Why People See Acupuncturists

[Guest guest]

In response to the two posts in the last digest

that contained the assertion that people see us

because Western Med doesn't help them, that is

only one reason...

 

According to a national survey published in the Journal of the American

Medical Association, " Why Patients Use Alternative Medicine, " on the

characteristics of alternative medicine users, they tend to have more

education, poorer health, a holistic orientation to health, have had a

transformational experience that changed their worldview, and may be in a

cultural group identifiable by their commitment to environmentalism,

feminism, and interest in spirituality and personal growth psychology.

 

And Paul Unschuld wrote an interesting article on the acceptance of Oriental

Medicine in the West (http://www.paradigm-pubs.com/html/refs/reorme.pdf)

that correlates people's perspectives on society with their acceptance of a

medicine. He emphasizes that evidence of efficacy is secondary- people's

must understand a medicine in a way that fits with their beliefs and values

first. In fact, our beliefs and values are coloring the way we see and

present Chinese medicine, and which parts of it we emphasize or ignore.

 

So, no matter what you do (science, reason, example), you will not get some

people to accept it. And no matter what, some people will continue to

support it.

 

Oh, and by the way- I'm not so sure acupuncture will work for those who

don't believe in it. Perhaps for those who are neutral, if it's a good

treatment. But don't underestimate the power of the nocebo effect to

nullify medical treatment.

 

B

 

 

 

Brian Benjamin Carter, M.Sci., L.Ac.

http://www.pulsemed.org/briancarterbio.htm

Editor, The Pulse of Oriental Medicine

Columnist, Acupuncture Today

(619) 208-1432 San Diego

(866) 206-9069 x 5284 Tollfree Voicemail

 

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> Message: 2

> Thu, 29 May 2003 19:31:23 -0000

> " josh_spin " <josh_spin

> Acpuncture - The wave of the future

>

> More and more people are turning to alternative medicine for the 21

> century. Why? Because they still do not have their health problems

> solved. They are tired of chronic pain, medications that have un-

> desirable side affects and various M.D's who have not helped them in

> any way.

>

> In short - These people that search out N.D's, L. Ac's or other

> alternative practioners have reached a threshold. They are tired of

> feeling physical and emotional pain and they want a solution. Some

> people may not even believe in Acupuncture. Will it work for them

> anyway? Of course!

>

> I'm a real common sense type of guy. I use what works, and I believe

> that most people do the same. Since Acupuncture has been in existence

> for over 3,000 years, I think it's a safe bet to say that it works.

> If it didn't, we would have gotten rid of it by now. It still blows

> me away that more M.D.'s do not take the time to really look at what

> a marriage of an L.'Ac and a Western Doctor could do. It's the

> perfect match! You get the best of both worlds AND SO DOES THE

> PATIENT. Which is why you should be in the profession from the start.

>

> (Whew!) I'll step down from my soap box now...everyone have a great

> weekend.

>

>

> Joshua D. Thompson

> Columbia, South Carolina

>

 

 

>

> Message: 5

> Thu, 29 May 2003 14:11:04 -0000

> " acududeman " <acududeman

> Re: Acupuncture- What and How

>

> I stand behind my training. I stand behind OM that has been practiced

> for thousands of years. OM has not spread in this country due to the

> enthusiasm of the government, the insurance industry, or the Western

> medical community. It has spread because we treat many conditions

> that Western docs can't, and many conditions we treat better, cheaper

> and safer than Western medicine.

>

> In place of spending more time in school, I would rather see those

> hours used for practice development and legislative activities. Our

> profession will only be advanced through difficult and creative

> political effort.

>

> Our profession is not legitimized by taking science and research

> methods classes. It is legitimized by its effectiveness as a primary

> (exclusive) care modality with 3000 years of success behind it.