanisms by which acupuncture influences the body's health, more and more research continues to confirm that acupuncture and Chinese medicine help people - many of whom were not cured by drugs, surgery or other therapies. Acupuncture has evolved over the millennia by the process of empirical study — that is, by observing what does and doesn't work. As this medicine has migrated around the world, new discoveries and developments are added to this treasure trove. This study continues to this day as researchers and practitioners continue to refine their techniques. For those who like scientific proof, let me share some recent research highlights.
- Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a study of 104 women with breast cancer who underwent chemotherapy and suffered from nausea and vomiting found that patients who received acupuncture did better than patients taking anti–nausea medication. (JAMA 2000: 284: 2755–2761)
- From the American Journal of Pain Management: Researchers found that acupuncture reduced the severity and frequency of morning sickness in pregnant women. (American Journal of Pain Management, Oct. 2000)
- For urinary incontinence, a study in Japan using just 2 points on the low back reduced or eliminated symptoms in over half the patients studied. (Urol Int, 2000, 65(4): 190–1955)
- A German study found that women who received regular acupuncture had shorter labor times. (Geburtshilfe Und Frauenheilkunde. 2000: 60(10): 513–518)
- Finally, a study done in Britain involving 574 acupuncturists and over 34,000 individual treatments found acupuncture to be quite safe. The most common "side effect" was relaxation. The second most common "mild transient reaction" was feeling energized. Only a fraction of a percent noted adverse effects like slight bleeding or mild bruising. Acupuncture remains one of the safest medical interventions. (BJM Sept. 2001: 323: 486–487)
© 2003–2008 Larry Forsberg. All rights reserved.
Articles posted on this Web site are for personal use only and remain the property of Larry Forsberg, L.Ac.
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