Chinese Medicine: Cautions
Description
This article is from the Alternative
Medicine Therapies guide.
Chinese Medicine: Cautions
- If
you have a chronic condition or a new acute problem that is seriously
disabling you, get a diagnostic evaluation from a conventional
primary-care physician before consulting an acupuncturist.
- Plan on coordinating
your care between your biomedical doctor and your acupuncturist.
If they won’t work together, find ones that will.
- Be
sure your acupuncturist uses sterile, disposable needles.
- As with any
health practitioner, if the condition is not improving in a reasonable
time, get a second opinion. There are increasing numbers of practitioners
familiar with both Western and traditional Chinese medicine, should
you need a re-evaluation.
- Acupuncturists
in California and Nevada must take an exam in order to dispense
Chinese herbs. In other states, herbal certification is voluntary.
Ask if your acupuncturist has passed the National Certification
Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine herbal exam.
- Herbal remedies
are regulated as "foodstuffs" under current Federal laws. This
means that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not evaluated
their effectiveness and safety as therapies. Be sure to work only
with a licensed and certified practitioner to ensure that you
get the best care
 
Continue to: