Monica Legatt

Alternative Medicine and Acupuncture In America

The following is an article written by Moniva Legatt that was published in "Washington Atheletic Club Magazine".

Traditional Chinese Medicine is increasing in popularity and credibility in Western culture. Currently, American consumers are spending millions of dollars out- of-pocket every year for Chinese medical services and leading research institutions such as Stanford and Johns Hopkins are studying its efficacy. While acupuncture is the most well-known form of Chinese medicine, Chinese herbs are gaining in popularity, often as a natural replacement for pharmaceutical drugs. Once considered an "alternative" form of health care, Traditional Chinese Medicine is becoming part of the mainstream, with health insurance covering acupuncture, and physicians referring patients to licensed acupuncturists regularly.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs are two components of a comprehensive system of medicine deriving from China over 3000 years ago. Other treatments such as Oriental bodywork, cupping, moxibustion, infra-red laser stimulation of acupuncture points, electric stimulation of acupuncture points, and lifestyle and nutritional guidance are also part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, abbreviated as TCM.

Acupuncturists are licensed health care practitioners in most states in the US, including Washington State. They must have an undergraduate degree, including pre- medical prerequisites before entering an accredited acupuncture college. Students can then do a three-year masters program to learn acupuncture, or a four-year program that combines acupuncture and Chinese herbs. Doctorate programs in Traditional Chinese medicine are also gaining in popularity. In addition to three years of didactic studies which is comprised of approximately fifty percent Western medical pathology and fifty percent TCM, students must see 850 patients during their clinical internship before they can graduate, take the national board exams, and apply for state licensure. An additional 350 patient internship is required for Chinese herbal certification.

Licensed acupuncturists are trained as general medicine practitioners, learning about pathology in every system of the body. Most research that has been conducted in the US has focused on the pain relieving effects of acupuncture. For this reason, acupuncture is most well-known for its effectiveness in physical medicine. This includes disorders of the bones, muscles, nerves, tendons, and ligaments. Common problems that fit into this category are neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, ankle pain, foot pain, hand pain, leg pain, torn or injured ligaments and tendons, broken bones, bone spurs, and herniated discs. It is not surprising then that acupuncture is extremely helpful in post- surgical rehabilitation.

In addition to physical medicine, licensed acupuncturists are fully capable of treating internal medical problems, including the immune system, cardiac and pulmonary function, gynecology and uro-genital disorders, digestive and hepatic disorders, and dermatology. Often with internal medical problems the most effective treatment is to combine Chinese herbs with acupuncture. However, either Chinese herbs or acupuncture by themselves can also be effective.

Research being conducted on acupuncture in recent years has shown it to influence the activity of the brain and the chemicals that the glands of the endocrine system secrete. The physiological effects that can occur as a result of acupuncture treatment vary from pain relief, to reduction in swelling or inflammation, to a change in one's digestive enzymes, to prevention of symptoms that occur in a cyclical manner such as menstrual pain. Researchers are still in the beginning stages of studying the biochemical effects of acupuncture. In TCM, the theory behind disease is based upon an energetic model, rather than a biochemical model. So, while a Western explanation might say that acupuncture releases pain-relieving endorphins, the Chinese Medial explanation might be that the energy of a certain part of the body is being regulated and balanced.

Chinese herbs are different from pharmaceutical drugs in that they are prescribed for patients on an individual basis. This means that a Chinese herbalist will combine a different combination of herbs in varying proportions and ratios for each patient weekly, usually changing the prescription for the same patient depending upon the patient's recovery. This method of prescribing can increase the effectiveness and accuracy of the treatment dramatically over other kinds of herbal products that are pre-formulated for a general diagnosis. Most importantly, Chinese herbalists diagnose patients and prescribe herbs according to the TCM diagnostic model, and the unique diagnostic model of Traditional Chinese Medicine is what separates it from Western medicine and often gives it an edge in efficacy.

Another important difference between pharmaceutical drugs and Chinese herbs is that the herbs are always used as whole plants. Most drugs or supplements that are derived from a plant take the active ingredient out and then concentrate it at a much stronger potency than found in nature. In Chinese medicine, it is believed that the sum of the ingredients of the plant, including all of the trace elements that may be viewed as inactive ingredients in Western pharmaceutical medicine, is greater than the parts when they are separated. The Chinese herbal materia medica (a dictionary of all the Chinese herbs and their uses) always refers to herbs as whole plants, not as active ingredients. Washington Licensed Acupuncturists are licensed and monitored by the Department of Health. Licensed acupuncturists are trained in the prevention of blood- borne pathogens, and they use only pre-packaged sterile needles which are disposed of after only one use. Washington residents are especially lucky because the All Category of Provider Law, passed in 1996 mandates that insurance carriers in Washington cover acupuncture. Washington is the only state in the country that currently has such a law. Self-insured companies such as Boeing and Amazon are exempt from this law, but many of them still cover acupuncture because of consumer demand.

Monica Legatt, Licensed Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbalist practices in Downtown Seattle. She accepts insurance from Regence Blue Shield, Premera Blue Cross, First Choice Health, Aetna US Healthcare, United Healthcare, Uniform Medical Plan, Pacificare, Cigna, Virginia Mason, Group Health, and personal injury cases. If you would like to schedule an appointment please call today at 206.625.1374.

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