Acupuncture is an important component of Traditional Oriental Medicine (TOM) that involves the insertion of thin needles at…

Acupuncture is an important component of Traditional Oriental Medicine (TOM) that involves the insertion of thin needles at specific points (acupoints), which are primarily located along meridians. The TOM theory of acupuncture is based in part on the premise that there are patterns of energy flow composed of Qi (pronounced Chee) throughout the body. This energy flow is required for good health; blockages in Qi lead to pain and ill health. (All traditional oriental medicine practices are focused on improving the flow and balance of Qi.) Thus, according to TOM practitioners, the use of acupuncture stimulates certain points in the energy channels, restoring (or maintaining) a healthy flow and balance. TOM practitioners use acupuncture to treat and prevent a range of conditions and illnesses, even colds and flu. In the U.S., one of its most common uses is to relieve pain, but it is also used for a host of other conditions ranging from ear, nose and throat disease to neurological and respiratory problems and even depression. Acupuncture may be the only intervention used, or it may be used in conjunction with other Oriental therapies such as herbs, or with more conventional therapies. Widely practiced around the world, especially in Asia (the practice originated in China) and Europe, acupuncture didn’t gain a notable following in the U.S. until the 1970s, after President Richard Nixon’s visit to the People’s Republic of China. James Reston, a member of the press corps accompanying Nixon, also piqued public interest when he wrote about how physicians in Beijing eased his postsurgery abdominal pain with needles. Acupuncture has been gaining popularity in the U.S. ever since. The World Health Organization (WHO), using different criteria, has recognized acupuncture as an appropriate treatment for more than 40 conditions, including certain digestive, respiratory, neurological, muscular, urinary, menstrual and reproductive disorders.