The Role of Acupuncture in the treatment of Substance Abuse ...

Although acupuncture therapy itself has existed for thousands of years, treating addiction with acupuncture dated back to early 1970’s (Otto, 2003). Inside the research My spouse and i read with this paper, I came across information saying that a Dr . Wen in Hong Kong was researching the consequences of acupuncture intended for post-surgical soreness when Dr . Wen somehow found that applying electric stimulation to the lung justification in the ears relieved opiate withdrawal symptoms.  The job of Doctor Wen triggered the breakthrough discovery of what became a hybrid of acupuncture.

Inside the U. S., Lincoln Clinic in Southern region Bronx in New York City began a substance abuse program in mid 1970s where they can replace the methadone treatment with acupuncture therapy (Otto, 2003). The doctor who have worked in Lincoln Hospital at the time, Dr . Michael Jones, developed a course replacing methadone treatment with acupuncture. Ultimately over time Dr . Smith produced a simple and effective acupuncture treatment protocol that eliminated patient’s withdrawal symptoms while lowering relapse rates.

Later on that expanded to treating medicine, alcohol and smoking habits. The length of treatment was determined generally speaking by the patient’s time and practice of drug abuse (Shwartz, 2000). A common treatment guide can be that the drug abuse treatment would go for treatment intended for six months. The first month would generally be about 5 therapies a week, the second month of treatments would generally always be three to 4treatments whereas the third to sixth a few months of treatment would be around 1-2 remedies a week. In the acupuncture treatment for element abusers research I read they suggested that mental factors variations in results were low if virtually any difference whatsoever (Zarelsky, 1976).

At least one of the content indicated that acupuncture treatment for material abusers is more preferable suited to several substances than others (Knox, 2007). Dr . Michael Smith who performs at a treatment center is definitely South Bronx indicated the fact that treatment was better matched, for example to get cocaine addicts vs . methadone addicts. Cruz commented, “Unlike methadone for heroin addiction, which requires considerable framework and policing to guard against illicit heroin use, acupuncture can be offered whenever a fracture addict slides back into use” (Knox, 2007). “Acupuncture supporters do not contend that the treatment is for just about every addict, or perhaps that acupuncture therapy alone is likely to break the shackles of addiction.

The main benefit, they say, is usually to ease addicts through the throes of detoxing without using some other drugs, after which, to reduce the craving pertaining to drugs thus clients can focus on tugging their lives together” (Knox, 2007). The statistic that I  found mentioned that there are more than 800 treatment centers in the U. S. and Europe (Russell, 2000). Data obtained from scientific studies of acupuncture in substance abuse treatment are questionable. Some study indicates there is no very clear evidence that acupuncture can be any more powerful than a placebo or the patient’s existing detoxing treatment (Kim, 2005).

General, the result of the majority of research I studied on the benefits of acupuncture therapy on substance abuse found that their had not been a great advantage to applying acupuncture while the sole take care of substance abuse. However , when acupuncture is used along or while an adjunctive therapy to check existing strategies of treating substance abuse there were conceivable benefits (Yoon-Hang, 2005). However , acupuncture treatment was been shown to be beneficial in suppressing liquor withdrawal symptoms such as hypermotility, rigidity and tremors (Kim, 2005) as well as other problems in general that individuals confront when pulling out from substances in general. It was shown to be the case in much of my browsing.

The benefits towards the substance abusers of acupuncture treatment� Most research My spouse and i read on acupuncture and drug abuse agreed with former chief executive of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (AAMA) who have stated “There’s a significant human body of exploration suggesting acupuncture treatment could be useful as part of a thorough program pertaining to addiction. Dr . Williams also added that acupuncture can be an integration into Traditional western medicine since an enhancement rather than a replacing current methods. “The usage of acupuncture intended for addition is merely another adjunct” (1997). There are inconsistencies inside the licensing requirements from state to state inside the U. S. as far as the practice of acupuncture.

In some states inside the U. T., a person practicing acupuncture is required to include a Doctorate in Treatments. � Other states require condition licensing or national board certification. In one of the article I actually listed in my personal references I remember reading that acupuncture was performed by simply massage therapists in at least one express. Whereas other areas, an Acupuncture treatment Detoxification Expert can perform the National Acupuncture treatment Detoxification Affiliation “auricular protocol in a monitored program” (Otto, 2003).

For most of the diary articles We read, the acupuncture treatment was referred to as being only a supplement into a substance abuser’s existing technique of� dealing with substance abuse. One of many limitations might be seen is that by no means can be acupuncture a sole way of treating drug abuse problems. Additional limitations happen to be that it has demonstrated to work better for some substances than other folks (Knox, 2007). Fletcher, M (2002-2005). Acupuncture therapy Aids Individuals Recovering from Substance Abuse.    � Gathered April 12, 2007, via Pacific University of Oriental Medicine Site:    � http://pacificcollege.edu/publications/articles/2007/march/Acupuncture_Substance_    � Abuse. html Michael jordan, J.  (June 2006).

Acupuncture therapy treatment for opiate addiction: a systematic    � review. (Author abstract).   In Journal of Drug abuse     � Treatment,  30,  p309(6).  Retrieved April 12, 2007,  from Health Reference Middle     � Academic via Thomson Gale: http://find.galegroup.com Kim, J., Chung, L., Young, E., Kwang, T. Yang, C., Hahm, M., Lee, L., Pyun, E. &    � Shim, I. (2005).

Acupuncture Reduces Alcoholic beverages Withdrawal Affliction and c-Fos    � Expression in Rat Brain. Recovered April 05, 2007, via Health Guide Center    � Academic by way of Thomson Gale: http://find.galegroup.com Knox, R (2007). Acupuncture is definitely latest tool in stuggle with drug addiction. The Boston   �  Globe, 3 rd Ed., Gathered April 05, 2007, from    � http://elibrary.bigchalk.com/libweb/elib/do/document?set=search&groupid=1 Kunz, T., Schulz, Meters., Lewitzky, M. Driessen, M. & Harold Rau. (March 2007).    � Alchoholism: Scientific and Trial and error Research.

Recovered April several, 2007, by    � Well being Reference Middle Academic by way of Thomson Gale: http://find.galegroup.com Otto, K. (2003). Acupuncture and Substance Abuse: A Synopsis, with Indications to get    � Even more Research. Gathered April 5, 2007, from Health Research Center Academics    � Via Thomson Gale: http://find.galegroup.com Russell, L. (2000). Accupuncture to get addicted sufferers with serious histories of arrest: a    � Initial study with the Consortium Treatment Center.

Recovered April six, 2007, by Health    � Reference Center Academic by way of Thomson Gale: http://find.galegroup.com Lozano, R. (2001). Acupuncture Treatment for Drug abuse. Retrieved April 5,    � 2007, coming from Health Guide Center Academic via Thomson Gale: http://find.gale    � group. com Shwartz, M., & R. Saitz. (December 1999). The Value of Acupuncture Detoxification    � Programs within a Substance Abuse Treatment System. Recovered April five, 2007, via    � Health Reference Center Academic through Thomson Gale: http://find.galegroup.com Yoon-Hang, K (2005).

Efficacy of Acupuncture pertaining to treating cocaine addiction: An evaluation   �  paper. Journal of Addictive Diseases, 24: some, Retrieved Apr 06, 3 years ago, from   �  http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=3&hid=12&sd=93384ab4-e0e2-4b22 Zarelsky, H., Lee, M. and M. Rubin. (1976). Emotional factors and clinical    � Observations in acupuncture ease and discomfort abatement. Record of    � Psychology, 93: 1, Recovered April 05, 2007, by Health Research Center    � Academic via Thomson Gale: http://find.galegroup.com