Health Awareness and Disease Prevention
Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine - Integrative
Medicine
Acupuncture is a comprehensive form of health care that
is administered through the insertion of fine needles into
the body at specific points that have shown to be effective
in treating specific health issues. Acupuncture is a gentle
and relaxing therapy that stimulates the body's own natural
healing abilities. It has been a part of Traditional Oriental
Medicine for several thousand years and has been developing
as an American medical discipline since the early 1970's.
A report by The World Health Organization (Acupuncture:
Review and analysis of reports on controlled clinical trials
[2002]) listed over 100 conditions suitable for acupuncture
treatment. The following is a partial list: general pain,
fatigue, colds, flu, allergies, asthma, sinusitis, bronchitis,
anxiety, depression, diarrhea, constipation, indigestion,
gastritis, ulcers, urinary tract infection, prostatitis,
sexual dysfunction, irregular or painful menstruation, infertility,
PMS, menopausal symptoms, neuralgia, migraine headaches,
insomnia, dizziness, low back, neck and shoulder pain, hypertension,
angina pectoris, arteriosclerosis, anemia, fibromyalgia.
Much scientific research to date is continuing to show the
benefits of acupuncture and its medical efficacy.
Under the scope of Oriental Medicine some acupuncturists
are trained and certified to provide additional healing
modalities such as Herbal Medicine, Nutrition, Lifestyle
Counseling, Medical Qi Gong(an energetic healing modality),
and Tui Na Medical Massage. In the USA many accredited schools
offer degrees that include education and clinical training
in Acupuncture and Herbology. The National Certification
Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in the
USA, governs the requirements and testing for the following
certifications: Diplomate of Acupuncture, Diplomate of Chinese
Herbology, Diplomate of Asian Body Works (medical massage),
and Diplomate of Oriental Medicine. A practitioner certified
as a Diplomate of Oriental Medicine has been successfully
qualified to carry the certifications of all three disciplines.
The State of Rhode Island's Department of Health requires
a licensed Acupuncturist to pass the NCCAOM national board
exam and graduate from an accredited school with no less
than 2500 hours of training.
Herbal Medicine or Herbology, like Acupuncture is a study
that has been historically practiced for several thousand
years. The education and training of herbal medicine in
the United States with references to Chinese herbal medicine
has been compiled to include an in-depth study of more than
470 herbs with regards to modern pharmacological and clinical
research. The study of herbs includes an understanding of
their effects, benefits, contraindications, and proper dosage.
It is common today to see herbal teas offered in supermarkets
for general use but with the expertise of a certified herbologist
specific herbs can be combined into a formula to address
a specific set of symptoms also referred to as a presenting
pattern of disease.
Look for future articles on health topics including nutrition,
lifestyle counseling, Tai Chi, Qi Gong (exercise), acupuncture,
herbal medicine and Tui Na massage.
Christopher Carlow, D. Ac. is a licensed acupuncturist by
the state of Rhode Island with a Masters Degree in Acupuncture
and Oriental Medicine with special training in Medical Qi
Gong, Tui Na Medical Massage, nutrition and lifestyle counseling.
He specializes in allergies, arthritis, bursitis & joint
pain, bladder control disorders, chronic pain, digestive disorders,
women's health, infertility, menstrual cycle disorders, menopause,
pms, sleep disorders, sports injuries, stress reduction. For
more information about this article or the author please email
Chris_Carlow@yahoo.com or visit http://natureshealing.info.
Christopher Carlow, D. Ac.
January 2, 2007
