April 1, 2003
Introduction:
Hi there,
This past month has been especially busy for me and I am happy to be able to
share this latest version of my newsletter with you. I hope you enjoy it.
I'm very interested in hearing from couples that are having difficulty in
their marriages and are feeling a loss of intimacy. I would really like to help
as many couples as possible regain intimacy, friendship and trust in their
marriages. If you are interested in working on your marriage email me at
carole@mytherapistnc.org.
I hope you enjoy the feature article Acupuncture and Family Therapy: A
Holistic Approach. This is a topic that has been of special interest to me.
My thoughts and prayers are with our service men and women and their
families!
Hope to hear from you soon!
Carole
Table of Contents
- Feature Article
- What’s new at mytherapistnc.org!
- Recommended Book of the Month
- Coming in future issues!
- Recommended sites
1. Feature Article
Acupuncture and Family
Therapy: A Holistic Approach
Even though acupuncture has been a practiced Chinese medical treatment for
over 4,500 years, in most western cultures it is considered a “new alternative”
medicine. Acupuncture is the oldest form of curing still practiced in the world
today.
In Chinese medicine, and therefore in acupuncture, health is determined by a
person’s ability to maintain balanced and harmonious internal environment.
Disease occurs when the internal environment is disturbed and the normal
processes that act to restore balance and harmony are unable to cope (Mills &
Finando, 1989, p. 8). Harmony and balance depend on the smooth and uninterrupted
flow of Qi (pronounced ch’i). The Chinese ideogram for “energy” is called Qi.
Acupuncture is based on the theory that Qi runs through the body as an energy
force. The Qi consists of all vital activities including the spiritual,
emotional, mental, and physical part of life that is within all living beings.
Acupunctures premise is that nature is a part of all living beings rather than
something outside them.
Qi is comprised of two parts, Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang are opposite forces,
that when balanced, work together. Any upset in the balance will result in
natural calamities, in nature, and disease in humans. It is the right balance of
Yin and Yang that is responsible for the harmonious functioning of the universe,
including mankind (Nightingale, 1987, p. 19).
An individuals’ health is a reflection of the flow of Qi and the universal
forces of the Yin and Yang. If the flow of Qi is unbalanced or interrupted, then
the Yin and Yang will also be unbalanced. When these forces become unbalanced
illness can surface (Singer, 1999).
The flow if Qi moves in the body along pathways called “meridians". Meridians
are pathways along which energy is transmitted around the body by oscillation
and vibration (Nightingale, 1987, p. 50). The meridians are paired, one on
either side and run vertically up and down the surface of the body. The meridian
system in the body could be thought of like our nervous system: It is a means of
communication. Unlike our nervous system, though, the meridians are not a
physical structure, but an energy structure (Sundarii, 1999).
Qi flows up and down these meridians and when these pathways become
obstructed or stuck (unbalanced), Yin and Yang also become unbalanced and this
is said to cause illness. Acupuncture is the practice of bringing balance back
to the QI and the Yin and Yang.
The specific acupuncture points are where the meridians come to the surface
of the skin. This makes it easy to access these points through needling that
will restore circulation to the flow of Qi bringing back balance between Yin and
Yang. Through the insertion of needles at specific acupuncture points on the
Meridian, we are coaxing the energy to flow properly. When energy is flowing,
the bodies own healing mechanisms are able to “kick in,” and the process of
healing begins (Sundarii, 1999).
Possible reasons cited for obstructing the flow of Qi include internal or
emotional disturbances, external factors, imbalances in diet or lifestyle, and
too much work and stress. Stimulation by acupuncture is said to remove these
blockages by diffusing lactic acid and carbon monoxide that accumulates in
muscle tissue. These accumulations are believed to cause stagnation of blood and
stiffness throughout the body (iVillage, 2000).
Acupuncture relies on the body’s own natural healing energy. Individuals are
treated differently using acupuncture, as no two people are alike. As
acupuncture treatment begins the body will access its own healing energy and the
body will rebalance itself. Symptoms will begin to fade as the body begins to
heal itself.
Millions of Americans have turned to acupuncture and other alternative
medicines for relief or prevention of pain and for a variety of health
conditions. The National Institute of Health (NIH) gave their approval of
acupuncture and in 1997, the NIH Consensus Panel examined all available research
on acupuncture treatment. The NIH panel's consensus statement found that
acupuncture (National Institute of Health, 1997):
Is an effective treatment for a variety of health conditions including nausea
from chemotherapy, surgery and pregnancy, and pain after surgery; May also be an
effective adjunct therapy for a number of other conditions, including stroke
rehabilitation, relieving addictions, headaches, menstrual cramps, a variety of
muscle pains, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, low back pain,
osteoarthritis, and asthma;
Adverse side effects are known to occur less often than with many drugs or
other medical procedures used for the same conditions; Should be integrated into
standard medical practice and be covered by Medicare, Medicaid and private
insurance companies.
Moreover, the World Health Organization (WHO), the medical branch of the
United Nations issued a provisional list of 41 diseases treatable by
acupuncture. Some of those included in the list are respiratory ailments, pain
and chronic pain conditions, PMS and other gynecological disorders, and
gastrointestinal disorders (World Health Organization, 1979).
Today the practice of acupuncture has increased in the United States and
there are over 50 schools of acupuncture nationwide, 21 of which are accredited
by the U.S. Department of Education and over 40 states have laws or regulations
governing the practice of acupuncture (http://www.thehealthpages.com/articles/aracupn.html).
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is comprised of a grouping of procedures that involve stimulating
specific points on the skin using a variety of styles. Some of the acupuncture
techniques practiced today have incorporated the traditions from China, Japan,
Korea, and other countries (National Institute of Health, 1997).
For conditions that cannot be helped with Western medicine, acupuncture can
be a viable source of treatment. Acupuncture deals with the physical body, the
mental being and the spiritual being, whereas Western medicine only deals with
the physical body. Therefore, it can help people on levels that go untouched by
Western medicine (Sundarii, 1999). Not everyone is helped by acupuncture
treatment however some people do experience relief after only one or two
sessions. For others, relief could take up to ten to twelve sessions.
Acupuncture is a procedure that involves the penetration of specific
locations on the skin using thin, solid, metallic needles in order to influence
physiological functioning of the body. These specific points on the skin are
called acupuncture points. As many as nine different types of needles can be
used in acupuncture, however only six are most commonly used today. The needles
may vary in length, width of shaft, and shape of head. For health reasons, most
needles are disposable and are only used once then discarded in accordance with
medical biohazard regulations and guidelines (Singer, 1999).
Acupuncturists use a few types of methods when inserting needles. Techniques
are carefully chosen based on the ailment and no two individuals are treated
alike. Points can be needled anywhere in the range of 15 degrees to 90 degrees
relative to the skin surface, depending on the treatment called for (Singer,
1999). The following techniques are sometimes used following insertion of
needles: Raising and Thrusting, Twirling or Rotation, Combination of
Raising/Thrusting and Rotation, Plucking, Scraping (vibrations sent through the
needle), and Trembling (another vibration technique) (Singer, 1999).
These techniques are not painful, however there is a sensation felt by the
patient. This sensation, which is not pain, is called deqi (pronounced dah-chee)
and is desired by the acupuncturist (Singer, 1999).
How Does Acupuncture Work?
Scientists have no real answer to how acupuncture works, however there are
many theories. What they do know is that acupuncture treatment can influences
function rather than structure (Nightingale, 1987). What this means is that
structural problems such as a broken bone, severed nerve, or irreversibly
damaged internal organ cannot be helped by acupuncture. Functional problems,
such as muscle spasms, joints pain or swelling, allergic reactions, and
digestive disturbances, can be influenced by acupuncture (Rind, 1999). Pain,
whether acute or chronic, often responds dramatically to acupuncture
(Nightingale, 1987, p. 23).
A short answer to how acupuncture works is that acupuncture works by
correcting disharmony within the body (Nightingale, 1987). The traditional
Chinese describe this disharmony as either a deficiency or a blockage in the
meridians. The meridians or pathways of energy that run through the body and
over its surface flow through the body to irrigate and nourish the tissues. Any
blockage or obstruction to this flow will cause a back up in the system and
cause other parts to have deficiencies. These blockages and deficiencies of the
flow of energy through the body will eventually lead to disease (Chinese Pain
Center, 1999). Acupuncture or needling will unblock these dams of energy and
bring back a regular flow of energy through the meridians. Acupuncture
treatments can therefore help the body's internal organs to correct imbalances
in their digestion, absorption, and energy production activities, and in the
circulation of their energy through the meridians (Chinese Pain Center, 1999).
This method of healing encourages the body to promote a natural self-healing
process.
The western medical view of how acupuncture works is that the stimulation of
needling the acupuncture points produces a controlled, sterile, and harmless
stimulus to the nervous system. The body's defenses are triggered into
responding with a desirable response, such as a release of chemicals in the
muscles, spinal cord, and brain (Chinese Pain Center, 1999). These responses can
increase endorphin production, improve circulation, improve immune response, or
decrease inflammation changing the experience of pain or stimulating the body to
use its own internal regulating system (Rind, 1999).
The Different Types of Acupuncture
There are different styles and schools of thought in acupuncture, ranging
from traditional Chinese acupuncture to modern Western approaches. Within each
of these different approaches there are many variations. No two practitioners
will perform the same treatment techniques for the same problem. There are also
different theoretical orientations (e.g., Chinese, Japanese, Korean) that a
practitioner may use to approach treatment. There are many acupuncture
techniques that may be used as treatment as well as many variations of these
techniques. The following are brief descriptions of some of the most popular
acupuncture techniques:
Traditional Chinese Acupuncture
Traditional Chinese acupuncture practitioners believe that Qi flows through
the body through the meridians. Therefore, treatment from this view involves
using needling to stimulate the acupuncture points that will promote the body’s
natural healing process. The purpose of the needling is to release any blockage
of energy that may be causing pain or disease in the body. Traditional Chinese
acupuncture healers focus on the unity of the body and mind, meaning that if a
person is having pain or illness they are also in emotional turmoil, and vise
versa (Rind, 1999).
Rvodoralru
Yoshio Nakatani, a Japanese physician, developed Rvodoralru an estimated 40
years ago (Rind, 1999). Ryodoraku is different from traditional Chinese
acupuncture in that it doesn’t attempt to increase the flow of Qi but instead
attempts to balance the meridians.
Ryodoraku is a system of measuring skin resistance at the many different
acupuncture points. This information is then used to balance the 12 main
meridians. This method of acupuncture is based on the theory that good health
comes from the balancing of the meridians (Rind, 1999).
Korvo Sooii Chim
Dr. Tae-Woo Yoo developed Korvo Sooii Chim (Korean hand acupuncture) in 1971
(Rind, 1999). This method of acupuncture used only points on the surface of the
hands. The beliefs behind this method are that every acupuncture point on the
body has a corresponding acupuncture point on the surface of the hand (Rind,
1999). Therefore, if an acupuncturist wanted to perform a treatment that would
bring relief to a certain part of the leg, they would insert a needle in the
corresponding part of the hand.
Modern Western Acupuncture
Modern Western acupuncture is similar to traditional Chinese acupuncture,
however the difference lies in the underlying premise of each theory. Modern
Western acupuncture is based on the premise that the insertion of an acupuncture
needle will induce a controlled stimulation and have a measurable response. This
stimulation will produce a reflex response from the body that may increase
production of endorphins or create increased blood flow to a particular area of
the body that will enable the body to initiate self-healing.
A traditional Chinese acupuncturist may insert a needle into the same point
the Western acupuncturist inserted a needle but instead the premise would be
that inserting a needle in that acupuncture point will stimulate the meridian
and increase the flow of Qi which will bring balance and health (Rind, 1999).
Auricular Acupuncture
Auricular acupuncture is a commonly used treatment in the United States. This
method of acupuncture involves placing needles into acupuncture points in the
ear. This theory is based on the premise that the ear has a rich nerve and blood
supply and therefore has connections all over the body. Much like the Korean
method of Korvo Sooii Chim (Hand acupuncture), it is assumed that the ear has
acupuncture points that correspond to the many different parts and organs of the
body and therefore when these points are stimulated they will bring relief to
the corresponding area of the body (Singer, 1999).
Acupuncture and Moxibustion
The method of acupuncture and moxibustion is the burning of the herb moxa
(Chinese mugwort) over certain acupuncture points of the body to treat disease
(Nightingale, 1987). This is method warms, tones, and stimulates the acupuncture
points. Doing moxa regularly on specific acupuncture points is said to promote
strength and longevity (Cohen, 1999). Acupuncture and moxibustion are considered
complimentary forms of treatment, and are commonly used together. Moxibustion is
used for ailments such as bronchial asthma, bronchitis, certain types of
paralysis, and arthritic disorders (Singer, 1999).
Electro-Acupuncture
This method of acupuncture is used primarily in analgesia (pain relief). This
form of acupuncture sends very small electrical impulses through the acupuncture
needles. The amount of power used is only a few microamperes, but the frequency
of the current can vary from 5 to 2,000 Hz (Singer, 1999). For surgical
procedures the higher frequency is used. In China, this is a common form of
surgical analgesia (Singer, 1999).
Cupping Acupuncture
Cupping is a method of stimulating acupuncture points by applying suction
through a metal, wood or glass jar, in which a partial vacuum has been created
(Singer, 1999). The cupping technique produces blood congestion at the
acupuncture points creating stimulation. It involves taking small glass cups,
burning a small amount of cotton wool impregnated with alcohol for a few seconds
inside the cup, and then placing the cup over the area to be treated
(Nightingale, 1987, p. 90). Cupping is used for low backache, sprains, soft
tissue injuries, and helping relieve fluid from the lungs in chronic bronchitis
(Singer, 1999).
How safe is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a very safe treatment when practiced by a trained, qualified
acupuncturist using sterile, disposable needles and proper skin cleansing
methods (Rind, 1999). One of the advantages of acupuncture is that the incidence
of adverse effects is substantially lower than that of many drugs or other
accepted medical procedures used for the same conditions (National Institute of
Health, 1997).
However, it is important to consider the risks involved with any invasive
procedure. Because needles are inserted into the skin during treatment, it is
important to make sure the practitioner is using the most sterile techniques as
to avoid infection or the transmission of diseases such as hepatitis or AIDS,
even though the transmission of HIV through acupuncture is unlikely (Trachtenberg,
1989).
One way to reduce risk is to ask the practitioner if they use individually
sealed, disposable needles (iVillage, 2000). Some acupuncturists use silver or
gold needles, which must be sterilized after each use (Rind, 1999).
The individually sealed sterile, disposable needles are approximately the
diameter of a human hair. The needle is solid, nothing is injected into the
body, and the depth of the insertion is very shallow (Sundarii, 1999). When
compared to the benefits of acupuncture, the risks and adverse side effects seem
quite low.
Training and Healthcare Providers
Acupuncturists are licensed independently in most states. However, some
states require you to be a Medical Doctor to practice acupuncture. Approximately
30 percent of the 10,000 practicing acupuncturists in the United States are
physicians, according to the World Health Organization (World Health
Organization, 1979). Thirty-four states license or otherwise regulate the
practice of acupuncture by non-physicians, and have established training
standards for certification to practice acupuncture (iVillage, 2000).
Consistency among the States in regulating the qualifications of acupuncture
practitioners will increase the confidence of the public and the health care
community.
Some of the leading associations for acupuncture are the National
Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), the
National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncturists (NCCA), and the
Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM).
Are there people who should not have acupuncture?
Even with acupunctures success rates there are some medical conditions that
require extreme caution. For example bleeding disorders, taking prescribed
blood-thinning medication, and pregnancy (Rind, 1999). Pregnant women should use
extreme caution when being treated with acupuncture because acupuncture may
stimulate production of hormones in pregnant women that help initiate labor and
can be harmful to the fetus in early pregnancy (http://www.thehealthpages.com/articles/ar-acupn.html).
Caution should also be used in cases of extreme susceptibility to infection or
if the area to be treated is infected (Rind, 1999). Extremely weak and very old
people and those who are unduly nervous as well as those who are particularly
frightened of needles are better treated by some other method, such as laser
(Nightingale, 1987, p. 25).
There are some conditions that do not respond as well to acupuncture. They
include cancer, severe infections, heart disease, muscular dystrophy, venereal
disease, motor neurone disease, and any cases where surgery is clearly
indicated, such as appendicitis (Nightingale, 1987, p. 25).
How to Select an Acupuncturist?
When you are selecting an acupuncturist there are two important factors to
consider, the doctor's training and your goals. There are two things that you
want your acupuncture practitioner to have these are reputable training and a
keen sense of the philosophical underpinning of Chinese medicine (Cohen, 1999).
The best way to determine if a practitioner meets those standards is to ask a
lot of questions about his or her training, length of practice, scope of
practice, specializations, attitudes about wellness and disharmony and
understanding of Chinese medicine philosophy (Cohen, 1999).
The acupuncturist you choose should be licensed (in states with licensing
requirements) or certified. If you live in a state that does not require
licensing, then you will want to make sure your acupuncturist is certified from
the NCCA. There are about 10,000 licensed, registered, or certified
acupuncturists in the U.S. and an additional 3,000 medical doctors (MDs) or
doctors of osteopathy (DO’s) who practice the technique (PDR, 1999).
The next thing to investigate is your goal of acupuncture treatment. Are you
looking for a primary care physician or a short-term treatment? Are you more
comfortable with a physician who practices acupuncture or with a non-physician
practitioner? A physician will have a medical degree with training in
acupuncture whereas a non-physician may have more faith in the body’s natural
healing process and the use of alternative medicines. More training is required
of non-physician acupuncturists because of the importance of knowing what
conditions can and cannot be safely treated with acupuncture, which locations on
the body can be safely treated, and the importance of using safe, sterile
technique (Rind, 1999). If a primary care physician is what you are looking for
then you will want to select a practitioner that is knowledgeable about all
aspects of Chinese medicine and Western medical procedures (Cohen, 1999). The
following summarized what to look for in a primary care Chinese medicine
practitioner (Cohen, 1999):
- Someone who does not make promises to cure disorders and diseases for which
there is no cure.
- Someone who understands that there may be many different modalities that
work for an individual and does not insist that his or her way is the only
right or good way to go
- Someone who has a bedside manner that pleases you
- Someone who is able to explain what she or he is doing from both a Chinese
and a Western viewpoint-or is at least willing to find out about the alter
native perspective when necessary
- A practitioner who is not unconditionally opposed to any drug therapy in
conjunction with acupuncture or herbal treatment, and who understands the
interactions of drugs and herbs
- Someone who will work with medical doctors and other practitioners
In cases of serious illnesses, you want to select a practitioner who
understands Western medical terminology and concepts of the immune system,
viruses and cancer, as well as Chinese concepts, if you are going for treatment
of these problems.
If you have HIV, chronic hepatitis, or CFIDS (chronic fatigue immune
deficiency syndrome), be sure that the practitioner's attitude is that you can
live with this chronic, manageable viral infection and that acupuncture and
herbs may help you be more successful in that process.
Another factor to consider is whether or not your insurance will cover
acupuncture treatment. Sometimes properly worded requests for acupuncture will
be covered. Talk to your regular physician to see if he or she can prescribe
acupuncture treatment (http://www.thehealthpages.com/articles/ar-acupn.html).
What can I expect at a first visit?
When you go to a Chinese medicine practitioner, the evaluation and diagnosis
will be based on a system of observation and questioning. This system of
evaluation and diagnosis follows the philosophy of the Tao. Diagnosis is a
process of perceiving signs and symptoms and relating them to one another to
reveal how they form patterns of harmony or disharmony; each symptom or sign has
meaning only in relationship to other signs and symptoms and to the whole of
your mind/body/ spirit (Cohen, 1999).
The first visit to an acupuncturist will include a questionnaire regarding
health history, an interview, and a physical assessment. The acupuncturist will
also observe how you walk, stand, sit and talk. Your face will be examined to
note your complexion, and any odors will be noted that might lead to diagnosis.
The tongue is especially important. Touching is also a very important part of
the examination to see if there are any sensitive points on the body
(Nightingale, 1987). For the most part the first visit will consist of the Four
Examinations.
The Four Examinations are a traditional Chinese method of assessing an
individuals needs. The Four Examinations include: inquiring, looking,
listening/smelling, and touching. This process of examination reveals which of
the Eight Fundamental Patterns of disharmony are at work and what type of
disharmony of the Essential Substances, Organ Systems and channels you may have
(Cohen, 1999).
After the Four Examinations the practitioner will decide on a course of
treatment created uniquely for the individual based on their evaluation. The
practitioner will rub alcohol on the acupuncture points and insert the needles
about one inch into the points. Generally, the practitioner will use 10 to 12
needles and upon insertion may twist them to stimulate the points. The needle
insertion reportedly does not hurt, however some say that they experience a
tingling or tugging sensation. Some people find they are very relaxed and may
even fall asleep. The needles are left in anywhere from 15 to 60 minutes. Some
practitioners use an electrical pulse to stimulate the acupuncture points. Other
practitioners may use heat and massage in addition.
Relevance to Marriage & Family Therapy
One of the great contributions of Chinese medicine is the ability to link
physical and mental diseases, whereby it is often found that a physical disease
has a mental cause, and a mental disease a physical cause (Mann, 1971, p. 90).
In either case they may be treated with acupuncture. Therefore psychotherapy and
acupuncture may work hand in hand to cure both physical and mental illness.
Social constructionism is a new outlook to intervention procedures that are
currently influencing the field of marriage and family therapy today. Much like
the social constructionist view of treatment Chinese alternative medicine also
looks for the resources and strengths of the client. Chinese alternative
medicine treatments are holistic approaches to illness that focus on using a
person’s inner healing resources to maintain health and fight illness. Research
suggests that patients are attracted to Chinese alternative medicine because
therapies are more in line with their philo-orientation toward health. A sense
of self-control is helpful in healing and staying well. Chinese alternative
medicine tends to allow a sense of control that aids healing, where illness and
pain situations lower that sense (Astin, Shapiro, & Shapiro, 1999).
Chinese alternative medicine and social construction therapy have in common
the belief that when diagnostic labels are used when referring to a client they
may be creating a reality for them that gives the client a description of their
identity in a social context that can be hurtful. The moment people become binge
eaters, anorectics, obsessive-compulsive, depressed or what have you, much of
their behavior gets swept into a category and is no longer available for
alternate appraisals (Efran, Lukens, & Lukens, 1990, p. 90).
This process reduces uncertainty by telling the therapist what the therapist
ought to do and suggesting how the client ought to change in order to get well (Gergen,
Hoffman, & Anderson, 1996). These labels take the control away from the client
and put it into the hands of physicians and therapists. The holistic approaches
to treatment give back to the client a sense of control over their health.
Traditional Chinese medicine has been an effective treatment for a variety of
ailments for over 5,000 years. The Western medical society has only recently
considered acupuncture a valid form of treatment alongside other alternative
forms of treatment, as well as Western medicine.
Many research studies have shown excellent response to acupuncture treatment
for many different health conditions. However, if the Western medical society
and health care providers are going to take alternative medicine seriously,
research studies will need to have better controls over design, sample size, and
other areas. Even with the current available research, more and more insurance
companies are discovering the cost effectiveness of acupuncture and the benefits
that acupuncture offers with only minor side effects.
Alternative medicine offers an option for individuals to take control over
their health and give a sense of empowered. As opposed to the Western medical
view of illness that uses labels and diagnostics, traditional medicine believes
in the natural healing process of the individual. Marriage and family therapy
follows the same theoretical view as traditional medicine. In conjunction with
therapeutic treatment, acupuncture can offer a holistic, client guided,
self-healing treatment option.
References
Anderson, H., & Goolishian, H. (1992). The client is the expert: a
not-knowing approach to therapy. In S. McNamee, and K. J. Gergen (Eds.), Therapy
as Social Construction. Sage Publications: London.
Astin, J., Shapiro, S., Lee, R., & Shapiro, D. (1999). The construct of
control in mind-body medicine: Implication for healthcare. Alternative Therapy
5(2), p. 42-47.
Braverman, M. (1998). Essential Vascular Hypertension. Medical Acupuncture
10(1).
Bridges, M. (1998). Acupuncture management of osteoporotic fracture pain.
Medical Acupuncture Journal, 10(1).
Buffington, M. (1990). The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with
acupuncture. Medical Acupuncture 2(1).
Chinese Pain Center (1999). How Does Acupuncture Work? (Online). Available:
http://www.healingpeople.com.
Cohen, M. R. (1999). When You Visit a Chinese Medicine Practitioner (Online).
Available: http://www.healingpeople.com
Efran, J. S., Lukens, M. D. & Lukens, R. J. (1996). Language, structure, and
change. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.
Erbst, E. (1994). Acupuncture research: Where are the problems? Acupuncture
in Medicine 12(2), p. 93-97.
Frank, B. (1998). Acupuncture treatment of chronic migraine headaches: A case
report. Medical Acupuncture Journal, 10(1).
Gergen, K. J., Hoffman, L., & Anderson, H. (1996). Is diagnosis a disaster? A
constructionist trialogue. Chapter draft for F. Kaslow (Ed.) Relational
Diagnosis, Wiley.
Haveli, S. (1999). The astringent quality of point baihui du-20 (Online).
Available: http://www.acupuncture.com/Acup/ Astringe.htm.
Health Pages (1998). The fine points of acupuncture (Online). Available:
http://www.thehealthpages.com/articles/ar-acupn.html.
Hoyt, M. F. (1994). Introduction: Competency-based future-oriented therapy.
In M. F. Hoyt (Ed.), Constructive therapies. New York: The Guilford Press.
iVillage Inc (2000). Is It A Cure for Chronic Pain? (Online). Available:
America Online: Keyword: Understanding Acupuncture.
Jacob, L. (1990). A case of severe chronic depression treated with
acupuncture. Medical Acupuncture 2(2).
Lewith, G. (1999). Acupuncture – Its place in Western medical sciences. New
York: Merlin Press.
Lipton, D., "Lincoln Clinic Study"; Konefal, J., "Miami Study"; Bullock, M.,
"Hennepin County Study." U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, National
Institutes of Health, Office of Human Services, American Medicine 1(3), January,
1994.
Manaka, Y. & Urquhart, I. (1972). The layman’s guide to acupuncture. New
York: Weatherhill.
Mann, F. (1971). Acupuncture, cure of many diseases. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.
Mills, S. & Finando, S. (1989). Alternative Healing. New York: Nal Books.
Mitchell, B. (1999). Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Laws. Washington:
National Acupuncture Foundation.
Mok, P. (1990). Medical acupuncture applications in surgical anesthesia.
Medical Acupuncture 2(2).
National Institute of Health (1997). Acupuncture. NIH Consensus Statement
15(5), p. 1-34.
Nightingale, M. (1987). Acupuncture: An introductory guide to the technique
and its benefits. London: Vermilion.
O’Hanlon, B. & Beadle, S. (1997). A guide to possibility land. New York: W.W.
Norton & Co. Inc.
O’Hanlon, W. H. (1992). History becomes her story: Collaborative
solution-oriented therapy of the after-effects of sexual abuse. In S. McNamee,
and K. J. Gergen (Eds.), Therapy as Social Construction. Sage Publications:
London.
PDR Family Guide to Natural Medicines & Healing Therapies. New York: Three
Rivers Press.
Rind, B. (1999). Acupuncture Today (Online). Available: America Online:
Keyword: Acupuncture.
Rotchford, J. (1990). Medical Outcome Research and Acupuncture. Medical
Acupuncture 2(2).
Singer, J. A. (1999). Acupuncture, A Brief Introduction (Online).
Available:http://www.healingpeople.com/ht/EN/articles
/1999/12/14/183.tmpl.
Sundarii, RN (1999). Acupuncture -- Is It For You? (Online). Available:
America Online: Keyword: Acupuncture (2000).
Trachenberg, A. (1989). Acupuncture should be an unlikely mode of
transmission for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Medical Acupuncture
Journal, 1(1).
U.S. Food & Drug Administration (1996). Acupuncture needle status changed.
Available: http://wwww.fda.gov/bbs/topics/answers/ans00722.html
World Health Organization (December, 1979). World Health Magazine, p. 27.
World Health Organization. Traditional Medicine (Online). Available: http://www.who.int/inf-fs/en/fact134.html
(2000).
2. What’s new at my-therapist.org!
Groups & Workshops
Groups are
running now!
Register early at my-therapist.org
Sign the Guest Book
Read what other visitors are saying about my-therapist.org.
3. Recommended Book of the Month
Natural Healing for Schizophrenia: And Other Common Mental Disorders
by Eva
Edelman
Editorial Reviews
William J. Walsh, Ph.D., Research Director, Pfeiffer Treatment Center and Health
Research Institute, 1998
Most
useful volume on nutritional methods for mental illness in 20 years... Valuable
resource for researchers, clinicians and families alike.
Ralph Golan, M.D., Back Cover Notes, 1998
A
magnificent and needed contribution to the field of mental health. A superb
work, a beacon of hope.
4. Coming in future issues!
- Feature Article
- Book of the Month
- New Groups and Workshops
5. Recommended sites
Check them out at:
Selfgrowth.com - Resources for
self-improvement and personal growth.
NaturalHealthWeb.com - The
Quick and Easy Guide to Natural Health and Alternative Medicine