Medical Acupuncture - A Rational and Scientific Approach As compared to the ancient folk and superstitious practices of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)
Gregory T. Lawton, D.N., D.C., M.Ac.

Acupuncture like many traditional health care professions, such as herbal medicine and massage therapy, is a very ancient practice. The earliest references to mankind's health care practices have been dated back eleven thousand years. Over the centuries ancient practices and beliefs have evolved as our scientific knowledge and our ability to investigate the "mysteries" of human physiology and pathology have increased. The earliest known reference to an herbal formula was found in Iraq and is eleven thousand years old. Some of the earliest records of massage therapy have been found in the area of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, and once again date back ten or eleven thousand years. Various authors offer differing timelines and locations for the origin of acupuncture, but it is generally accepted that acupuncture began in China somewhere between 2000 and 4000 years ago. Is this when these practices first began? Probably not, this is simply when we have found the earliest existing records of their use. An objective study of the development to these traditional systems of health care reveals a progressive evolution and development over centuries. Detailed knowledge of the historical applications of these ancient methods of medicine, while valuable historically, lack contemporary relevance to the modern scientifically trained health care professional. This article compares modern scientific applications of medical acupuncture to the superstitious beliefs and practices of the TCM practitioner.

Foreword

This is an article that I would rather not be writing. My training in the martial arts has now spanned five decades. In the mid 1950's my father who served and boxed in the Army Air Corps provided me with boxing gloves used by Rocky Marciano, as well as one of Rocky's well-worn speed bags. By 1962 I was studying kempo karate and aikido with a US Ranger who had trained in Japan and at the Kokokan with Morihei Ueshiba. From the age of five until my fifth decade I have trained with some of the most noted Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Okinawan instructors in the US. I served in the US Army from 1965 to 1968 were I received further combat training. I have been studying the martial arts for fifty two years, and oriental martial and healing arts for forty three years. I have been in clinical practice for over thirty years.

I have a deep sense of gratitude and obligation to my teachers who have profoundly affected my life and personal development. This sense is inculcated deep within every fiber of my being, heart, mind, and soul. It is with a sense of obligation, however, that I write about the issues addressed in this article and in honor to the ethical and spiritual verities that my teachers instilled within me. I write to honor the training and traditions that have been so generously provided to me, to defend the marvelous educational programs at the school that I founded, the Blue Heron Academy of Healing Arts and Sciences, to carry on the legacy of my teachers, and I write to support the efforts of the many students and graduates of the Academy who seek nothing more than the right to peacefully practice the wonderful healing arts that they have been taught.

I also write to demonstrate that to follow and to study the oriental culture, healing and martial arts does not require the blind adherence to ignorance and superstition. My teachers did not train me to do so, nor did they train me to seek trouble, but also never to hesitate in attacking when it is clear that evil intent is directed at me, or those to whom I am responsible for.

I have few peers, especially within the oriental healing arts culture, that can relate to my experience and training. I am deeply disappointed in the general lack of integrity that I am witnessing in members of the oriental healing arts community who are misusing the education and training that they have received in an effort to prevent any one who is different from them, who has different training and education, or who seeks to practice in a manner that is different from their practice, from practicing the arts and sciences that they have learned.

Many of those in the traditional Chinese medicine community, who while claiming their sole legitimacy as acupuncture practitioners, are ignorant of training in the universal aspects of the five excellences, including the martial arts, healing arts, literary arts, art and calligraphy, and the art of character and demeanor. If they were judged in the same manner that they have judged others, they would be found seriously lacking in skill and ability simply because few if any of these traditional practitioners possess the ability to manifest, through physical demonstration, the ability to move with the singular grace of someone trained in the cultural and healing arts of China. It is hard to imagine how someone who is not blessed with this grace can effectively provide traditional acupuncture therapy when such treatment is in its true expression, the mastery of chi.

Gregory T. Lawton, D.C., D.N., M.Ac.

Article

There is a debate being noised around between medical and traditional acupuncturists. This debate is unfortunate in that it is divisive, contentious, and disunifying. The debate basically questions whether or not students, whether licensed health care professionals or not, can be trained in acupuncture techniques without a full and complete education in traditional Chinese medicine. There are those that feel that nothing short of a 1000 to 2000 hour training program can provide the knowledge and education necessary to produce qualified acupuncturists. This is not simply a debate, if the TCM proponents have their way they will be the only ones able to practice acupuncture in the US. The real danger to the future of acupuncture is not the emergence of medical acupuncture, but rather the traditionalists who provoke disunity and contention in the field through intolerance.

The TCM proponents do not accept that an individual or trained health care professional can acquire skills in acupuncture that allow them to treat patients for specific kinds of health care conditions. Individuals with specialized acupuncture training have been performing acupuncture techniques for years within our health care system in the fields of addictionlogy and physical therapy. Indeed, the use of tens units, electro stimulation modalities, trigger point therapy (ah shi points) and acupressure are deeply inculcated within the medical and chiropractic communities.

The fundamental question that is raised by the traditional acupuncturist is that only students trained in the esoteric and non physiological disciplines of traditional Chinese health care are qualified to provide acupuncture and its related practices, including moxabustion and Chinese herbalism. The traditionalists assert that only an understanding of the complex esoteric philosophies (often based on ancient shamanistic and religious practices) allow a TCM practitioner to make a correct diagnosis and to apply the proper treatment. This process would of course be based on a "translation" of the patients "flow of chi" and subtle energy pathology, which the practitioner would be able to intuit through patient history, observation, and palpation. The practitioner may use tongue or pulse diagnosis even through no valid studies show a reproducible clinical correlation between these methods and medical diagnosis, or for that matter consistent oriental diagnosis. They may base their diagnosis and treatment on the horary cycle though scientific evidence is lacking regarding the value of treating specific meridians or diseases at certain times of the day. They may treat the patient according to five phase theory and use the various meridians and their associated organs to interact with each other. Five phase theory was originally developed as a political and religious rite that would divine the best time or season to conduct political successions or religious activities. Much of Chinese medicine is based on the pseudo sciences of astrology and numerology.

A recent article in Acupuncture Today was entitled, "Is Chinese Medicine a Religion?" and this article underscores the problems of interweaving eastern philosophy and religion into a health care practice, and then mandating by law that everyone in the field must study this form of "practice" and take a national board examination based on its tenets and dogma. This approach would make a very interesting federal court case based on the separation of church and state! Considering constitutional law in the US it is indeed amazing that a discipline that is largely based on the religious dogma of Taoism and Buddhism, and philosophical tenets of Confucius, would become mandated by state law. When you chose to study an allied health care profession in the US, medicine or chiropractic, you are not forced (for the sake of a state license) to study a health care curriculum that is based on religious beliefs, you are not required to take a national board exam that contains questions that reflect religious dogma and that have answers that require understanding and interpreting religious beliefs, and you are not required to take annual continuing education that once again indoctrinate the attendee in Chinese or oriental religious doctrines.

This argument is not to question the right of any one who independently chooses to study TCM and the religious and philosophical baggage that goes along with it. The point here is that this should be a choice and should not be a government mandated requirement in the US. To those that believe that you cannot practice effective acupuncture without studying TCM, they need to educate themselves in the new research and technology of medical acupuncture.

A review of the most popular acupuncture journals and magazines is an embarrassment to the intellect, and the serious minded well-educated medical acupuncturist. The advertising claims that are published in these periodicals are worse than the so-called "papers," "studies" and articles. Attention and credence is given to every possible fringe concept and pseudo scientific idea, and non-physiological premise imaginable. Anything that someone can imagine and write about can be published in any popular acupuncture periodical or journal. It appears that TCM writers actually gain recognition by publishing the most far out and incomprehensible ideas or theories.

The Chinese are a wonderful people, their culture is one of the most amazing on earth, and acupuncture is a brilliant and valuable therapeutic discovery. The sharing of their culture with the world is a generous gift to humanity. However, some aspects of Chinese culture and medicine are commonly associated with superstition, shamanism, and pseudo religious practices. While the medical applications of acupuncture are evolving, traditional training, education, and curriculums are not developing because of the traditionalist's stubborn adherence to religious and philosophical superstition. Scientific knowledge is evolving just as civilization is advancing. Our discoveries bring new knowledge that both validates and invalidates the old.

A recent article on chi kung, a Chinese health practice used to promote the development and regulation of chi, showed a photo of the feet of a Chinese master and noted that through the practice of chi kung his feet had taken on the shape of a crane's feet. What the photographs actually showed was that the "master" had bunions! The Chinese have a strong deference for tradition, ancestry, and elders. This deference is inculcated within elements of individual character and courtesy. No matter how ridiculous or fantastic the claim made by a "master" or elder, it is a marked element of discourtesy to question any statement or assertion they make.

For the TCM practitioner acupuncture is based on the concept of chi, a form of "subtle" energy the existence of which has never been proven. The concept of chi is not that dissimilar to western understandings of a "vital force" or physical constitution. The recognition of a form of energy that drives the living processes of the human body is rational and scientific. Modern medicine has identified and measures several forms of "life" energy in the body including cellular membrane potentials, nerve action potentials, a form of piezo electrical activity in connective tissues and bone, and brain waves. Many TCM practitioners still believe that chi is another kind of energy altogether. Some TCM practitioners point to Kirlian photography as proof of the body's chi and meridians. Other proponents of the new age movement claim that this is a photograph of the human aura, and others claim it is the Chakras. In any event what Kirlian photography does measure is the moisture content around the area photographed. There is a certain kind of personality and mind that no matter what the rational scientific evidence is, they will continue to adhere to their superstitious beliefs, and more than that, they insist that everyone else does as well.

If we use their own argument against the TCM practitioners (the supernormal and metaphysical nature of chi) then any one that cannot demonstrate the ability to utilize their own chi to a high ability can certainly not claim to manipulate it in others. There are several physical disciplines within the Chinese healing arts that parallel the philosophy and theories of TCM, but do so through physical training practices. These disciplines include Chinese martial arts like tai chi chuan, chi kung, and dao yin (Chinese yoga). Most TCM and acupuncture practitioners would be hard pressed to demonstrate their own personal mastery and balance of chi either in their own body or through an outward physical demonstration and manifestation of chi. If you are not able to manifest chi through the flow and grace of movement, through relaxation (sung), or penetration (pung), then that individual should not be making any claims regarding their abilities as an acupuncturist!

There are many fanciful claims made in Chinese health care and physical health practices regarding chi. Some practitioners claim to be able to use chi to knock down their opponents without physically touching them. Attempts to demonstrate this skill in front of independent observers and on uncooperative opponents have failed miserably. The claims made by some practitioners that chi training will make them impervious to bullets, or other weapons, has ended in severe injury and death. There are many self proclaimed "masters" and improvised "gurus" who make claims regarding their ability to heal through chi (a form of medical chi kung) or to perform supernormal feats.

One medical chi kung practitioner and acupuncturist would place his students on the very edge of a metal folding chair with the edge of the chair pressing into the back of the students legs. When the legs began to tingle or went numb that was evidence of the movement of chi.

Some martial arts teachers, many of them "advanced" Chinese masters make claims that they can perform supernatural feats of strength. Unless what is being demonstrated is true athletic ability acquired through diligent training, these claims are always false and/or simple tricks.

Recorded (filmed) demonstrations by noted TCM practitioners who are martial artists show very choreographed theatrical demonstrations of supposed supernormal abilities and the use of chi (fa jing) that look more like a bad B movie than real physical or athletic ability. I doubt whether any of these chi 'masters" could lift a weight equal to any champion female powerlifter!

Some TCM and chi kung practitioners who teach exercises to balance the meridians suggest "breathing through the acupuncture point, Bai Hui" (GV20) (the crown chakra). Just for an amusing experiment hold your breath and try breathing through the bone on the top of your head! Masahiro Oki, who believed that ki (chi) was life, submerged himself in a pool while seated in a lotus position, and promptly drown. Another "chi" adept believed that he could swallow poisons, acids, and ground glass without injury. He died during an attempted demonstration. The power of self-delusion has no bounds in some individuals.

The martial arts are being used as an example in this article because they are based on the same principles and theories as the Chinese healing arts of acupuncture, tui na, and medical chi kung. For example, in tai chi chuan the various postures and movements are each linked to a specific meridian and in many cases to specific acupuncture points. The same can be said for chi kung and dao yin exercises. The purpose of training in the internal Chinese martial arts is understood as the promotion and management of the flow of chi toward an objective of self-defense and personal health. The martial artist who is trained in the entire art and science has double training because the training is designed around health and injury treatment, and offensive attacks to the opponents acupuncture points. Additionally, the same philosophical paradigms, including the yin/yang theory, five phases, and the horary cycle, are shared by traditional martial artists and by TCM practitioners. I am surprised by the number of TCM practitioners who either have no training in the martial disciplines or are ignorant of the relationship between these two Chinese arts and sciences.

The arrival and the development of the early martial arts and healing arts in the US parallel each other in the late 1950's and early 1960's. Many of the early devotee's of these arts were philosophy students who readily accepted the fantastic claims of the early wave of oriental teachers. This author began his training during this period and has witnessed this development over the last 50 years. Early martial arts students who studied solely with non-oriental teachers rarely received the full complement of training. Students who studied with qualified, and cooperative, Chinese teachers did receive a complete education in Chinese healing and martial culture.

The issue of chi, its existence and nature is a tricky question. The body does generate forms of electro magnetic energy of various wavelengths and degrees of electrical strength. Most likely, and research does demonstrate this, a minor and weak ability of one electro magnetic force (one person), has an effect on another persons electro magnet energy force. This has specifically been observed in individuals who are trained in the physical disciplines related to tai chi chuan and medical chi kung. This effect is most likely minor, and while helpful should not be relied upon as a cure for moderate to severe illnesses. Is this measurable energy chi? Well there is no agreement on that.

This leads to an interesting question. Does the acupuncture needle affect "chi", or is this effect the presence of one "electro magnetic" body in relationship to another? Perhaps the acupuncture needle works through one physiological mechanism (as demonstrated by contemporary research), and another physiological effect is the effect of one "body on another body". But this thinking is pure speculation, and there is a mountain range of that in TCM. The answer also depends upon your perspective, whether traditional or modern. I have come to the opinion that the abilities that one develops in the martial and healing arts are qualitative and quantitative physical or athletic abilities, and are not mystical or metaphysical. In over fifty years of study I have not met, trained with, or witnessed a single individual with any ability beyond that obtainable through natural talent and diligent practice.

The Medical acupuncturist is an acupuncture "heretic" because while knowledgeable about the "quaint" shamanistic heritage of acupuncture and TCM they discard the "dross" and keep the gold, they embrace modern rational scientific approaches to acupuncture based on current scientific research and clinical outcome data. The medical acupuncturist is more interested in the neuro-physiological and neuro pharmacological effects of acupuncture than five phase theory, tongue or pulse diagnosis, the horary cycle, or whether the patient is afflicted with damp evil, or liver fire.

The central question, however, is this. Can a medical acupuncturist who is proficient in the "medical and clinical" applications of acupuncture be trained in a matter similar to other allied health care providers? Consider these further questions:

1. How much time is needed to train in or to review cross infection and clean needle technique?
2. How much time is needed to train in or to review gross anatomical endangerment sites? (related to needle puncture)
3. How much time does it take to teach needle technique?
4. How much time does it take to teach treatment protocols specific to pain or addictionlogy?
5. How much time is needed to review the major neuro physiological, immunological, and pharmacological effects of acupuncture needling?

The answer to the above questions is that is possible to train acupuncture professionals in the practice of medical acupuncture in the same time that we train nursing, medical, or physical therapy assistants.

The medical acupuncturist is not interested in practicing TCM. In addition, from the tone of this article it should be apparent that many if not most medical acupuncturists do not accept the beliefs and practices of TCM. The medical acupuncturist does not want to be forced into studying esoteric Chinese philosophical or religious theories, not because of prejudice, but rather in the interest of valid education and intellectual development. Many medical acupuncturists do not want to be TCM practitioners, but rather want to receive specialized training that allows them to use acupuncture on very specific patient populations. The reverse has been true for the TCM trained student who most often lacks training in western medicine, anatomy and physiology, and pathology, and who has not been "forced" to have this training prior to licensure.

Major questions have been raised by TCM practitioners and their organizations, and it should be noted not without a significant degree of contentiousness. Their position is that they have a right to organize and promote their profession as they choose. They view acupuncture in the US as solely their property. They do not believe that training can or should be provided to anyone outside of TCM philosophy or practices. How unifying and "holistic" of them. No one, no single individual, no organization, simply because of their training or position in the acupuncture community has the right to monopolize or to control this art and science. No one practicing today "invented" this science, and the knowledge that they do have is "borrowed".

Among the hundreds of chiropractors, massage therapists, physical therapists, and medical physicians who practice acupuncture or related procedures, I have yet to see anyone challenging the right of TCM practitioners to practice their art and science in peace and prosperity. The reverse is, however, not true.

As a continuing student of acupuncture there are a number of observations that I have made over the years that have led my inquisitive rational mind away from TCM and toward a western scientific approach. These observations include:

1. Current physiological research has demonstrated certain universal physiological, neurological and biochemical reactions to needling stimuli.
2. Current physiological research has demonstrated certain regional and localized neurological, immunological, and biochemical reactions to needling stimuli.
3. Studies attempting to correlate the diagnostic procedures and value of pulse diagnosis, for some the cornerstone, of TCM diagnosis, have failed to demonstrate reproducibility, reliability, and consistency.
4. Studies attempting to correlate the diagnostic interpretations of the tongue have failed to demonstrate reproducibility, reliability, and consistency.
5. There are numerous systems of pulse diagnosis, differing in interpretation one from the other.
6. There are numerous interpretations of tongue diagnosis.
7. There are numerous systems of acupuncture, differing locations of points, and different interpretations of the purpose of the points.
8. There are an infinite variety of acupuncture prescriptions used in the treatment of the same diseases and disorders.
9. Treatment approaches among acupuncture practitioners are almost as numerous as the number of practitioners in the field.
10. TCM concepts are anachronistic and in many cases completely at variance with modern scientific knowledge regarding physiology and psychology of the human body and mind.
11. The inadvertent use of non paired acupuncture points, like GB 34 on one side of the body and ST 36 on the other side of the body have been found to produce the same effects in the body. The complete use of the "wrong" acupuncture points on the body for a specific condition still can produce beneficial results, and multiple studies using different combinations of acupuncture points have been shown to produce the same measurable physiological and biochemical results.
12. In actual practice needling sensation and radiation follow known pain or trigger point pain patterns, the direction of normal pain radiation, and/or from proximal to distal. Rarely, does needle stimulation reproduce the supposed path of the meridian.
13. Contrary to repeated assertions, acupuncture points are not electrically different than other surface areas of the human body. Studies to the contrary are most likely artifacts of the research process.
14. There is an overwhelming and compelling amount of scientific evidence regarding the physiological, neurological, immunological, and pharmacological effects of acupuncture on the human body.

These are a few of the educated observations that I, and/or others in the field have made regarding TCM and acupuncture. There is nothing within these statements that says that traditional acupuncture does not work, it obviously does. It just does not work for the reasons, or by the theories, offered by TCM practitioners.

So the question can be raised, just what is the value of their hours of esoteric training in diagnostic procedures, theories and conflictive applications that do not work in accordance with their education or theories? This reminds me of the numerous internal martial art practitioners who felt themselves "invincible", only to be knocked unconscious in the first few seconds of a sparring match. Regardless, they have every right to pursue their particular method of treatment. They do not, however, stand upon higher intellectual or academic ground, and certainly do not have the ethical right to dictate their philosophy of care to others. Of what possible value is longer training, if that training lacks rational and scientific validity?

The current body of research that supports a rational scientific approach to acupuncture therapy is already sufficient to satisfy the needs of a new acupuncture profession that is not saddled by the weight of anachronistic, superstitious, and shamanistic education and practices. A new well educated, articulate, and qualified medical professional can now be trained without the overwhelming burden and misdirection of TCM training.

This new acupuncture training includes:

1. A rational analysis and comparison of valid and invalid theories, philosophy, and techniques in acupuncture and oriental medicine.
2. A review of acupuncture history.
3. Acupuncture techniques including non-invasive adjunctive modalities.
4. The physiological, neurological, immunological, and pharmacological effects of acupuncture and adjunctive modalities.
5. Western physiology, anatomy, and pathology.
6. Point location and general nomenclature.
7. The neurological approaches to needling acupuncture involving non-segmental and segmental effects.
8. Pain therapy and pain treatment via acupuncture.
9. Musculo skeletal pathology and acupuncture treatment protocols.
10. The medical applications of electro therapies including medical engineering and electro therapy physics.
11. Acupuncture and addictionlogy.
12. Contraindications, adverse reactions, non-responders, and cross infection.
13. Legal implications of acupuncture and practice ethics.
14. Clinical practices in the medical environment.

Compare the above medical acupuncture curriculum to the typical TCM program, which includes:

• Acupuncture anatomy (non western energy anatomy)
• TCM
• Oriental history and philosophy
• Eastern pathology (non western)
• Meridians and points
• Chinese medical language
• TCM diagnosis (pulse and tongue)
• Chinese massage
• Chi Kung
• Tai chi chuan
• Acupuncture technique
• Clinical diagnosis (non western)
• Oriental internal medicine
• Auricular acupuncture
• Clean needle technique
• Clinic

Training programs vary in length from 200, 1000 to 2000 hours. The internship is included within these hours. I would point out that compared to doctoral programs at 4000 hours this is not a lot of training and is about equivalent to training in beginning and advanced massage therapy. Instructors in TCM schools rarely if ever have any training or credentials in education, and their "mandate" to teach is simply based on knowing TCM. Compared this once again to allied medical training, medical schools, and chiropractic colleges where the instructors have advanced or even multiple advanced degrees. Unlike training in medical acupuncture TCM training is not specifically focused on acupuncture technique, but covers a number of related classes in exercise, massage, nutrition, and herbs. Many students of medical acupuncture are of course already trained, certified or licensed in allied medicine, or are pursuing additional training in complementary health care.

It should also be noted that TCM practitioners can still be nationally certified through grandfathering and apprenticeship, and never have to have attended an accredited or state licensed school at all.

Many massage therapists, herbalists, chiropractors, physicians, and others in the health care community have an equal amount or more training in acupuncture and the other subjects that comprise the typical acupuncture program. TCM training in nutrition and herbal medicine is as esoteric as is their acupuncture training but in comparison western training in these topics is most often based on modern biochemical and pharmacological herbal and nutritional sciences. The typical chiropractor has completed a four-year undergraduate degree in an accredited college or university, and has then completed four to five years at an accredited chiropractic college, before going on to gain specialty training in acupuncture. Chiropractic and medical programs provide a much more thorough and lengthy training program, which includes the few courses that TCM students take and far more than that. When TCM practitioners criticize "quickie" acupuncture training programs they usually reference the least number of training hours available, perhaps 100 hours and do not credit the training in related classes such as anatomy, physiology, neurology, laboratory (including blood draws), human nutrition, herbal medicine, manual medicine, classes pertaining to patient management and handling, ethics, emergency medicine, infection control, as well as, hundreds of hours in internship or residency treating patients. They also fail to mention that some well established TCM schools offer "quickee" 100 or 200 hour certificate programs in TCM and that some states provide certification for the graduates of these programs.

A few hundred hours of specialized training in acupuncture theory, technique and applications is more than enough training for the medical or chiropractic physician. In addition, the almost total lack of western medical and allied health training by the acupuncturist is a serious educational deficiency with a greater potential to cause harm to patients than the likelihood of a medical acupuncturist causing harm by improper acupuncture technique.

After the dust settles and the facts are reviewed and examined we see a profession (TCM) that has experienced rapid growth and acceptance, largely due to the assistance of the medical and chiropractic communities, turning on its allies and attempting to solidify its position as the dominate force in oriental medicine. At the end of the day this is largely a turf and economic issue. If there is only one group represented by only one organization it is pretty clear where the power, control, and money are going. Additionally, TCM practitioners at large are not doing very well in practice or financially and would like to see a reduction in the number of professionals legally capable of providing acupuncture to the public. The fact that they are not doing well in practice is a reflection of who they are, how they practice, and their failure to understand the public market and provide an affordable and comprehensible service. These issues are a direct reflection on their schools and organizations, which have failed to prepare them for the realities of the business of health care. It is not competition from medical acupuncturists that is the enemy of TCM, they are themselves by training, practice and behavior, their own worst enemies.

Dr. John Amaro, founder of the International Academy of Medical Acupuncture recommends that the various acupuncture organizations adopt the "Seattle Statement", which states:

We believe that acupuncture and oriental medicine best serves society when practiced according to the following principles:

• Respect the broad diversity of acupuncture and oriental medicine.
• Encourage collaboration between acupuncture and oriental medicine and other individuals and groups within and outside of organized health care systems.
• Honor the legacy of acupuncture and oriental medicine, its masters, artisans, and others who created and nurtured that legacy, and contemporary colleagues, collaborators and peers who carry on the legacy.
• Recognize the energetic basis and respect the dynamic, evolving nature of acupuncture and oriental medicine.
• Place the healing relationship and the well being of the individual consumer at the center of acupuncture and oriental medicine practice.
• Recognize that the social, cultural and physical environment, including race, gender, age, socioeconomic status, and sexual orientation, affect the health and healing of the individual.
• Provide tools and guidance for individuals to reach their own capacity for informed choice, self-healing and living fully, in the presence of health, illness or in the process of dying.
• Maintain independence of practice based on appropriate standards of education, certification, and care.
• Recognize that maximum accessibility to health care is essential to individual and social well being.
• Promote public awareness of the facets and traditions of acupuncture and oriental medicine and their integration into personal, social, and cultural life.
• Recognize the need for continual expansion of human understanding through research, analysis, and practical experience focused on the interactions among body, mind, spirit, emotions, and faith of the individual, society and nature as a whole.

These are valuable statements that the entire acupuncture community would do well to live by.

Conclusion

My apologies to those members of the traditional community, particularly to those oriental members who I cannot imagine would be the authors of the contentious behavior that I have witnessed and experienced from the TCM community, as well as those members who are more moderate in their opinions and viewpoints. However, if you belong to a group or an organization and allow that organization or its leadership to behave unjustly, then you are unjust yourself.

If you do not agree with my perspectives and opinions regarding TCM, do not need to. These opinions are intellectual, and I am not attempting to prevent your right to practice acupuncture.

My teacher Professor Huo Chi Kwang, abhorred poor training, superstition and falsity and he was continually generous in his criticism of any one that personified these characteristics.

Please note that I have made no mention of specific individuals or organizations in this article, but have rather presented the facts regarding the issues as I see them. Opinions are the understandings that we come to on the road to wisdom, but they are not necessarily wisdom.

I would rather build bridges of understanding than walls of separation. If you agree then lets work together to build those bridges and stop wasting our time and precious energy on disunity.

About the author:

Gregory T. Lawton D.N., D.C., M.Ac has spent over fifty years studying martial arts, including the internal Chinese martial arts since 1974. Dr. Lawton's main Chinese teacher was the internationally renown and highly regarded Professor Huo Chi Kwang, founder of the Chinese Cultural Academy in Evanston, Illinois, head of the Military Judicial Agency under Chiang Kai-Shek, the first elected Congressman in the Republic of China and the Republics ambassador to Pope Pius XII, Spain and France. In 1971 Dr. Lawton became an herbalist, he is a licensed naprapath in Illinois, a licensed chiropractor in Michigan, a certified naturopath in Kentucky, and a certified acupuncturist in Idaho. With twelve years of college education Dr. Lawton is nationally board certified in chiropractic, physical therapy, and radiology (US Department of Education approved). He is the founding board member of the American Manual Medicine Association, the author of dozens of published articles, and has written over fifty books and training manuals related to health care and martial arts. Dr. Lawton is also a certified fellow of the International Medical Acupuncture Academy. Dr. Lawton is a graduate of the National University of Health Sciences (formerly the National College of Chiropractic) and also completed a post graduate course in TCM based acupuncture at the National University of Health Sciences. Dr. Lawton has been teaching oriental martial and healing arts for forty years. He founded the Blue Heron Academy of Healing Arts and Sciences in 1980. The Academy offers the first acupuncture curriculum approved by the Michigan Department of Education. The Blue Heron Academy is now located in seven Michigan cities and offers training from three months to five years.