What is Acupuncture and Asian Medicine?

The theory and practice of acupuncture is based on U Asian medicine (also known as traditional Chinese or Oriental medicine), a comprehensive natural health E care system that has been used in Asian countries for thousands of years to preserve health and diagnose, treat, and prevent illness.

Acupuncture treats health conditions by stimulating “acu-points” found at specific locations on the surface of the body. Acupuncturists stimulate the acu-points by inserting very thin needles through the skin to produce physiological effects. Other methods are also used to stimulate acu-points, such as heat or finger pressure.

The general theory of acupuncture is that proper physiological function and health depend on the circulation of nutrients, substances, and energy called Qi (pronounced “chee”) through a network of “channels” or “meridians.” This network connects right-hand border with flowersevery organ and part of the body, providing balance, regulation, and coordination of physiological processes.

Pain and ill health result when the flow of Qi through the body is disrupted or blocked. This can be caused by many things, including disease, pathogens, trauma/ injuries, and medication (side effects), as well as lifestyle factors such as overwork, poor diet, emotions, lack of rest, and stress.

Stimulation of the appropriate acu-points through acupuncture treatments helps to restore sufficient, continuous, and even flow of Qi and other nutrients throughout the body, restoring healthand balance to the body while relieving pain andother symptoms.The acupuncturist uses a sophisticated and complex system of diagnostic methods that take into consideration the person as a whole, discerning the body’s pattern of disharmony rather than isolated symptoms.

The aim is not only to eliminate or alleviate symptoms, but more importantly to treat the underlying cause, increase the ability to function, and improve the quality of life. Acupuncture and Asian medicine is one of the newest primary health care professions in California.

The potential benefits of acupuncture are widely recognized, and it is steadily being integrated with mainstream health care. More than 15 million Americans have tried acupuncture and Asian medicine since it was introduced in the United States in the 1970s.

The risk of side effects from acupuncture is low and the potential benefits are high. Knowing what to expect from acupuncture will help patients get the most benefit from their treatments. The purpose of this booklet is to help consumers approach acupuncture treatment from an informed perspective.

Download A Consumer’s Guide to Acupuncture and Asian Medicine

PDF format, 306KB, 16Pages.

California Department of Consumer Affairs
ACUPUNCTURE BOARD

The mission of the California Acupuncture Board is to benefit, educate, and protect the public through regulation of licensure; development of education standards; provision of consumer information; and enforcement of the Acupuncture Licensure Act.

Visit California Department of Consumer Affairs Website

About the Department of Consumer Affairs

DCA At A Glance  The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) is here to protect and serve California consumers while ensuring a competent and fair marketplace. DCA helps consumers learn how to protect themselves from unscrupulous and unqualified individuals. The Department also protects professionals from unfair competition by unlicensedpractitioners.

DCA Today   To protect and serve consumers, the Department issues licenses in more than 100 business and 200 professional categories, including doctors, dentists, contractors, cosmetologists and automotive repair facilities. The Department of Consumer Affairs includes 40 regulatory entities (nine bureaus, one program, twenty-five boards, three committees, one commission, and one office). These entities establish minimum qualifications and levels of competency for licensure. They also license, register, or certify practitioners, investigate complaints and discipline violators. The committees, commission and boards are semiautonomous bodies whose members are appointed by the Governor and the Legislature. DCA provides them administrative support. DCA's operations are funded exclusively by license fees.

DCA Past   One of the California Legislature's earliest efforts to protect the public was through the passage of the Medical Practice Act in 1876. The Act was designed to regulate the state's medical industry, which up to that time had operated virtually unchecked. Over the next thirty years, the state regulated more professions. By the late 1920s, 10 state boards were in existence under the Department of Vocational and Professional Standards. The Department licensed or certified accountants, architects, barbers, cosmetologists, dentists, embalmers, optometrists, pharmacists, physicians and veterinarians. The Consumer Affairs Act of 1970 gave the Department its current name.

DCA Tomorrow   The Department of Consumer Affairs is dedicated to enhancing individual consumer access to services and resources. The Department will expand its role as a primary resource on consumer issues. To help fulfill its mission of promoting and protecting the interests of consumers, DCA will continue to build and maintain effective relationships with:

    * consumer and public interest groups
    * the business and professional community
    * law enforcement agencies
    * other government agencies

To keep pace with advances in technology and the marketplace, the Department will continue to develop responsive, effective and innovative services. The California Legislature conducts an ongoing evaluation and review of the Department's regulatory entities to determine which of them should be retained, which ones should be "sunsetted" out of existence, and which ones should become part of the Department.

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