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Acupuncture is
the practice of inserting needles into the body to activate
a change in its state of functioning. This ancient Eastern
practice is based on the belief that health is determined
by chi, the vital life force that flows through every living
thing. When this energy moves through the body along pathways
called meridians is balanced, the individual enjoys good
health. When the flow gets interrupted for some reason,
the individual may experience pain and ill health. Acupuncture
is used to restore proper energy flow and restoration of
health.
History of Acupuncture
Acupuncture has
a 5,000 year history and many variations are practiced today
depending upon the training lineage of the practitioner.
For thousands of years it has been used to treat and prevent
disease and other disorders of the human organism. In the
East, it developed as part of the indigenous health care
system called traditional Oriental medicine. There are several
cultures from which acupuncture comes as it is practiced
in the United States today and the practice has a different
name in each culture. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
and new acupuncture came from China, Tong Family Style came
from Taiwan, Eight Constitutions from Korea, Meridian Therapy
(MT) from Japan, Leamington Acupuncture (LA) known as 5
element acupuncture Ryodoraku from Japan and auriculotherapy
from France, electroacupuncture according to Voll-EAV from
Germany.
Acupuncture Sessions
Each session lasts
approximately 30-60 minutes. The practitioner will insert
thin needles the size of a hair on your arm at specific
points on the body, depending upon the individual complaints.
The treatment is usually painless although there may occasionally
be some slight discomfort. Some practitioners will use electronic
stimulation that may or may not penetrate the skin. Relief
may be experienced after one treatment or after a series
of treatments.
Uses for Acupuncture
Acupuncture helps
relieve chronic pain, and is used for treating mental, behavioral
and physical disorders. In some cases, acupuncture is used
for anesthesia or in conjunction with anesthesia to lower
the dosage required and increase the sedative effect. The
use of acupuncture is widely used on animals with the same
valuable results as with humans.
NOTE: The World Health Organization has recognized
acupuncture as useful for conditions in humans that include
those of the upper respiratory tract such as acute sinusitis,
acute rhinitis, common cold, acute tonsillitis; the respiratory
system such as acute bronchitis, bronchial asthma; disorders
of the eye such as acute conjunctivitis, central retinitis,
myopia in children, cataract (without complications); disorders
of the mouth such as toothache and post-extraction pain,
gingivitis, acute and chronic pharyngitis; gastro-intestinal
disorders such as spasms of esophagus and cardia, hiccough,
gastroptosis, acute and chronic gastritis, gastric hyperacidity,
chronic duodenal ulcer (pain relief), acute duodenal ulcer
(without complications), acute and chronic colitis, acute
bacillary dysentery, constipation, diarrhea, paralytic ileus;
and neurological and muscles disorders such as headache
and migraine, trigeminal neuralgia, facial palsy (early
stage), pareses following a stroke, peripheral neuropathies,
sequelae of poliomyelitis (early state), Meniere's disease,
neurogenic bladder dysfunction, nocturnal enuresis, intercostals
neuralgia, cervicobrachial syndrome, frozen shoulder and
tennis elbow, sciatica, low back pain, and osteoarthritis.
And The National Institute of Health's Office of Alternative
Medicine has funded preliminary studies of acupuncture for
treatment of: major depressive episodes, attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder, used moxibustion to turn babies
from a breach birth. These studies were small but showed
a definite indication that acupuncture was helpful. According
to the NIH Consensus Statement, acupuncture has been shown
to be effective in adult postoperative and chemotherapy
nausea and vomiting and in postoperative dental pain. There
are other situations such as addiction, stroke rehabilitation,
headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia,
myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, low back pain, carpal tunnel
syndrome, and asthma, in which acupuncture may be useful
as an adjunct treatment or alternative or be included in
a comprehensive management program. NIH believes that further
research is likely to uncover additional areas where acupuncture
interventions will be useful. Doctors have found that using
acupuncture lowers the need for conventional pain-killing
drugs and thus reduces risk of side effects for patients
who take the drugs.
Examination Requirements
National Certification
Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)
is assisted in its examination administration by Applied
Measurement Professionals (AMP), one of the leading testing
services in the United States. AMP is the professional testing
agency contracted by the NCCAOM to assist in the administration,
scoring and analysis of the NCCAOM examinations. AMP services
also include the reporting of scores to candidates who take
the examinations. AMP is a research and development firm
that conducts professional competency assessment research
and provides examination services for a number of credentialing
programs. The NCCAOM is a member of the National Organization
for Competency Assurance (NOCA). It is also accredited by
the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA),
which represents the highest voluntary certification standards
in the United States. The expertise and policies of these
three groups -- AMP, NOCA, and NCCA -- have contributed
to NCCAOM development of a certification process that gives
full recognition to the diversity of acupuncture in the
U.S., while also providing a unified set of national standards
for safe and competent practice. The first NCCAOM Comprehensive
Written Examination (CWE) in Acupuncture (ACP) was given
in March 1985. It was developed during a three-year period
with the help of leading acupuncturists throughout the nation.
Throughout this development period the NCCAOM followed national
guidelines for certification and testing in order to ensure
a fair, valid, and reliable examination. The administration
of the exam was a milestone event in the growth of the profession
in the United States. The Practical Examination of Point
Location Skills (PEPLS) was added as a component of NCCAOM
Acupuncture Examination in September 1989. The Clean Needle
Technique (CNT) portion was added to the acupuncture written
exam two years later. This separately scored CNT exam was
merged into the Comprehensive Written Examination in Acupuncture
in 1998.
In 1989, the profession asked the NCCAOM to develop a certification
program measuring entry-level competency in the practice
of Chinese Herbology. After three years of research, the
organization opened the Credentials Documentation Review
(CDR) period for Certification in Chinese Herbology. The
first national Comprehensive Written Examination in Chinese
Herbology was given in April 1995. The NCCAOM then developed
a third certification program in response to requests from
the profession. NCCAOM Certification in Asian Bodywork Therapy
(ABT) was offered in 1996 through Credentials Documentation
Review. CDR for certification in Asian Bodywork Therapy
closed in December 1997. The first Comprehensive Written
Examination in ABT was given in October 2000. Accredited
acupuncture schools in the U.S. typically require 3,000
hours of training specific to acupuncture. The philosophy
and approach are completely different than that of Western
medicine.
American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (AAMA) was founded
in 1987 by a group of physicians who were graduates of the
"Medical Acupuncture for Physicians" training
programs (200 credit hours of acupuncture training beyond
the physician training) sponsored by University Extension,
UCLA School of Medicine. The AAMA is the sole physician-only
professional acupuncture society in North America, accepting
members from a diversity of training backgrounds. Physician
members represent all of the disciplines of medical acupuncture
currently practiced in the United States and Canada.
Membership requirements for the Academy have been established
in accordance with the training guidelines created by the
World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies. The
Academy represents the highest standards of training and
proficiency among physicians practicing acupuncture in North
America.
American Academy of Medical Acupuncture
5820 Wilshire Blvd.
Suite 500
Los Angeles, CA 90036
213-937-5514
www.acupuncture.com
Training/Licensing
State Law varies
across the 50 United States. Some states do not recognize
acupuncture as a treatment modality. Most now accept NCCAOM
certification or have their own licensing requirements.
For specific state information, please see http://acupuncture.com/StateLaws/laws-all.htm
or contact your own state's medical supervision agency.
There are a number of ways an acupuncturist can be credentialed.
Some states handle their own credentialing and the national
acupuncture organizations can most likely provide you with
information about your state. Maryland and West Virginia
are two states that do not require an NCCAOM license because
these states issue their own. Medical doctors have a different
type of credentialing. And there is a national accreditation
organization. In short, your acupuncturist should be able
to provide you with a copy of their certification and/or
state license to practice.
PLEASE NOTE THAT TO PRACTICE ACUPUNCTURE ON ANIMALS, A LICENSED
ACUPUNCTURIST MUST:
- Possess current certification for animal acupuncture
from the Board;
- Cooperate and consult with a veterinary practitioner
by:
- Beginning acupuncture treatment on an animal only
if the animal has been seen by a veterinary practitioner
within the previous 14 days:
- Adhering to the terms and conditions of treatment
decided by the veterinary practitioner, including
the degree of communication and collaboration between
the veterinary practitioner and the person practicing
acupuncture;
- Reporting to the veterinary practitioner at the
end of the animal’s treatment or at monthly
intervals at the discretion of the veterinary practitioner;
- Not working on an animal for which the person has
not been appropriately trained in accordance with
this regulation; and
- A person may not represent to the public that the
person is an animal acupuncturist and may not practice
acupuncture on animals unless the person is certified
by the board to practice acupuncture on animals.
Educational
Requirements
- Applicants must show proof of having successfully completed
a Board-approved specialty training program in animal
acupuncture from a school accredited by the Accreditation
Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM)
or approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission
that consists of a minimum of 135 hours of theory and
clinical training.
- List the name & complete address of the school,
dates attended, and courses completed. Also list if the
school is accredited by ACAOM or approved by the Maryland
Higher Education Commission.
- TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE SENT DIRECTLY TO THE BOARD FROM
THE SCHOOL and must document the following:
- At least 90 hours in diagnosis of energy dynamics
and treatment of animals;
- At least 15 hours in comparative functional anatomy
and physiology of animals;
- At least 15 hours in animal handling, restraints,
and emergencies; and
- At least 20 hours in introduction to animal diseases
and zoonotics that require the immediate attention
of a veterinary practitioner.
NOTE: A Veterinary Surgeon
is the only person able to give acupuncture treatment to
an animal. It is totally against the Law for anyone else
to do so. Only a vet can diagnose an animals' condition,
recommend the right course of treatment and administer that
treatment. In addition, the use of needles is an invasive
procedure which, again by Law, only a vet can perform. If
anyone other than a vet gives an animal acupuncture treatment
they are committing a criminal act!
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