The Acupuncture Poll's question for June 2003 was:
"If you could add one modality to your state's scope of practice law, what would it be?"
Results are as follows:
These results are based upon 170 responses. As this is a voluntary, non-scientific survey, caution should be used in generalizing the results. Here is a sample of the comments made by those who took the survey and how they voted:
Prescribing drugs: I have been in Oriental medicine for 15 years. I predict that in 10 to 15 years, doctors of Oriental medicine will be regarded in the medical community and by the lay public much the way doctors of osteopathy are now, and the scope of practice will be like a DO's. It is headed that way because there is no separation between Oriental and Western medicine anywhere else in the world but here in the U.S. IV therapy, point injection, laboratory and other diagnostic procedures, and prescription drugs are all part of Oriental medicine every else.
Herbal remedies: I think most of us who have been in the field for a long time perform many of the tasks of a primary care practitioner without having the support to do so. The areas of increased responsibility that I feel would help, in addition to herbal remedies, are ordering tests (X-rays, MRIs, etc.), giving physicals (or similar) and doing manipulation or mobilization and massage techniques. If chiropractors are going to get to do acupuncture after 100 to 300 hours of training, we should be able to take courses and perform manipulation. For what it's worth, when I started in the late 1970s, the first thing I was taught was neck adjustments, which I do not do, but it goes to show you that it can be learned.
Manipulation and/or mobilization: Acupuncture and manipulation and/or mobilization prove highly complementary. Furthermore, musculoskeletal work seems to enhance the effect of an acupuncture treatment by "waking up" the qi flowing through the channels, thus allowing easier access to the points and connecting pathways.
For more information on the Acupuncture Poll, contact Acupuncture Today at editorial@acupuncturetoday.com.
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