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Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most commonly used medical
procedures in the world. Originating in China more than
2,000 years ago, acupuncture began to become better known in
the United States when New York Times reporter James Reston
wrote about how doctors in China used needles to ease his
abdominal pain after surgery. Research shows that
acupuncture is beneficial in treating a variety of health
conditions.
The term acupuncture describes a family of procedures
involving stimulation of anatomical points on the body by a
variety of techniques. The acupuncture technique that has
been most studied scientifically involves penetrating the
skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated
by the hands or by electrical stimulation.
In the past two decades, acupuncture has grown in
popularity. A Harvard University study published in 1998
estimated that Americans made more than five million visits
per year to acupuncture practitioners. The report from a
Consensus Development Conference on Acupuncture held at the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1997 stated that
acupuncture is being "widely" practiced--by thousands of
physicians, dentists, acupuncturists, and other
practitioners--for relief or prevention of pain and for
various other health conditions. |
