This article describes several key events concerning the introduction of acupuncture to the United States, considers the mainstream acceptance of acupuncture and the development of the acupuncture “infrastructure” for the past 50 years, and speculates on acupuncture's future trajectory. In the author's opinion, “the two factors which will contribute the most to the continuing development of acupuncture are acupuncture consumers and scientific research.”
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
LiYM.Acupuncture Journey to America (). Beijing, People's Medical Publishing House; 2011.
2.
FanAY.The First Acupuncture Center in the United States: An Interview with Dr. Yao Wu Lee, Washington Acupuncture Center. Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao. 2012; 10(5):481–492.
FanAY, HeD, GuS, et al.Estimated number of acupuncture practitioners in mainland China in 2018: Multiperspectives. Med Acupunct. 2020; 32(5):310–319.
5.
FanAY, StumpfSH, AlemiSF, MateckiA. Distribution of licensed acupuncturists and educational institutions in the United States at the start of 2018. Complement Ther Med. 2018; 41:295–301.
FanAY, WangD, OuyangH, et al.Acupuncture price in forty-one metropolitan regions in the United States: An out-of-pocket cost analysis based on OkCopay.com. J Integr Med. 2019; 17(5):315–320.
8.
WangH, YangG, WangS, ZhengX, ZhangW, LiY. The most commonly treated acupuncture indications in the United States: A cross-sectional study. Am J Chin Med. 2018; 46(7):1387–1419.
9.
DienerHC., KronfeldK, BoewingG, et al.Efficacy of acupuncture for the prophylaxis of migraine: A multicentre randomized controlled clinical trial. Lancet Neurol. 2006; 5(4):310–316.
10.
HaakeM, Mu¨llerHH, Schade-BrittingerC, et al.German Acupuncture Trials (GERAC) for chronic low back pain: Randomized, multicenter, blinded, parallel group trial with 3 groups. Arch Intern Med. 2007; 167(17):1892–1898.
11.
ScharfHP, MansmannU, StreitbergerK, et al.Acupuncture and knee osteoarthritis: A three-armed randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2006; 145(1):12–20.
12.
EndresHG, BowingG, DienerHC, et al., Acupuncture for tension-type headache: A multicentre, sham controlled, patient and observer blinded, randomised trial. J Headache Pain. 2007;8(5):306–314.
13.
LindeK, StrengA, JurgensS, et al.Acupuncture for patients with migraine: A randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2005; 4, 293(17):2118–2125.
14.
BrinkhausB, WittCM, JenaS, et al.Acupuncture in patients with chronic low back pain: A randomized controlled trial. Arch Intern Med. 2006; 166(4):450–457.
15.
WittC, BrinkhausB, JenaS, et al.Acupuncture in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: A randomized trial. Lancet. 2005; 366(9480):136–143.
16.
MelchartD, StrengA, HoppeA, et al.Acupuncture in patients with tension type headache: Randomized controlled trial. BMJ. 2005; 13, 331(7513):376–382.
17.
LiuZ, LiuY, XuH, et al.Effect of electroacupuncture on urinary leakage among women with stress urinary incontinence: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2017; 317(24):2493–2501.
18.
LiuZ, YanS, WuJ, et al.Acupuncture for chronic severe functional constipation: A randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2016; 165(11):761–769.
19.
LiuB, WuJ, YanS, et al.Electroacupuncture vs prucalopride for severe chronic constipation: A multicenter, randomized, controlled, noninferiority trial. Am J Gastroenterol. 2021; 116(5):1024–1035.
20.
ZhaoL, LiD, ZhengH, et al.Acupuncture as adjunctive therapy for chronic stable angina: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2019; 179(10):1388–1397.
21.
YangJW, WangLQ, ZouX, et al.Effect of acupuncture for postprandial distress syndrome: A randomized clinical trial. Ann Intern Med. 2020; 172(12):777–785.
22.
TuJF, YangJW, ShiGX, et al.Efficacy of intensive acupuncture versus sham acupuncture in knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2021; 73(3):448–458.
23.
ZhaoL, ChenJ, LiY, et al.The Long-term effect of acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2017; 177(4):508–515.
24.
WuXK, Stener-VictorinE, KuangHY, et al.Effect of acupuncture and clomiphene in Chinese women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2017; 317(24):2502–2514.
25.
GongCZ, LiangFR, LiCH, et al.Discussion on acupuncture as adjunctive therapy for chronic stable angina: A randomized clinical trial published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2021; 41(4):359–364.
26.
HanJS, Yuh-ShanHo. Global trends and performances of acupuncture research. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2011; 35(3):680–687.
27.
KungYY, HwangSJ, LiTF, KoSG, HuangCW, ChenFP. Trends in global acupuncture publications: An analysis of the Web of Science database from 1988 to 2015. J Chin Med Assoc. 2017; 80(8):521–525.
28.
GongCZ, GarafolaE. Acupuncture in oncology. Int J Clin Acupunct. 2014; 23(1):27–49.
29.
GongCZ, LiuW. Acupuncture for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Int J Clin Acupunct. 2014; 23(2):88–100.
).