role of acupuncturists in acupuncture treatment针灸师在针灸治疗的作用.pdfVIP

Advance Access Publication 3 October 2006 eCAM 2007;4(1)3–6 doi:10.1093/ecam/nel061 Lecture Series Role of Acupuncturists in Acupuncture Treatment Tao Liu Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, The 2nd Teaching Hospital, Jilin University, 218 Ziqiang Street, Changchun 130041, Jilin Province, P. R. China Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is based on a paradigm of the body different to that of modern biomedicine. Inherent characteristics of TCM necessitate an active and central role of acupuncturists in acupuncture treatment. The author looks at acupuncture in the practical context and analyzes the role of acupuncturists in diagnostic process and treatment delivery. Acupuncture as a complex non- pharmacological therapy depends solely on the acupuncturists’ skills, competence and understanding of TCM theory to work. More attention should be given to this important role of acupuncturists in either clinical practice or research on acupuncture. Keywords: acupuncture – acupuncturist – traditional Chinese medicine Introduction perceived by an observant practitioner’ (8). TCM and biomedicine focus on different ends of the spectrum— Acupuncture, as one of treatment modalities of traditional objectivity and subjectivity—