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On both sides of the Atlantic, respected organisations have recently given qualified endorsements of acupuncture's efficacy. The U.S. National Institutes of Health in 1997, a BMA report in the UK in 2000, and the report by the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee in 2001 have all recently come out in favour of acupuncture as an effective treatment, although there are varying opinions as to exactly how effective it is. These are principally dependant on differing understandings as to how acupuncture works. A "traditionalist's" view as to how it works In traditional oriental medicine, health and illness are seen in terms of the condition of an individual's qi. This is a kind of 'subtle influence' which circulates around the body, providing life to what would otherwise be inanimate, and promoting health and well-being. Acupuncture points are the surface locations where this qi can be accessed and regulated. In this context of balancing and regulating health-promoting qi, a vast array of complaints can be (and have been) successfully treated by acupuncture. It has been said that any disease which is physiologically reversible can be treated by acupuncture. I would add to this that any complaint that has a "psychological" factor within it can also be improved. A general summary of conditions it treats. Types of conditions which can benefit fall into the following categories: musculo-skeletal Many people find acupuncture beneficial with conditions where other forms of treatment have been unsuccessful. Some find it useful to help get them back on their feet after operations. Additionally, some people are actively investigating realistic alternatives to long-term prescription medication, with its associated consequences. Does it help in all cases? No. I wish it did - but in my experience it helps in the vast majority. Sometimes one needs to persevere. We are all unique, and often we carry complex underlying conditions which can make diagnosis and treatment frustrating. This is not unique to acupuncture, it is characteristic of all forms of medicine. The advantage (and the beauty) of acupuncture is the fact that it is safe, effective, and free of the types of side effects so commonly seen in modern medicine. In some instances, I may consider it unlikely that acupuncture is the best therapy, and may recommend other forms of treatment as being more likely to help. In every case, I am happy to discuss treatment possibilities over the phone, giving my best (and honest) opinion. |
phone: 0121 421 3480
email: MrlnYoung@aol.com