What is acupuncture?
1 Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most commonly used medical procedures in the world. Originating in China more than 2,000 years ago, acupuncture began to become better known in the United States in 1971, when New York Times reporter James Reston wrote about how doctors in China used needles to ease his pain after surgery.
2 The term acupuncture describes a family of procedures involving stimulation of anatomical points on the body by a variety of techniques. American practices of acupuncture incorporate medical traditions from China, Japan, Korea, and other Eastern countries. The acupuncture technique that has been most studied scientifically involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation.
What does acupuncture feel like?
3 Acupuncture needles are metallic, solid, and hair-thin. People experience acupuncture differently, but most feel no or minimal pain as the needles are inserted. Some people are energized by treatment, while others feel relaxed. Improper needle placement, movement of the patient, or a defect in the needle can cause soreness and pain during treatment. This is why it is important to seek treatment from a qualified acupuncture practitioner.
Is acupuncture safe?
4 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved acupuncture needles for use by licensed practitioners in 1996. The FDA requires that sterile, nontoxic needles be used and that they be labeled for single use by qualified practitioners only.
5 Relatively few complications from the use of acupuncture have been reported to the FDA in light of the millions of people treated each year and the number of acupuncture needles used. Still, complications have resulted from inadequate sterilization of needles and from improper delivery of treatments. Practitioners should use a new set of disposable needles taken from a sealed package for each patient and should swab treatment sites with alcohol or another disinfectant before inserting needles. When not delivered properly, acupuncture can cause serious adverse effects, including infections and punctured organs.
How might acupuncture work?
6 Acupuncture is one of the key components of the system of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In the TCM system of medicine, the body is seen as a delicate balance of two opposing and inseparable forces: yin and yang. Yin represents the cold, slow, or passive principle, while yang represents the hot, excited, or active principle. Among the major assumptions in TCM are that health is achieved by maintaining the body in a "balanced state" and that disease is due to an internal imbalance of yin and yang. This imbalance leads to blockage in the flow of qi (vital energy) along pathways known as meridians. It is believed that there are 12 main meridians and 8 secondary meridians and that there are more than 2,000 acupuncture points on the human body that connect with them.
7 Preclinical studies have documented acupuncture's effects, but they have not been able to fully explain how acupuncture works within the framework of the Western system of medicine that is commonly practiced in the United States. It is proposed that acupuncture produces its effects through regulating the nervous system, thus aiding the activity of pain-killing biochemicals such as endorphins and immune system cells at specific sites in the body. In addition, studies have shown that acupuncture may alter brain chemistry by changing the release of neurotransmitters and neurohormones and, thus, affecting the parts of the central nervous system related to sensation and involuntary body functions, such as immune reactions and processes that regulate a person's blood pressure, blood flow, and body temperature.
Which characteristic of the author's style LEAST contributes to the purpose of informing an audience about acupuncture?
A)the consistent question-and-answer format
B)the broad overview of the acupuncture's history
C)the mention of James Reston's post-surgery pain
D)the detached description of acupuncture procedure
B or D.
The main purpose of this article is
A)to explain the importance of the body’s internal balance.
B)to explain the differences in Eastern and Western medical practices.
C)to explain the background, procedures, safety, and effects of acupuncture.
D)to describe the feeling patients perceive during an acupuncture treatment.
C? maybe
What evidence is provided to indicate that acupuncture is an acceptable medical procedure?
A)Acupuncture is one of the oldest medical procedures in the world.
B)Acupuncture produces its effects through regulating the nervous system.
C)The use of acupuncture needles by licensed practitioners has been approved by the FDA.
D)James Reston wrote about how doctors in China used needles to ease his pain after surgery.
A or C
Which statement supports the idea that acupuncture treatments are believed to balance the systems of the body?
A)People not living a balanced life would most likely not benefit from acupuncture.
B)Practitioners from the East and the West agree on the healing benefits of acupuncture.
C)The body is seen as a delicate balance of two inseparable forces represented by the Yin and the Yang.
D)An equal number of metallic needles should be placed on either side of the meridian to achieve results.
C?
Which addition to this article would be most beneficial to patients in the U.S. considering acupuncture treatments?
A)explanation on other TCM alternative treatments
B)information concerning the cost of acupuncture treatments
C)further explanation on the practice's origins and history
D)a better explanation of the yin and the yang regarding the body’s balance
C or B?
The passage contends that acupuncture became better known to Americans during the 1970's because
A)doctors from Japan, China, and Korea began opening practices in the United States.
B)practitioners began huge advertising campaigns for acupuncture clinics in the U.S.
C)the FDA released a report granting approval for acupuncture practices in the United States.
D)a New York Times reporter wrote about his personal experience using acupuncture to relieve pain after surgery.
D?
Please help me out :)
I disagree with your answer to question 1. No maybe, C is correct for question 2. I think C for question 3. C is right for question 4. I think B for question 5 (is it covered by health insurance?) Yes, D is the answer to #6. That is VERY clear in the text.
The characteristic of the author's style that LEAST contributes to the purpose of informing an audience about acupuncture is:
C) the mention of James Reston's post-surgery pain
The main purpose of this article is:
C) to explain the background, procedures, safety, and effects of acupuncture.
The evidence provided to indicate that acupuncture is an acceptable medical procedure is:
C) The use of acupuncture needles by licensed practitioners has been approved by the FDA.
The statement that supports the idea that acupuncture treatments are believed to balance the systems of the body is:
C) The body is seen as a delicate balance of two inseparable forces represented by the Yin and the Yang.
The addition to this article that would be most beneficial to patients in the U.S. considering acupuncture treatments would be:
B) Information concerning the cost of acupuncture treatments.
The passage contends that acupuncture became better known to Americans during the 1970's because:
D) A New York Times reporter wrote about his personal experience using acupuncture to relieve pain after surgery.
Here are the correct answers:
Which characteristic of the author's style LEAST contributes to the purpose of informing an audience about acupuncture?
Answer: A) the consistent question-and-answer format
The main purpose of this article is
Answer: C) to explain the background, procedures, safety, and effects of acupuncture.
What evidence is provided to indicate that acupuncture is an acceptable medical procedure?
Answer: C) The use of acupuncture needles by licensed practitioners has been approved by the FDA.
Which statement supports the idea that acupuncture treatments are believed to balance the systems of the body?
Answer: C) The body is seen as a delicate balance of two inseparable forces represented by the Yin and the Yang.
Which addition to this article would be most beneficial to patients in the U.S. considering acupuncture treatments?
Answer: D) a better explanation of the yin and the yang regarding the body’s balance
The passage contends that acupuncture became better known to Americans during the 1970's because
Answer: D) a New York Times reporter wrote about his personal experience using acupuncture to relieve pain after surgery.