Health Services offers limited medical acupuncture for students:
- Ear acupuncture for smoking cessation & stress reduction
- Body acupuncture for acute & chronic muscular pain and chronic headaches
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a component of the health care system of China that can be traced back for at least 2,500 years.
Acupuncture describes a family of procedures involving stimulation of anatomical locations on the skin by a variety of techniques. There are a variety of approaches to diagnosis and treatment in American acupuncture that incorporate medical traditions from China, Japan, Korea, and other countries. The most studied mechanism of stimulation of acupuncture points employs penetration of the skin by thin, solid, metallic needles, which are manipulated manually or by electrical stimulation.
What is the theory of acupuncture?
The general theory of acupuncture is based on the premise that there are patterns of energy flow (Qi) through the body that are essential for health. Disruptions of this flow are believed to be responsible for disease. Acupuncture may correct imbalances of flow at identifiable points close to the skin.
What is the history of acupuncture in American medicine?
The practice of acupuncture to treat identifiable pathophysiological conditions in American medicine was rarely utilized the visit of President Nixon to China in 1972. Since that time, there has been an explosion of interest in the United States and Europe in the application of the technique of acupuncture to Western medicine.
Acupuncture has been used by millions of American patients/clients and performed by thousands of physicians, dentists, acupuncturists, and other practitioners for relief or prevention of pain and for a variety of health conditions. After reviewing the existing body of knowledge, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently removed acupuncture needles from the category of "experimental medical devices" and now regulates them just as it does other devices, such as surgical scalpels and hypodermic syringes, under good manufacturing practices and single-use standards of sterility.
What is the research on acupuncture?
Over the years, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has funded a variety of research projects on acupuncture, including studies on the mechanisms by which acupuncture may produce its effects, as well as clinical trials and other studies. There is also a considerable body of international literature on the risks and benefits of acupuncture, and the World Health Organization lists a variety of medical conditions that may benefit from the use of acupuncture or moxibustion. Such applications include prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting; treatment of pain and addictions to alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; treatment of pulmonary problems such as asthma and bronchitis; and rehabilitation from neurological damage such as that caused by stroke.
Who can perform medical acupuncture?
Medical acupuncture is performed by a licensed Medical Provider or Osteopathic Provider who has undergone rigorous western medical training including medical school and residency and has also completed formal training in acupuncture. The recommended education standard is at least 300 hours in a recognized program.
Source: National Institute of Health
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