Acupuncture, though best known for treating and preventing chronic pain and addictions, helps with dozens of diverse health conditions, and encourages a sense of well-being and peace. Conventional medical approaches are more effective for trauma and life-threatening conditions. In addition, controlled clinical trials in the U.S. have evaluated the use of acupuncture combined with standard stroke protocol for the treatment of paralysis due to stroke. The NIH panel also stated that One of the advantages of acupuncture is that the incidence of adverse effects is substantially lower than that of many other drugs or other accepted medical procedures used for the same conditions. Today there are over 14,000 acupuncturists in America, and dozens of different styles of acupuncture treatment.
Practitioners trained in different traditions employ different approaches.
The most important factor in selecting an acupuncturist is their depth of training, licensure or certification, and experience. Increasingly, insurers are paying for acupuncture therapy, often without a doctor s prescription. Copyright 1998 Michael C. Gaeta. All rights reserved.