Facts About Acupuncture

• Approximately 42% of all Americans are using complementary therapies, spending more than $34 billion annually. This is comparable to all out-of- pocket expenditures for physician visits and exceeds out-of-pocket expenditures for all hospitalizations. (Journal of American Medical Association)

• Nearly one out of every 10 adults in the U.S. has tried acupuncture. (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine)

• Acupuncture has been cited by the World Health Organization (WHO) to treat over forty-three conditions.  (World Health Organization)

• "In November 1997, the National Institutes of  Health (NIH) convened a panel of 12 distinguished physicians and scientists to review the history, licensing, practice and current status of clinical research on the effectiveness of acupuncture. The result was the first formal endorsement of acupuncture by the NIH, stating “There is sufficient evidence of acupuncture’s value to expand its use into conventional medicine and to encourage further studies of its physiology and clinical value.”

The panel urged health professionals to consider acupuncture, particularly integrating its use with conventional medicine after a thorough medical workup.   The panel determined that evidence for relief of
post-operative pain and nausea associated with pregnancy or chemotherapy is clear-cut. Other conditions,
including stroke, headache and chronic low back pain, were listed as benefiting from acupuncture. The panel
also noted that acupuncture appears to be effective in relieving common disorders such as menstrual
cramps, muscle pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, addiction, and asthma.  They also recognized that acupuncture
treatment can result in a reduction in the amount of pain medication or anesthesia that might otherwise
be required.   (California Consumer Affairs, State Acupuncture Board, Consumer Guide & NIH).

• "In California, licensed acupuncturists are the only licensed healthcare professionals who are required to be trained and tested for competency in the prescription of herbal medicine. California approved acupuncture schools offer a minimum of 300 classroom hours of instruction in traditional Oriental herbology, in addition to clinical training." (California Consumer Affairs, State Acupuncture Board, Consumer Guide)

• "Since the 1970s when Acupuncture and Oriental medicine first became available in the United States, over 15 million Americans have tried it.  Almost everyone knows someone who has had positive results. The risk is low and potential benefits are high. " (California Consumer Affairs, State Acupuncture Board, Consumer Guide)

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