What Is the Point? The Problem with Acupuncture Research That No One Wants to Talk About

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine : Research on Paradigm, Practice, and Policy
Helene M Langevin, Peter M Wayne

Abstract

Despite having made substantial progress in academic rigor over the past decades, acupuncture research has been the focus of long-standing and persistent attacks by skeptics. One recurring theme of critics is that the concept of acupuncture points has no scientific validity. Meanwhile, the subject of whether-or-not acupuncture points "exist" has been given too little attention within the acupuncture research community. In this article, we argue that failure to use clear terminology and rigorously investigate the subject of acupuncture points has hindered the growing legitimacy of acupuncture as an evidence-based therapy. We propose that a coordinated effort is needed to improve the use of terminology related to acupuncture points, combined with rigorous investigation of their "specificity" and possible biological basis.

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May 25, 2018·The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine : Research on Paradigm, Practice, and Policy·Vitaly Napadow
Mar 28, 2019·Frontiers in Neuroscience·Till NierhausDaniel Pach
Apr 18, 2019·Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI·Manuel Magalhães-Sant'Ana
Sep 16, 2019·The Journal of Pain : Official Journal of the American Pain Society·Nuno M P de MatosClaudia M Witt
Apr 16, 2021·Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : ECAM·Tongju LiAndrew Ahn
Sep 3, 2021·Global Advances in Health and Medicine : Improving Healthcare Outcomes Worldwide·David W MillerUNKNOWN PCORI-SAR Stakeholder Group

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