Acupuncture is Scientifically Sound

18/03/2009

With the UK medical establishment adopting acupuncture, a leading acupuncturist declared it is thanks to science.

The editor-in-chief of the Acupuncture in Medicine journal, Adrian White said about acupuncture that "You don't need Chinese philosophy either to make it work or to practise it." He was reaffirming that acupuncture was a scientifically proven method. Traditional acupuncture supporters did not appreciate his comments very well.

"One of the major problems facing medical acupuncture is preconceived notions. The perception is that acupuncture is all about chi and meridians," said Dr White in his address.

Dr White elaborated on his thoughts, saying "In the past, it was easy for scientists to dismiss acupuncture as highly implausible when its workings were couched in these terms. But it becomes very plausible when explained in terms of neurophysiology. Unfortunately, the scientific approach just isn't as sexy." He further removed the 'aura of mysticism around acupuncture when he said that acupuncture "Points don't have any magical properties. They are simply convenient locations to needle,"

For over 30 years there has been increasing scientific evidence that acupuncture worked by stimulating spinal cord and brain nerves that then led to the release of the 'happy' hormones, seratonin and opiod.

The Acupuncture Society chairman, Paul Robin was quick to support the Chinese philosophy behind acupuncture, saying "Dr White is talking about a very limited form of acupuncture and trying to justify it scientifically. It is not the whole story. Using meridians to place the needles is very useful. The Chinese have mapped them out and they are linked to body organs, sometimes by nerves and sometimes by energy movements." The Society works to combine both medical as well as traditional approaches to acupuncture.

Dr White suggested that doctors could "easily learn to practise acupuncture safely and effectively after a short foundation course." However, Mr Robin countered that by indicating that. "To become a full acupuncturist requires three years training and involves study of the meridians and Chinese philosophy."

It appears that there is going to be an ongoing debate between the orthodox supporters of acupuncture and those from a strictly scientific basis, but either way, the good news is that acupuncture is now an officially accepted treatment..

Independent