The teaching of electroacupuncture in North America: an informal survey

Abstract

Objectives:ÊTo determine whether electroacupuncture (EA) is taught in Oriental Medicine (OM), Chiropractic (Chir), Physical Therapy (PT) and Osteopathic (Osteop) colleges in the USA, what position it holds in the overall curriculum, what are thought to be its most useful applications (vis-à-vis those of manual acupuncture, MA), and whether certain treatment parameters are considered as having particular effects.

Methods:ÊQuestionnaires were mailed, faxed or emailed to the different colleges, and results analysed informally.

Results and conclusions:ÊDespite lack of formal analysis, it is clear that EA in some form is taught in many OM and some PT schools, and at least a few Chir (but probably no Osteop) colleges. More time is devoted to it in OM than PT trainings, and the scope of practice for EA is taught as much wider in OM than PT, with a corresponding emphasis on a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) approach in the former, and trigger point (TrP) stimulation in the latter (using noninvasive methods). It tends to be taught as more effective than MA for pain, neuropathy, paralysis and addiction. Least agreement appears to be in the area of treatment parameters to be used, and their effects. There is a possible trend for different schools to recommend textbooks written by members of their associated profession. Further results are discussed in detail.