Acupuncture Information and Resources

Contents

Acupuncture Information

• Introduction
• Acupuncture Theories
• Preclinical Studies
• Mechanisms of Action
• Clinical Studies
• FDA's Role
• NCCAM-Sponsored Clinical Research
• Acupuncture and You
• Finding a Licensed Acupuncture Practitioner
  • Check a practitioner's credentials
  • Check treatment cost and insurance coverage
  • Check treatment procedures
• The Sensation of Acupuncture
• For More Information
• Glossary of Terms
• References

Acupuncture Information Resources

• Introduction
• National Institutes of Health
• Publications
  • Books
  • Periodicals
• Organizations
  • Training and Credentialing Organizations
• Online Resources
• NCCAM Clearinghouse

Other Formats

• Text

Acupuncture Information

Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most commonly used medical procedures in the world. Originating in China more than 2,000 years ago, acupuncture became widely known in the United States in 1971 when New York Times reporter James Reston wrote about how doctors in Beijing, China, used needles to ease his abdominal pain after surgery. Research shows that acupuncture is beneficial in treating a variety of health conditions.

In the past two decades, acupuncture has grown in popularity in the United States. In 1993, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimated that Americans made 9 to 12 million visits per year to acupuncture practitioners and spent as much as $500 million on acupuncture treatments.¹ In 1995, an estimated 10,000 nationally certified acupuncturists were practicing in the United States. By the year 2000, that number is expected to double. Currently, an estimated one-third of certified acupuncturists in the United States are medical doctors.²

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has funded a variety of research projects on acupuncture that have been awarded by its National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute of Dental Research, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and National Institute on Drug Abuse.

This information package provides general information about acupuncture, summaries of NIH research findings on acupuncture, information for the health consumer, a list of additional information resources, and a glossary that defines terms underscored in the text. It also lists books, journals, organizations, and Internet resources to help you learn more about acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine.

Acupuncture Theories

Qi regulates spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical balance. Qi is influenced by the opposing forces of yin and yang. 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. Acupuncture is believed to balance yin and yang, keep the normal flow of energy unblocked, and restore health to the body and mind.

Traditional Chinese medicine practices (including acupuncture, herbs, diet, massage, and meditative physical exercises) all are intended to improve the flow of qi.³

Western scientists have found meridians hard to identify because meridians do not directly correspond to nerve or blood circulation pathways. Some researchers believe that meridians are located throughout the body's connective tissue;⁴ others do not believe that qi exists at all.^5,6 Such differences of opinion have made acupuncture a source of scientific controversy.

Preclinical Studies

Preclinical studies have documented acupuncture's effects, but they have not been able to fully explain how acupuncture works within the framework of the Western system of medicine.^{7,8,9,10,11,12}

Mechanisms of Action

1. Conduction of electromagnetic signals: Western scientists have found evidence that acupuncture points are strategic conductors of electromagnetic signals. Stimulating points along these pathways through acupuncture enables electromagnetic signals to be relayed at a greater rate than under normal conditions. These signals may start the flow of pain-killing biochemicals, such as endorphins, and of immune system cells to specific sites in the body that are injured or vulnerable to disease.^14,15

2. Activation of opioid systems: Research has found that several types of opioids may be released into the central nervous system during acupuncture treatment, thereby reducing pain.¹⁶

3. Changes in brain chemistry, sensation, and involuntary body functions: Studies have shown that acupuncture may alter brain chemistry by changing the release of neurotransmitters and neurohormones in a good way. Acupuncture also has been documented to affect the parts of the central nervous system related to sensation and involuntary body functions, such as immune reactions and processes whereby a person's blood pressure, blood flow, and body temperature are regulated.^3,17,18

Clinical Studies

Increasingly, acupuncture is complementing conventional therapies. For example, doctors may combine acupuncture and drugs to control surgery-related pain in their patients.²⁰ By providing both acupuncture and certain conventional anesthetic drugs, doctors have found it possible to achieve a state of complete pain relief for some patients.¹⁶ They also have found that using acupuncture lowers the need for conventional pain-killing drugs and thus reduces the risk of side effects for patients who take the drugs.^21,22

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 used.²³ The table below lists these conditions.

Conditions Appropriate for Acupuncture Therapy

Digestive Abdominal pain Constipation Diarrhea Hyperacidity Indigestion	Emotional Anxiety Depression Insomnia Nervousness Neurosis	Eye-Ear-Nose-Throat Cataracts Gingivitis Poor vision Tinnitis Toothache	Gynecological Infertility Menopausal   symptoms Premenstrual   syndrome
Miscellaneous Addiction control Athletic performance Blood pressure   regulation Chronic fatigue Immune system   tonification 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 Tonsillitis

Source: World Health Organization, United Nations. "Viewpoint on Acupuncture." 1979 (revised).²³

Currently, one of the main reasons Americans seek acupuncture treatment is to relieve chronic pain, especially from conditions such as arthritis or lower back disorders.^24,25 Some clinical studies show that acupuncture is effective in relieving both chronic (long-lasting) and acute or sudden pain, but other research indicates that it provides no relief from chronic pain.²⁷ Additional research is needed to provide definitive answers.

FDA's Role

The FDA approved acupuncture needles for use by licensed practitioners in 1996. The FDA requires manufacturers of acupuncture needles to label them for single use only.²⁸ Relatively few complications from the use of acupuncture have been reported to the FDA when one considers the millions of people treated each year and the number of acupuncture needles used. Still, complications have resulted from inadequate sterilization of needles and from improper delivery of treatments. When not delivered properly, acupuncture can cause serious adverse effects, including infections and puncturing of organs.¹

NCCAM-Sponsored Clinical Research

Originally founded in 1992 as the Office of Alternative Medicine (OAM), the NCCAM facilitates the research and evaluation of unconventional medical practices and disseminates this information to the public. The NCCAM, established in 1998, supports nine Centers, where researchers conduct studies on complementary and alternative medicine for specific health conditions and diseases. Scientists at several Centers are investigating acupuncture therapy.

Researchers at the NCCAM Center at the University of Maryland in Baltimore conducted a randomized controlled clinical trial and found that patients treated with acupuncture after dental surgery had less intense pain than patients who received a placebo.²⁰ Other scientists at the Center found that older people with osteoarthritis experienced significantly more pain relief after using conventional drugs and acupuncture together than those using conventional therapy alone.²⁹

Researchers at the Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation in Minnesota are studying the use of acupuncture to treat alcoholism and addiction to benzodiazepines, nicotine, and cocaine. Scientists at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in New Jersey studied acupuncture to treat a stroke-related swallowing disorder and the pain associated with spinal cord injuries.

The OAM, now the NCCAM, also funded several individual researchers in 1993 and 1994 to conduct preliminary studies on acupuncture. In one small randomized controlled clinical trial, more than half of the 11 women with a major depressive episode who were treated with acupuncture improved significantly.³⁰

In another controlled clinical trial, nearly half of the seven children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who underwent acupuncture treatment showed some improvement in their symptoms. Researchers concluded that acupuncture was a useful alternative to standard medication for some children with this condition.³¹

In a third small controlled study, eight pregnant women were given a type of acupuncture treatment, called moxibustion, to reduce the rate of breech births, in which the fetus is positioned for birth feet-first instead of the normal position of head-first. Researchers found the treatment to be safe, but they were uncertain whether it was effective.³² Then, researchers reporting in the November 11, 1998, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association conducted a larger randomized controlled clinical trial using moxibustion. They found that moxibustion applied to 130 pregnant women presenting breech significantly increased the number of normal head-first births.³³

Acupuncture and You

The use of acupuncture, like many other complementary and alternative treatments, has produced a good deal of anecdotal evidence. Much of this evidence comes from people who report their own successful use of the treatment. If a treatment appears to be safe and patients report recovery from their illness or condition after using it, others may decide to use the treatment. However, scientific research may not substantiate the anecdotal reports.

Lifestyle, age, physiology, and other factors combine to make every person different. A treatment that works for one person may not work for another who has the very same condition. You, as a health care consumer (especially if you have a preexisting medical condition); should discuss acupuncture with your doctor. Do not rely on a diagnosis of disease by an acupuncturist who does not have substantial conventional medical training. If you have received a diagnosis from a doctor and have had little or no success using conventional medicine, you may wish to ask your doctor whether acupuncture might help.

Finding a Licensed Acupuncture Practitioner

Doctors are a good resource for referrals to acupuncturists. Increasingly, doctors are familiar with acupuncture and may know of a certified practitioner. In addition, more medical doctors, including neurologists, anesthesiologists, and specialists in physical medicine, are becoming trained in acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, and other alternative and complementary therapies. Friends and family members may be a source of referrals as well. In addition, national referral organizations provide the names of practitioners, although these organizations may be advocacy groups for the practitioners to whom they refer. See Acupuncture Resources for a list of these organizations.

Check a practitioner's credentials.

A practitioner who is licensed and credentialed may provide better care than one who is not. About 30 states have established training standards for certification to practice acupuncture, but not all states require acupuncturists to obtain a license to practice. Although proper credentials do not ensure competency, they do indicate that the practitioner has met certain standards to treat patients with acupuncture.

The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture can give you a referral list of doctors who practice acupuncture. The National Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance lists thousands of acupuncturists on its Web site and provides the list to callers to their information and referral line. The Alliance requires documentation of state license or national board certification from its listed acupuncturists. The American Association of Oriental Medicine can tell you the state licensing status of acupuncture practitioners across the United States as well. To contact these and other organizations, see Acupuncture Resources.

Check treatment cost and insurance coverage.

Reflecting public demand, an estimated 70 to 80 percent of the nation's insurers covered some acupuncture treatments in 1996. An acupuncturist may provide information about the number of treatments needed and how much each will cost. Generally, treatment may take place over a few days or several weeks. The cost per treatment typically ranges between $30 and $100, but it may be appreciably more. Physician acupuncturists may charge more than nonphysician practitioners.¹³

Check treatment procedures.

To find out about the treatment procedures that will be used and their likelihood of success. You also should make certain that the practitioner uses a new set of disposable needles in a sealed package every time. The FDA requires the use of sterile, nontoxic needles that bear a labeling statement restricting their use to qualified practitioners. The practitioner also should swab the puncture site with alcohol or another disinfectant before inserting the needle.

Some practitioners may use electroacupuncture; others may use moxibustion. These approaches are part of traditional Chinese medicine, and Western researchers are beginning to study whether they enhance acupuncture's effects.

During your first office visit, the practitioner may ask you at length about your health condition, lifestyle, and behavior. The practitioner will want to obtain a complete picture of your treatment needs and behaviors that may contribute to the condition. This holistic approach is typical of traditional Chinese medicine and many other alternative and complementary therapies.

Let the acupuncturist, or any doctor for that matter, know about all treatments or medications you are taking and whether you have a pacemaker, are pregnant, or have breast or other implants. Acupuncture may be risky to your health if you fail to tell the practitioner about any of these matters.

The Sensation of Acupuncture

As important research advances continue to be made on acupuncture worldwide, practitioners and doctors increasingly will work together to give you the best care available.

For More Information

For more information about research on acupuncture, contact the NIH National Library of Medicine (NLM), which has published a bibliography of more than 2,000 citations to studies conducted on acupuncture. The bibliography is available on the Internet at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/cbm/acupuncture.html or by writing the NLM, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894. The NLM also has a toll-free telephone number: 1-888-346-3656.

For a database of research on complementary and alternative medicine, including acupuncture, access CAM on PubMed.

Glossary of Terms

Acupuncture
An ancient Chinese health practice that involves puncturing the skin with hair-thin needles at particular locations, called acupuncture points, on the patient's body. Acupuncture is believed to help reduce pain or change a body function. Sometimes the needles are twirled, given a slight electric charge (see electroacupuncture), or warmed (see moxibustion).

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

A syndrome primarily found in children and teenagers that is characterized by excessive physical movement, impulsiveness, and lack of attention.

Clinical studies

(Also clinical trials, clinical outcomes studies, controlled trials, case series, comparative trials, or practice audit evidence.) Tests of a treatment's effects in humans. Treatments undergo clinical studies only after they have shown promise in laboratory studies of animals. Clinical studies help researchers find out whether a promising treatment is safe and effective for people. They also tell scientists which treatments are more effective than others.

Electroacupuncture

A variation of traditional acupuncture treatment in which acupuncture or needle points are stimulated electronically.

Electromagnetic signals

The minute electrical impulses that transmit information through and between nerve cells. For example, electromagnetic signals convey information about pain and other sensations within the body's nervous system.

Fibromyalgia

A complex chronic condition having multiple symptoms, including muscle pain, weakness, and stiffness; fatigue; metabolic disorders; allergies; and headaches.

Holistic

Describes therapies based on facts about the "whole person," including spiritual and mental aspects, not only the specific part of the body being treated. Holistic practitioners may advise changes in diet, physical activity, and other lifestyle factors to help treat a patient's condition.

Meridians

A traditional Chinese medicine term for the 14 pathways throughout the body for the flow of qi, or vital energy, accessed through acupuncture points.

Moxibustion

The use of dried herbs in acupuncture. The herbs are placed on top of acupuncture needles and burned. This method is believed to be more effective at treating some health condititions than using acupuncture needles alone.

Neurohormones

Chemical substances made by tissue in the body's nervous system that can change the structure or function or direct the activity of an organ or organs.

Neurological

A term referring to the body's nervous system, which starts, oversees, and controls all body functions.

Neurotransmitters

Biochemical substances that stimulate or inhibit nerve impulses in the brain that relay information about external stimuli and sensations, such as pain.

Opioids

Synthetic or naturally occurring chemicals in the brain that may reduce pain and induce sleep.

Placebo

An inactive substance given to a participant in a research study as part of a test of the effects of another substance or treatment. Scientists often compare the effects of active and inactive substances to learn more about how the active substance affects participants.

Preclinical studies

Tests performed after a treatment has been shown in laboratory studies to have a desirable effect. Preclinical studies provide information about a treatment's harmful side effects and safety at different doses in animals.

Qi

(Pronounced "chee.") The Chinese term for vital energy or life force.

Randomized controlled clinical trials

A type of clinical study that is designed to provide information about whether a treatment is safe and effective in humans. These trials generally use two groups of people; one group receives the treatment and the other does not. The participants being studied do not know which group receives the actual treatment.

Traditional Chinese medicine

An ancient system of medicine and health care that is based on the concept of balanced qi, or vital energy, that flows throughout the body. Components of traditional Chinese medicine include herbal and nutritional therapy, restorative physical exercises, meditation, acupuncture, acupressure, and remedial massage.

Yang

The Chinese concept of positive energy and forces in the universe and human body. Acupuncture is believed to remove yang imbalances and bring the body into balance.

Yin

The Chinese concept of negative energy and forces in the universe and human body. Acupuncture is believed to remove yin imbalances and bring the body into balance.

References

1. Lytle, C.D. An Overview of Acupuncture. 1993. Washington, DC: United States Department of Health and Human Services, Health Sciences Branch, Division of Life Sciences, Office of Science and Technology, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration.

2. Culliton, P.D. "Current Utilization of Acupuncture by United States Patients." National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference on Acupuncture, Program & Abstracts (Bethesda, MD, November 3-5, 1997). Sponsors: Office of Alternative Medicine and Office of Medical Applications Research. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health, 1997.

3. Beinfield, H. and Korngold, E.L. Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine. New York, NY: Ballantine Books, 1991.

4. Brown, D. "Three Generations of Alternative Medicine: Behavioral Medicine, Integrated Medicine, and Energy Medicine." Boston University School of Medicine Alumni Report. Fall 1996.

5. Senior, K. "Acupuncture: Can It Take the Pain Away? " Molecular Medicine Today. 1996. 2(4):150-3.

6. Raso, J. Alternative Health Care: A Comprehensive Guide. Buffalo, NY: Prometheus Books, 1994.

7. Eskinazi, D.P. "National Institutes of Health Technology Assessment Workshop on Alternative Medicine: Acupuncture." Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 1996. 2(1):1-253.

8. Tang, N.M., Dong, H.W., Wang, X.M., Tsui, Z.C., and Han, J.S. "Cholecystokinin Antisense RNA Increases the Analgesic Effect Induced by Electroacupuncture or Low Dose Morphine: Conversion of Low Responder Rats into High Responders." Pain. 1997. 71(1):71-80.

9. Cheng, X.D., Wu, G.C., He, Q.Z., and Cao, X.D. "Effect of Electroacupuncture on the Activities of Tyrosine Protein Kinase in Subcellular Fractions of Activated T Lymphocytes from the Traumatized Rats." Acupuncture and Electro-Therapeutics Research. 1998. 23(3-4):161-170.

10. Chen, L.B. and Li, S.X. "The Effects of Electrical Acupuncture of Neiguan on the PO2 of the Border Zone Between Ischemic and Non-Ischemic Myocardium in Dogs." Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 1983. 3(2):83-8.

11. Lee, H.S. and Kim, J.Y. "Effects of Acupuncture on Blood Pressure and Plasma Renin Activity in Two-Kidney One Clip Goldblatt Hypertensive Rats." American Journal of Chinese Medicine. 1994. 22(3-4):215-9.

12. Okada, K., Oshima, M., and Kawakita, K. "Examination of the Afferent Fiber Responsible for the Suppression of Jaw-Opening Reflex in Heat, Cold and Manual Acupuncture Stimulation in Anesthetized Rats." Brain Research. 1996. 740(1-2):201-7.

13. National Institutes of Health. Frequently Asked Questions About Acupuncture. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health, 1997.

14. Dale, R.A. "Demythologizing Acupuncture. Part 1. The Scientific Mechanisms and the Clinical Uses." Alternative & Complementary Therapies Journal. April 1997. 3(2):125-31.

15. Takeshige, C. "Mechanism of Acupuncture Analgesia Based on Animal Experiments." Scientific Bases of Acupuncture. Berlin, Germany: Springer-Verlag, 1989.

16. Han, J. S. "Acupuncture Activates Endogenous Systems of Analgesia." National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference on Acupuncture, Program & Abstracts (Bethesda, MD, November 3-5, 1997). Sponsors: Office of Alternative Medicine and Office of Medical Applications of Research. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health, 1997.

17. Wu, B., Zhou, R.X., and Zhou, M.S. "Effect of Acupuncture on Interleukin-2 Level and NK Cell Immunoactivity of Peripheral Blood of Malignant Tumor Patients." Chung Kuo Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chich. 1994. 14(9):537-9.

18. Wu, B. "Effect of Acupuncture on the Regulation of Cell-Mediated Immunity in Patients With Malignant Tumors." Chen Tzu Yen Chiu. 1995. 20(3):67-71.

19. National Institutes of Health Consensus Panel. Acupuncture. National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Statement (Bethesda, MD, November 3-5, 1997). Sponsors: Office of Alternative Medicine and Office of Medical Applications of Research. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health, 1997.

20. Lao, L., Bergman, S., Langenberg, P., Wong, R., and Berman, B. "Efficacy of Chinese Acupuncture on Postoperative Oral Surgery Pain." Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology. 1995. 79(4):423-8.

21. Lewith, G.T. and Vincent, C. "On the Evaluation of the Clinical Effects of Acupuncture: A Problem Reassessed and a Framework for Future Research." Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 1996. 2(1):79-90.

22. Tsibuliak, V.N., Alisov, A.P., and Shatrova, V.P. "Acupuncture Analgesia and Analgesic Transcutaneous Electroneurostimulation in the Early Postoperative Period." Anesthesiology and Reanimatology. 1995. 2:93-8.

23. World Health Organization. Viewpoint on Acupuncture. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 1979.

24. Bullock, M.L., Pheley, A.M., Kiresuk, T.J., Lenz, S.K., and Culliton, P.D. "Characteristics and Complaints of Patients Seeking Therapy at a Hospital-Based Alternative Medicine Clinic." Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 1997. 3(1):31-7.

25. Diehl, D.L., Kaplan, G., Coulter, I., Glik, D., and Hurwitz, E.L. "Use of Acupuncture by American Physicians." Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 1997. 3(2):119-26.

26. Levine, J.D., Gormley, J., and Fields, H.L. "Observations on the Analgesic Effects of Needle Puncture (Acupuncture)." Pain. 1976. 2(2):149-59.

27. Ter Reit, G., Kleijnen, J., and Knipschild, P. "Acupuncture and Chronic Pain: A Criteria-Based Meta-Analysis." Clinical Epidemiology. 1990. 43:1191-9.

28. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Acupuncture Needles No Longer Investigational." FDA Consumer Magazine. June 1996. 30(5).

29. Berman, B., Lao, L., Bergman, S., Langenberg, P., Wong, R., Loangenberg, P., and Hochberg, M. "Efficacy of Traditional Chinese Acupuncture in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis: A Pilot Study." Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 1995. (3):139-42.

30. Allen, John J.B. "An Acupuncture Treatment Study for Unipolar Depression." Psychological Science. 1998. 9:397-401.

31. Sonenklar, N. Acupuncture and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. National Institutes of Health, Office of Alternative Medicine Research Grant #R21 RR09463. 1993.

32. Milligan, R. Breech Version by Acumoxa. National Institutes of Health, Office of Alternative Medicine Research Grant #R21 RR09527. 1993.

33. Cardini, F. and Weixin, H. "Moxibustion for Correction of Breech Presentation: A Randomized Controlled Trial." Journal of the American Medical Association. 1998. 280:1580-4.

34. American Academy of Medical Acupuncture. Doctor, What's This Acupuncture All About? A Brief Explanation for Patients. Los Angeles, CA: American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, 1996.

35. Lao, L. "Safety Issues in Acupuncture." Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 1996. 2(1):27-9.

• National Institutes of Health
• Publications
• Organizations (including Training and Credentialing Organizations)
• Online Resources

National Institutes of Health

Combined Health Information Database (CHID)
7830 Old Georgetown Road, Suite 204
Bethesda, MD 20814
E-mail: chid@aerie.com
Web site: http://chid.nih.gov
CHID Online is a searchable and user-friendly database produced by more than a dozen health-related agencies of the Federal Government. This database provides titles, abstracts, and availability information for health information and health education resources, including acupuncture and Chinese medicine.

National Center for Complementary and Alternative
Medicine (NCCAM) Clearinghouse
P.O. Box 8218
Silver Spring, MD 20907-8218
Telephone and TTY/TDY: 1888-644-6226
Fax: 301-495-4957
E-mail: nccam-info@nccam.nih.gov
NCCAM Web site: http://nccam.nih.gov
The NCCAM Clearinghouse, the information arm of NIH's NCCAM, provides information about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), including acupuncture, and the activities of the NCCAM. The NCCAM Web site has acupuncture information and provides links to the Web sites of nine CAM research centers (sponsored by the NCCAM), some of which are conducting acupuncture research.

NIH Consensus Program Information Center
P.O. Box 2577
Kensington, MD 20891
Telephone: 888-644-2667
Fax: 301-593-9485
E-mail: consensus_statement@nih.gov
The NIH organized a conference that produced a consensus statement about acupuncture (November 3-5, 1997).

U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM)
MEDLINE
8600 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20894
Telephone: 888-346-3656
Fax: 301-402-1384
E-mail: custserv@nlm.nih.gov
Web site: http://medlineplus.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/
An online consumer health information tool.

Publications

A Manual of Acupuncture, by Peter Deadman and Mazin Al-Khafaji (East Sussex, England: Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications, 1998).
A detailed guidebook to descriptions of the theories and actual specific methods of acupuncture. It provides information on the channels, collaterals, point categories, point selection methods, point location, and needling.

Basics of Acupuncture, by Gabriel Stux (Editor) and Bruce Pomerantz (Berlin, Germany: Springer Verlag, 1995).
The most recent of several widely used texts by acupuncture researchers.

Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine, by Harriet Beinfield and Efrem Korngold (New York, NY: Ballantine Books, 1991).
An overview of Chinese medicine, with case histories of treatments and illustrated explanations of philosophy, components, and treatments.

Principles and Practice of Contemporary Acupuncture, by Sung J. Liao, Matthew Lee, and Lorenz K.Y. Ng (New York, NY: Marcel Dekker, 1994).
Contains translations of ancient Chinese medical classics previously unavailable in English. Compares and contrasts traditional Chinese and Western scientific medicine.

The Chinese Way to Healing: Many Paths to Wholeness, by Misha Ruth Cohen (New York, NY: The Berkeley Publishing Group, 1996).
A guidebook to Chinese medicine in the United States, with information about diet, herbs, acupuncture, and finding qualified practitioners.

The Web That Has No Weaver, by Ted Kaptchuk (New York, NY: Congdon and Weed, 1992).
An introduction to traditional Chinese medicine, with comparisons of Eastern and Western medical treatments.

The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, by Maoshing Ni (Boston, MA: Shambala Press, 1995).
A contemporary translation of the classic traditional Chinese medicine text that dates from 2000 B.C.

Periodicals

These periodicals contain information about acupuncture research studies, techniques, effects, and use. Look for "peer reviewed" journals, which publish studies reviewed by researchers in the field to ensure suitability for publication.

Acupuncture and Electro-Therapeutics Research
Cognizant Communications Corporation
3 Hartsdale Road
Elmsford, NY 10523-3701
Telephone: 914-592-7720
Fax: 914-592-8981
E-mail: cogcomm@aol.com
A peer-reviewed quarterly in its 23rd year and indexed/abstracted in MEDLINE.

Alternative Medicine Review: A Journal of Clinical Therapeutics
Thorne Research, Inc.
P.O. Box 3200
Sandpoint, ID 83864
Telephone: 208-263-1337
Fax: 208-265-2488
A peer-reviewed quarterly indexed/abstracted in MEDLINE.

American Journal of Acupuncture
1840 41st Avenue, Suite 102
Capitola, CA 95010
Telephone: 831-475-1700
Fax: 831-475-1439
A quarterly peer-reviewed journal.

American Journal of Chinese Medicine
Institute for Advanced Research in Asian Science and Medicine
P.O. Box 555
Garden City, NY 11530
Telephone: 617-739-1182
Fax: 617-739-1183
A peer-reviewed journal published three times a year and indexed/abstracted in MEDLINE.

European Journal of Oriental Medicine
179 Gloucester Place
London NW1 6DX
United Kingdom
Telephone: 01717 245756
A quarterly research journal.

Guideposts: Acupuncture in Recovery
J&M Reports
7402 NE 58th Street
Vancouver, WA 98662-5207
Telephone: 360-254-0186
Fax: 360-260-8620
A newsletter concerning acupuncture used to treat addiction, alcoholism, and mental health problems.

Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine:
Research on Paradigm, Practice and Policy
Mary Ann Liebert, Publisher
2 Madison Avenue
Larchmont, NY 10538
Telephone: 1-800-654-3278 or 914-834-3100
Fax: 914-834-3688
E-Mail: info@liebertpub.com
Web site: http://www.liebertpub.com/
A quarterly journal abstracted/indexed in MEDLINE.

Journal of Chinese Medicine
22 Cromwell Road
Hove BN3 3EB
United Kingdom
Telephone: 01273 748588
Fax: 01273 748588
A professional journal published three times a year.

Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Co-sponsored by the China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine
and Pharmacy and the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Distributed by the American Center of Chinese Medicine
3121 Park Avenue, Suite J
Soquel, CA 95073
Web site: http://www.jps.net/jtcm/profile.htm
A quarterly journal on clinical and theoretical research that is indexed/abstracted in MEDLINE.

Organizations

American Association of Oriental Medicine
433 Front Street
Catasauqua, PA 18032
Telephone: 610-266-1433
Fax: 610-264-2768
E-mail: aaom1@aol.com
Web site: http://www.aaom.org
A nonprofit professional organization of acupuncturists and practitioners of Oriental medicine. The association determines standards of practice and education through the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. It also funds research and provides a list of acupuncturists and Oriental medicine practitioners by geographic area. The association provides articles and fact sheets, membership and licensing information, a list of acupuncture schools, and a list of state acupuncture associations.

British Medical Acupuncture Society
Newton House, Newton Lane
Whitley, Warrington, Cheshire WA4 4JA
United Kingdom
Telephone: 01925 730727
Fax: 01925 730492
Email: bmasadmin@aol.com
Web site: http://www.medical-acupuncture.co.uk
A group of doctors who practice acupuncture with more conventional treatments. The Society produces the journal Acupuncture in Medicine, published twice per year, covering original research and reviews.

Foundation for Traditional Chinese Medicine
122A Acomb Road
York YO2 4EY
United Kingdom
Telephone: 01904 785120
Fax: 01904 784828
E-mail: monica@dipactcm.demon.co.uk
Web site: http://www.demon.co.uk/acupuncture/index.html
The Foundation funds the Acupuncture Research Resource Center and provides information about acupuncture research listed by condition, including migraine and lower back pain.

International Council of Medical Acupuncture
and Related Techniques
Rue de l'Amazone 62
1060 Brussels
Belgium
Telephone: 03225 393900
Fax: 03225 393692
E-mail: fbeyens@arcadis.be
Web site: http://users.med.auth.gr/~karanik/english/icmart/intro.html
A nonprofit organization created in 1983 of more than 40 national acupuncture-related associations of medical doctors practicing acupuncture and/or related techniques.

National Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance
14637 Starr Road SE
Olalla, WA 98359
Telephone: 253-851-6896
Fax: 253-851-6883
Web site: http://www.acuall.org
A professional society of state-licensed, registered, or certified acupuncturists, with membership open to consumers, schools, organizations, corporate sponsors, and health care providers. The Alliance lists thousands of acupuncturists across the country on its Web site and provides information about them to callers to their information and referral line. The Alliance requires documentation of state license or national board certification from all acupuncturists it lists.

National Acupuncture Detoxification Association
P.O. Box 1927
Vancouver, WA 98668-1927
Telephone: 1-888-765-6232
Fax: 805-969-6051
A nonprofit organization that provides training and consultation for more than 500 drug and alcohol acupuncture treatment programs run by local agencies. The organization's clearinghouse provides a library of audiotapes, videotapes, and literature on using acupuncture to treat addiction and mental disorders.

National Acupuncture Foundation
P.O. Box 2271
Gig Harbor, WA 98335-4271
Telephone: 253-851-6538
Fax: 253-851-6538
The Foundation publishes books, including the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Law Book and the Clean Needle Technique Manual. The Foundation filed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration needle reclassification petition of 1996.

Society for Acupuncture Research
6900 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 700
Bethesda, MD 20815
Telephone: 301-571-0624
Fax: 301-961-5340
A nonprofit organization that facilitates the scientific evaluation of acupuncture.

Training and Credentialing Organizations

Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture
and Oriental Medicine
1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1270
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Telephone: 301-608-9680
Fax: 301-608-9576
E-mail: 73352.2467@compuserve.com
The Commission, established in 1982, evaluates professional master's degree and first professional master's-level certificate and diploma programs in acupuncture and Oriental medicine, with concentrations in both acupuncture and herbal therapy.

Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1270
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Telephone: 301-608-9175
Fax: 301-608-9576
Web site: http://www.ccaom.org
This Council was formed in 1982 and has developed academic and clinical guidelines and core curriculum requirements for master's and doctoral programs in acupuncture as well as acupuncture and Oriental medicine.

NAFTA Acupuncture Commission
Standards Management, Inc.
14637 Starr Road SE
Olalla, WA 98359
Telephone: 253-851-6896
Fax: 253-851-6883
This group of educators, acupuncturists, medical doctors, and naturopathic doctors meet to exchange information and discuss training standards of competence for the practice of acupuncture and Oriental medicine in North America, including Mexico and Canada.

National Certification Commission for Acupuncture
and Oriental Medicine
11 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 300
Alexandria, VA 22314
Telephone: 703-548-9004
Fax: 703-548-9079
E-mail: info@nccaom.org
Web site: http://www.nccaom.org
This Commission was established in 1982 to implement nationally recognized standards of competence for the practice of acupuncture and Oriental medicine. It provides information and programs on certification standards for acupuncturists.

Online Resources

The Internet is one of the fastest ways to access health information, but much of this information is not controlled or reviewed by qualified health professionals. Approach information from the Internet with caution, as it may be misleading, incorrect, or even dangerous.

Acuall.org
Web site: http://www.acuall.org
A site sponsored by the National Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance with general information on acupuncture and Oriental medicine, referrals to practitioners, legislative status, national issues, conferences and workshops, publications, and information for potential students.

Healingpeople.com
Web site: http://www.healingpeople.com
Describes and summarizes acupuncture procedures, areas of research, and other pertinent information from multiple sources.

Health Info Library: Acupuncture
Web site: http://www.americanwholehealth.com/library/acupuncture/tcm.htm
A site by the health care company American WholeHealth that provides acupuncture articles and research.

Medical Matrix
Web site: http://www.medmatrix.org
A gateway to clinical medical resources, including numerous medical journals.

National Library of Medicine. Current Bibliographies
in Medicine: Acupuncture
Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/cbm/acupuncture.html
Bibliographies to 2,302 scientific papers collected between January 1970 and October 1997.

Summary of Controlled Clinical Studies Demonstrating
the Effectiveness of Acupuncture Treatment for Various Conditions
Summarizes studies on dental pain, migraine and headache, lower back pain, cervical pain, tennis elbow, dysmenorrhea (menstrual disorders), addiction, respiratory conditions, cardiovascular fitness, stroke, nausea, and sleep disorders.

Please send requests for information about complementary or alternative medicine to:

NCCAM Clearinghouse
P.O. Box 8218
Silver Spring, MD 20907-8218

1-888-644-6226 (1-888-NIH-NCAM) (Toll-free, TTY/TDY, and Fax-On-Demand)
1-301-495-4957 (Fax)
nccam-info@nccam.nih.gov (E-mail)

http://nccam.nih.gov (NCCAM Web site)

Inclusion of a treatment or resource in this information package does not imply endorsement by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Institutes of Health, or U.S. Public Health Service.

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