Acupuncture

Acupuncture is the use where fine filiform needles are inserted and directed into particular places of the body in order to remedy pain or for medical uses. Orthodox Chinese medicine has formulated special acupuncture points which are placed on meridians through which chi or the life-sustaining energy of the body courses. However, in that respect are no histological or analogical evidence to back the premises about acupuncture places or meridians.

The use of acupuncture in China can be traced back to 3000 B.C. as stone acupuncture needles were acquired in diggings in Mongolia. Although acupuncture is presumed to have started in China, several kinds of it, including Japanese, Tibetan, Korean and Vietnamese acupuncture is practiced all over the globe. The latest interest in acupuncture became fashionable in the United States during 1970s, purportedly subsequently James Reston who underwent emergency appendix operation in China wrote an article to The New York Times. During the surgery, acupuncture intervention was utilized on Mr. Reston to keep down discomfort. Therefore, due to the rising interest in acupuncture The National Acupuncture Association (NAA) was formed to promote the use of acupuncture by carrying seminars and presentations. In addition, in 1972, the UCLA Acupuncture Pain Clinic was initiated by the NAA.

Acupuncture has undergone extensive technological inquiries and studies although it yet continues a controversial issue among doctors and research workers. Several works have exhibited results that propose that acupuncture is an effective method to handle certain circumstances although umteen lay claim that these results could be explained through the placebo . The placebo result is where the patient is sort of tricked into believing that actual medical intervention is being carried out and therefore, helping the therapeutic action by motivating the patient. However, a report issued by the World Health Organization puts forward that after certain supervised clinical tests, it was concluded that acupuncture has proven to be working for 28 conditions such as, depression, headache, and strokes. Moreover, it also claims that evidence also goes to propose that dozens of other conditions may be cared for efficaciously through acupuncture.

Furthermore, several medical associations such as the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and the American Medical Association (AMA) have composed reports regarding the result of find acupuncture. The common perception about acupuncture is that it is secure, only if performed by trained individuals applying sterilized needles. However, further inquiry in the matter is encouraged by doctors as well as research workers.

Acupuncture still continues to be a kind of mysterious mold of medical intervention with a fair share of skeptics. However, it might demonstrate to be simply the intervention for many untreatable medical circumstances.