05 APRIL 2013
ElectroacupunctureOne influential and early supporter in the west was Dr. Henry Sigerist, M.D., D.Litt., LL.D. who served as the Director of the Johns Hopkins Institute of the History of Medicine. He was inspired by Chinese Medicine in part by Mr. J. W. Lindau, an organic chemist who began the translation of the Neijing Su Wen, one of the most important works of Chinese Medicine. Dr. Sigerist then suggested that Dr. Veith take up the task of finishing the project after Mr. Lindau died. Dr. Veith succeeded and published the first English version of the great work. More recently, Maoshing Ni, Ph.D. also released an important and influential translation of the Neijing Su Wen.
Another great supporter of acupuncture techniques in the USA was Dr. Janet Travell, M.D. She was a medical researcher and personal physician to Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. JFK is the first known sitting US President to receive acupuncture for the control of pain. Specifically, JFK required treatments for pain related to injuries sustained during World War II. Dr. Travell was an Emeritus Clinical Professor of Medicine at George Washington University and also taught at Cornell University. She published extensively on the use of trigger point therapy, a westernized acupuncture procedure, to control pain.
This latest article written by Daniel Pendick, Executive Editor of Harvard Men’s Health Watch, underscores the existence of quality research showing that acupuncture is successful in the treatment of pain. The research concluded that, “Acupuncture is effective for the treatment of chronic pain and is therefore a reasonable referral option.” This research reflects a co-emerging trend seen in the expansion of acupuncture health insurance benefits. In 2014, all small group and individual health insurance plans in both California and Maryland will be required to include acupuncture as a covered benefit.