Nurse Pract. 1988 Sep; 13(9): 55-6, 59, 62-6.

Acupuncture: an important treatment option.

Jackson L.

Medical College of Ohio.

In recent years acupuncture has gained increasing acceptance in this country as a treatment option for certain painful conditions. At the same time, nurse practitioners are seeing greater numbers of Asian immigrants whose beliefs about health and illness are based on the theory of Chinese traditional medicine. This article provides an explanation of Chinese traditional medicine and the use of acupuncture in that context, so that nurse practitioners may take these beliefs into account when planning care for Asian clients. Information on the use of acupuncture from a Western health care perspective is also presented to give nurse practitioners an understanding of this treatment, which will enable them both to explain it to clients and to refer them for acupuncture when appropriate.