The Future of Integrative Medicine - Published May 2005 - Natural Awakenings Magazine - Central Florida Edition.
by John Monaghan, A.P.
The future of Integrative medicine will incorporate the most effective forms of Eastern, Western, and holistic medicine. This meeting of East and West may be found with the Acupuncture Physician (AP). In Florida, APs are licensed primary healthcare providers who may utilize a wide variety of techniques and therapies from ancient times to the present for maximum health benefit. Many APs have already joined with MDs, DOs, Surgeons, PAs, NDs (where licensed), DCs, PTs and LMTs to complement their practice. Eventually, emergency care in the West will integrate Eastern and other holistic trauma medicine.
Florida licensure for APs now requires the completion of a Master of Science in Oriental Medicine and a Bachelor of Professional Health Studies. This includes about one-third of the course material in Western medical studies: Anatomy and Physiology, Physical Exam / History Taking, Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology, Radiology and Clinical Psychiatry. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is the primary focus of educational and clinical training including: acupuncture, auricular therapy, herbal medicine, Tui Na (Chinese medical massage), moxibustion, electro-acupuncture/micro-current, nutritional supplementation, Qi-Gong, physical therapy and lifestyle counseling. Other adjunctive therapies and techniques that may be integrated to promote healing and balance in the body are far-infrared heat, essential oils, homeopathy, organic raw foods and juices, magnet therapy including hydration with purified and magnetized water, applied kinesiology, allergy elimination, electro-dermal screening and iridology, and ion-cleanse detoxification.
Acupuncture uses fine disposable needles that are inserted into specific points of the skin. These points serve as gates to access an invisible network of channels (meridians) that carry a vital energy called Qi (pronounced chee). When this vital energy flows without obstruction it nourishes and regulates the body. However, when Qi becomes blocked or impaired due to trauma, poor diet, excessive emotional stress or other pathological factors, the individual experiences pain, illness or reduced immunity. The correct use of acupuncture can restore the normal flow of Qi, thus helping the body to heal itself. Acupuncture is a well-known treatment for pain. It may also be applied pre-surgically, during surgical procedures (anesthesia), and post-surgically to promote recovery and rapid healing. There are naturally occurring chemicals such as endorphins and enkephalins that act as natural pain modulators and have been shown to change and increase with acupuncture. Scientific validation with MRI, PET and MEG scans has begun to shed light on acupuncture’s secret: blood flow to the brain, suggesting acupuncture’s effects are greater than mere analgesia.1
The National Institutes of Health concluded there is clear evidence that acupuncture is effective for postoperative and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting, nausea of pregnancy and postoperative dental pain. It was also concluded to be effective as an adjunct therapy, an acceptable alternative, or as part of a comprehensive treatment program for these pain-related conditions, but not limited to: addiction, stroke rehabilitation, headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and asthma. 2
The World Health Organization has listed additional conditions treatable with acupuncture. The most common of those are: Surgery: post-surgical pain or numbness, scar tissue pain, swelling, tightness; Orthopedics: sciatica, back and neck pain, sprains, tendonitis, joint pain; Gynecology: dysmenorrhea, PMS, endometriosis, irregular periods; Neurology: Bell’s palsy, trigeminal neuralgia, paralysis from stroke; Gastrointestinal: irritable bowel syndrome, nervous indigestion; Dermatology: acne, herpes zoster; Respiratory: asthma, sinus pain, bronchitis; Psychology: anxiety, mild depression, stress, insomnia; General Practice: migraines, etc.
It has been shown that acupuncture can treat all of these conditions plus many others with minimal risk or side effects. This makes it ideal for patients who have not responded favorably to medications or other modalities or those who cannot, or wish not to use prescription and/or over-the-counter medications. The Treatment of Modern Western Diseases With Chinese Medicine offers many reputable protocols.3
Chinese Herbal Medicine uses natural substances derived from plant, animal, and/or mineral sources and combines them into formulas that have a synergistic effect. These formulas restore balance to the affected meridians and body systems. It is highly recommended to consult with Acupuncture Physicians before taking any Chinese herbs and to consult with Western doctors before combining any prescription and over-the-counter medications with herbs. New research on drug and herbal interactions continues to be published. 4 The highest standards of herbal quality and purity are necessary to ensure therapeutic results. These standards also apply to essential oils.
Essential Oils stimulate the immune system with antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antioxidant properties. They are pure organic FDA approved aromatics with many applications to balance the body and mind as well as regenerate healthy tissue. Essential oils have hertz frequencies and can be applied with micro-current or acupuncture for optimal results. Micro-current utilizes safe low-level electrical vibrations to stimulate acupuncture channels, resonate interference, detoxify and regenerate healthy tissue.
Organic raw foods and juices have proven to be nature’s ultimate medicine. Historically, doctors and expert nutritionists have cured illnesses, such as cancer, with just that. For more, read Natural Awakenings back issues with Dennis Brock’s series on holistic pioneers such as Max Gerson, Dr. Weston Price, Dr. Francis Pottenger, Dr. John Christopher, Dr. Robert S. Mendelsohn, Harry Hoxsey, Dr. Harvey Wiley and Royal Raymond Rife. Additionally, be sure to check out the revolutionary discoveries in energy and medicine of Royal Rife, Gaston Naessens, Whilhelm Reich and Nikola Tesla.
Naturopathic Doctor (ND) licensure is not currently recognized by the state of Florida, unless you are one of seven remaining NDs who were in practice in the late 1950s. Florida stopped licensing NDs in 1959. Only one originally licensed ND remains in active practice today. However, there are many NDs in Florida who have acquired licensure from other states. If in practice, they must do so under some other medical license recognized here. Some NDs have acquired AP licensure, providing them the higher level of training in Oriental Medicine necessary to effectively practice acupuncture as part of their holistic practice.
Masters level curriculums for AP licensure varies from 2800 to 3300 total hours. Doctorate level programs of are now available in the states of California, Oregon and Washington adding up to 1400 total hours. Western doctors and chiropractors may receive certification for acupuncture, but not AP licensure, after completing short courses of training from 100 to 300 total hours. The patient is well advised to inquire into the credentials of any physician practicing acupuncture.
Ideally, mastery of Oriental Medicine should include awareness and training in all branches of acupuncture. Besides Chinese Herbal Medicine and TCM classical meridian acupuncture, there also exists the micro–acupuncture/reflexology systems of the ears (auricular therapy-including needle-free use of ear seeds, pellets, magnets and e-stim), scalp, feet, hands/KHT, wrist-ankle and teeth, plus diagnostic tongue and pulse analysis, Five Element, Korean Four Needle, electro-acupuncture/micro-current, Dr. Tan’s Balancing Theory, Laser Acupuncture, Japanese Bidigital O-Ring Test, hypodermic herbal / homeopathic injections, acu-pressure, acu-moxa, cupping, Gua-Sha, Shiatsu, Reiki and even veterinary acupuncture.
Some APs choose to remain solely focused on using acupuncture and Chinese herbs, as opposed to integrating additional modalities of holistic or Western medicine into their practice. We truly need a balance of both, masters of acupuncture and Chinese herbs to preserve and strengthen the integrity of the Acupuncture Physician, as well as APs who can also integrate their training and experience with the rest of the medical community.
Health insurance companies are becoming more aware of the therapeutic and cost-effective benefits of acupuncture. Yet widespread coverage for acupuncture still does not exist. Some APs have merged with MDs, DOs, and other physicians for more reliable insurance billing and the ability to accept Medicare. Currently, Medicare does not directly pay for acupuncture, but it can pay for office visits/consultations and a few other modalities such as massage, e-stim and heat therapy.
It will be very interesting to see the future of Integrative Medicine unfold. The Acupuncture Physician will prove to be a key player among other essential physicians to establish True Integrative Medicine.
1 Z.H. Cho, E.K Wong, and J. Fallon, Neuro-Acupuncture: Scientific Evidence of Acupuncture Revealed (Los Angeles: Q-Puncture, Inc., 2001)
2Acupuncture. NIH Consensus Statement Online 1997 Nov 3-5; 15(5): 1-34.
3 Bob Flaws, Philippe Sionneau, The Treatment of Modern Western Medical Diseases With Chinese Medicine (Boulder: Blue Poppy Press, Inc., 2001)
4 John and Tina Chen, Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmocology (Art of Medicine Press, Inc., 2003)
John Monaghan, A.P. is nationally certified by the NCCAOM and is a member of the AAOM and FSOMA. For more information, please call Acupuncture Physician Associates in Winter Park at (407) 774-4440. Website: centralfloridaacupuncture.com
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