Monday, July 19, 2010

Acupuncture is an important therapy in East Asian

Acupuncture is an important therapy in East AsianAcupuncture: Theory, Efficacy, and Practice Ted J. Kaptchuk, OMD Traditionally, acupuncture is embedded in naturalistic theories that are compatible with Confucianism and Taoism. Such ideas as yin–yang, qi, dampness, and wind represent East Asian conceptual frameworks that emphasize the reliability of ordinary, human sen- sory awareness. Many physicians who practice acupuncture reject such prescientific notions. Numerous randomized, controlled trials and more than 25 systematic reviews and meta-analyses have evaluated the clinical efficacy of acupuncture. Evidence from these trials indicates that

acupuncture is effective for emesis developing after surgery or chemotherapy in adults and for nausea associated with pregnancy. Good evidence exists that acupuncture is also effective for relieving dental pain. For such conditions as chronic pain, back pain, and headache, the data are equivocal or contra- dictory. Clinical research on acupuncture poses unique method- ologic challenges. Properly performed acupuncture seems to be a safe procedure. Basic-science research provides evidence that be- gins to offer plausible mechanisms for the presumed physiologic effects of acupuncture. Multiple research approaches have shown that acupuncture activates endogenous opioid mechanisms. Re- cent data, obtained by using functional magnetic resonance imaging, suggest that acupuncture has regionally specific, quan- tifiable effects on relevant brain structures. Acupuncture may stim- ulate gene expression of neuropeptides. The training and provi- sion of acupuncture care in the United States are rapidly expanding. Ann Intern Med. 2002;136:374-383. www.annals.org For author affiliation and current address, see end of text. A cupuncture is an important therapy in East Asian medicine (the traditional medicine of China, Japan, and Korea). Treating headache by placing pins in the hands or treating asthma by placing needles in the feet challenges modern biomedical understanding. Thirty years ago, most physicians considered...

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