Talk:Electroacupuncture according to Voll
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Welcome to the Electroacupuncture according to Voll Talk Page!
[edit] Comments from earlier version of electroacupuncture prior to move
The current version of this article is not accurate. The main problem is that there are more "mundane" forms of electroacupunture approved by state agencies like the US FDA. Licensed acupuncturist in e.g. US can treat patients using FDA approved electroacupunture equipment. The equivalent conditions apply in many countries. It is true, however, that FDA is unusually restrictive compared to many other countries-even compared to neighboring Canada. Still that seems not always to guarantee increased scientific approval levels for biophysics based medical devices such as electroacupunture units, because FDA is so biased in favor of the dominating biochemical model of medicine. The reason for this bias is controversial some claiming it is caused by the pharmaceutical industry's influence. That may be partly true, but tradition based on the dominating biomedical model of medicine being the main scientific paradigm here is probably the decisive reason for FDA's heavy bias on this point. Besides several excellent - and some not so excellent - electroacupuncture units are available to the public in many countries. The wiser users of those units will acquire expert medical advice how to treat their problems before using them. Unfortunately, buying on the Internet has enabled the less wise patients to bypass sound medical advice.
The article on electroacupuncture must also reflect the facts I just mentioned, and not only mention electroacupuncture schools with very suspicious scientific credentials such as the current stage of EAV. An earlier stage of EAV, before the move to homeopathic methods, worked much better clinically and had a less controversial scientific foundation. The late Voll seemed less interested in empirically testable medical treatment systems than in a speculative metaphysical world view based on homeopathic principles. But electroacupuncture needs not be based on esoteric speculation instead of empirically testable scientific theories. In fact, much electroacupuncture used today is not of the scientifically suspect kind, but - unfortunately - the esoteric metaphysical schools of electroacupuncture know how to get publicity out of proportion to their real medical importance. The other uses of electroacupunture are not that well advertised, but the electroacupuncture article cannot neglect to mention them too! I think this article must be extensively rewritten to be more accurate. —Ivar Tonisson
- The above was written prior to the rewrite of electroacupuncture and moving the existing content to Electroacupuncture according to Voll; some of these concerns have probably been addressed by this change.
- The "suspicious scientific" credentials of American acupuncture schools are a matter of perspective. In the US, acupuncture schools are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, which is recognized by the US Department of Education (the same organization that recognizes virtually all other legitimate accrediting organizations in the US.) Schools educate students in basic anatomy and physiology, and The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine tests graduates to ensure they are knowledgeable about Chinese medicine and proper technique with acupuncture needles, including avoiding injury and infection. What some scientists object to is the underlying theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which is generally taught at American schools; TCM theory predates science, but is still taught because its metaphors of yin and yang and qi are found to be clinically useful. That said, there are valid concerns about the safety of electrostimulation devices as noted in present version of electroacupuncture, citing this study. thanks, Jim Butler(talk) 23:29, 9 August 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Proposed merge
No vote on merging to acupuncture; it's much more far-out than plain-vanilla acupuncture, plus the latter is already too long and ripe to have stuff spun off. Would probably be better merged with bioresonance therapy or some related thing. No objection to categorizing this one as pseudoscience. thanks, Jim Butler(talk) 07:26, 31 August 2006 (UTC)
Please see [this discussion] for input on proposal. --Travisthurston 03:44, 5 September 2006 (UTC)
