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FACT SHEET
Acupuncture and Oriental
Medicine
Oriental medicine is a comprehensive health care system encompassing a
variety of traditional health care therapies that have been used for
more than 3,000 years to diagnose and treat illness, prevent disease and
improve well-being.
Acupuncture is one of the essential elements of Oriental medicine. Other
elements include Chinese herbology, bodywork (e.g., acupressure,
shiatsu), diet and exercise (e.g., tai chi, qi gong) based on
traditional medicinal principles.
All Oriental medicine modalities are intended to improve the flow of qi
(pronounced "chee"). Qi regulates the body's spiritual, emotional,
mental, and physical balance and is influenced by the opposing forces of
yin (negative energy) and yang (positive energy). According to
traditional Chinese medicine, when yin and yang are balanced, they work
together with the natural flow of qi to help the body achieve and
maintain health.
According to a National Institutes of Health consensus panel of
scientists, researchers, and practitioners who convened in November
1997, clinical studies have shown that acupuncture is an effective
treatment for nausea caused by surgical anesthesia and cancer-related
treatments, as well as for dental pain experienced after surgery. The
panel also found that acupuncture is useful by itself or combined with
conventional therapies to treat addiction, headaches, menstrual cramps,
tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, lower back
pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, asthma, and to assist in stroke
rehabilitation.
CLICK HERE TO REVIEW THE NIH CONSENSUS STATEMENT
Outside the United States, the World Health Organization (WHO), the
health branch of the United Nations, lists more than 40 conditions for
which acupuncture may be a useful treatment.
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Conditions Appropriate for Acupuncture
Therapy |
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Digestive
Abdominal pain
Constipation
Diarrhea
Hyperacidity
Indigestion
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Emotional
Anxiety
Depression
Insomnia
Nervousness
Neurosis |
Eye-Ear-Nose-Throat
Cataracts
Gingivitis
Poor vision
Tinnitis
Toothache |
Gynecological
Infertility
Menopausal symptoms
Premenstrual syndrome
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Miscellaneous
Addiction control
Athletic performance
Blood pressure regulation
Chronic fatigue
Immune system support Stress reduction |
Musculoskeletal
Arthritis
Back pain
Muscle cramping
Muscle pain/weakness
Neck pain
Sciatica |
Neurological
Headaches
Migraines
Neurogenic
Bladder dysfunction
Parkinson's disease
Postoperative pain
Stroke |
Respiratory
Asthma
Bronchitis
Common cold
Sinusitis
Smoking cessation
Tonsilitis |
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Source:
World Health Organization United Nations |
In response to the
public’s increased use of complementary and alternative medicine such as
acupuncture and Oriental medicine, an Office of Alternative Medicine was
established at the National Institutes of Health. The Center
became the National
Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) in 1998
and now has an annual budget of more than $100,000,000.
An estimated 36% of
U.S. adults use some form of complementary and alternative medicine
(CAM), according to a new survey by the NCCAM. When megavitamin therapy
and prayer specifically for health reasons is included in the definition
of CAM, the number of U.S. adults using some form of CAM rises to 62%.
Among the common CAM practices identified by the survey where
acupuncture, acupressure, herbal medicine, tai chi and qi gong.
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AOM
DAY PARTNERS
Acupuncture and Oriental
Medicine Day is supported through a unique international partnership of
organizations including the United States, Canada, Mexico and Pakistan.
The partnership includes professional associations, research organizations
and educational institutions.
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Alliance
American Association of Oriental
Medicine
American Organization for Bodywork
Therapies of Asia
National Certification Commission
for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Council
of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine |
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