Dr. John B. Martinez, DC, MAc

  Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific points on the body, by insertion of very fine, sterile, stainless steel needles to elicit a predictable physiologic response. This stimulus may be administered to the points using mild electrical stimulation (with or without needles), pressure techniques with the hands (acupressure) or the application of heat by various methods.
 Acupuncturists assess a patient's syndrome, pattern or reflection of disharmony by using a set of diagnostic skills that involve four areas: questioning, palpation, visual inspection and olfactory–auditory data collection. An acupuncturist determines the necessary treatment principle and strategy to prompt the patient back to functional harmony by discriminating the exact pattern of the body's physiological response to pathological factors.
 The acupuncturist's skill at determining the appropriate points to treat is based upon their ability to accurately distinguish the presenting pattern/reflection, knowledge of correct points to address that pattern/reflection and knowledge of the proper type of stimulus for each point. The possession of this knowledge and skills is the key distinction between a professional board certified acupuncturist and other health care providers who employ acupuncture only as a modality (stimulating points for their general effect without adjusting their choice of points to the specific patient's need).

  The Institute of Medicine recently identified 79 systematic reviews of acupuncture, placing acupuncture third in usage among all complementary and alternative therapies.
 Acupuncture has been shown to provide generalized oxygenation and increased blood flow to specific areas of treatment. It also aids production of cortisone and other anti–inflammatory secretions and can increase the internal production of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers. In addition, a 2010 study from the University of Rochester in New York found that acupuncture can help relieve pain by triggering a natural pain–killing chemical called adenosine.
 A recent study of acupuncture – the most rigorous and detailed analysis of the treatment to date – found that it can ease migraines and arthritis and other forms of chronic pain. The researchers, who published their results in Archives of Internal Medicine, found that acupuncture outperformed sham treatments and standard care when used by people suffering from osteoarthritis, migraines and chronic back, neck and shoulder pain.
 A 2006 patient survey from the Alternative Medicine Integration Group based in Florida, found 94% of study patients being treated by complementary and alternative therapies (including acupuncture) agreed that the program treatment helped reduce levels of pain.

  The World Health Organization recognizes acupuncture and Oriental medicine as effective for treating 43 common ailments including:

 Look for a Diplomate of Acupuncture (NCCAOM) through the NCCAOM Find a Practitioner search engine at (www.nccaom.org).
 The additional designation of licensed acupuncturist (L.Ac.) is awarded by a state regulatory board. Currently, 43 states plus the district of Columbia, require NCCAOM certification or passing of the NCCAOM examination(s) as one requirement for a state license to practice Acupuncture, however, one should always confirm the practitioner has a current license to practice with the appropriate state board.

 Comprehensive training in traditional differential diagnosis and proper treatment methods requires that a Diplomate of Acupuncture (NCCAOM) completes three to four academic years of education at the master's degree level in an acupuncture program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) or has completed and international education program which is substantially equivalent to ACAOM standards. ACAOM is the only accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education as the authority for quality education and training in acupuncture and Oriental medicine. In addition to graduation from an ACAOM accredited program, a Diplomate of Acupuncture (NCCAOM) must demonstrate professional competency by passing NCCAOM certification examinations in Foundations of Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture and Biomedicine as well as meet other NCCAOM certification requirements. The NCCAOM Diplomate training and competency verification is a sharp contrast to the acupuncture training of other healthcare professionals such as chiropractors or registered nurses or even medical doctors who typically receive 100–300 hours of abbreviated training. These other healthcare professionals provide acupuncture by treating a more limited number of points. Certified (and licensed) acupuncturists are also trained in standard medical history gathering, safety, ethics, common pharmaceuticals and supplements and recognition of when to refer patients to other health care professionals or consult with other medical practioners.