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BOOK
REVIEWS
Acupuncture
Medicine: Its Historical And Clinical Background by
Yoshiaki
Omura, MD
Acupuncture In The Treatment Of Children By
Julian Scott, PhD, and Teresa Barlow
Yamamoto
New Scalp Acupuncture (YNSA) By
Toshikatsu Yamamoto, MD, PhD
and Helene Yamamoto, SRN
Acupuncture
Medicine:
Its Historical And Clinical Background
By Yoshiaki Omura, MD
(1st edition, published 1982)
Reprinted by Cognizant Communication Corporation, Elmsford, NY, 1996
Reviewed By
Eric Hsu, MD
This book serves as an introduction to the historical and clinical background
of acupuncture medicine. Dr Omura integrates his own works into many
valuable resources from Oriental medicine. He does not use the term
"Traditional Chinese Medicine" (TCM); instead, there are a
variety of references from China, Japan, and Korea.
Dr Omura received his medical degree from the School of Medicine, Yokohama
City University, Japan. He came to the United States after an internship
and worked as a Research Fellow. Dr Omura introduced one of the first
acupuncture training courses for licensed physicians and dentists in
the United States in 1972. He was also involved in the first successful
U.S. surgery using acupuncture in 1972.
The text begins with a historical background of acupuncture. I was very
impressed with the illustration and dissections of Chinese characters
to introduce the basic concepts. He also uses Japanese historical documents
in addition to Chinese literature, and includes excellent summaries
of extensive references.
The second part of the book, "Anatomical and Pathophysiological
Concepts of Oriental Medicine," is very informative. Dr Omura has
produced an invaluable comprehensive text. The description of each meridian,
acupuncture point, pronunciation in Chinese and Japanese, meaning of
the name of the acupuncture point, and clinical indications are very
helpful. A table listing symptoms that develop as a result of disturbances
or malfunction of each meridian facilitates the learning process and
serves as an important reference.
The third part of the book, "Classical Pathophysiological Concepts
of Oriental Medicine," is a notable summary on the causes of disease.
It provides the most fundamental concepts through the use of creative
illustrations and diagrams. I enjoyed reading the "Five Element
Theory" and found it to be a unique interpretation of this important
concept.
The fourth part, "Diagnostic Methods in Oriental Medicine,"
provides comprehensive coverage on diagnosis by inspection, listening,
questioning, and palpation. The section on diagnosis by visual inspection
emphasizes the "Five Rooted Organs," namely eye, tongue, lip,
mouth, nose, and ear. Illustrations and tables are useful as tools for
differential diagnosis. The section on diagnosis associated with changes
in the hands and reflexology represents integration of the author's
experiences and Western medicine.
Dr Omura emphasizes the section on "Diagnosis by Palpation,"
and divides it into distinct categories: pulse, abdominal, chest, back,
and palpation along meridian. I highly recommend the "pulse diagnosis"
as the essence of this chapter. The summary chart on the "Four
Methods of Diagnosis" is a handy reference.
The "conclusions" section of the book guides the reader to
the key points of this comprehensive text. This section may also serve
as an introduction.
The book is useful as a comparison book for physicians taking medical
acupuncture training courses; it cannot be a stand-alone choice for
beginners. The author intended to cover the fundamental concepts of
TCM or Oriental Medicine in a condensed format. This book goes beyond
the scope of acupuncture medicine and may function as a bridge for physicians
learning alternative medicine. It could also be used by non-physician
acupuncturists in contrast to their standard textbooks. I look forward
to the next edition to add the recent advances in neurophysiology and
neurochemistry studies on acupuncture. Although I found the small print
in the text difficult to read, it offers good dollar value. I would
add this book to my library and recommend it highly.
REVIEWER
Eric S. Hsu, MD
200 UCLA Medical Plaza, Suite 660
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1778
Phone: 310-794-1841
Fax: 310-794-1511
E-mail: P16066@MVS.MEDCTR.UCLA.EDU
Dr Eric S. Hsu
is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology
at UCLA (University of California Los Angeles) School of Medicine, practicing
Medical Acupuncture in addition to conventional medicine. He is a Diplomat
of the American Board of Anesthesiology with subspecialty certification
in Pain Management.
Acupuncture
In The
Treatment Of Children
By Julian Scott, PhD, and Teresa Barlow
Eastland Press, Vista, California
3rd edition, 1999
Reviewed By
Roberto Jodorkovsky, MD
Pediatric acupuncture is feasible, safe, and effective. Julian Scott
and Teresa Barlow intend to convey this notion in the 3rd edition of
Acupuncture in the Treatment of Children, in which the authors share
their experiences of treating children with acupuncture. The authors'
approach to acupuncture is based on a combination of Traditional Chinese
Medicine (TCM) principles and their personal experience. They divide
the book into sections devoted to fundamentals of acupuncture diagnosis
and treatment particular to children, treatment of diseases according
to symptoms and patterns, and case histories. Children's conditions
are broadly differentiated into excess and deficiency types. Furthermore,
the authors distinguish 5 common pathogenic patterns: accumulation disorder,
Spleen Qi deficiency, hyperactive Spleen Qi deficiency, hyperactive
Kidney Qi deficiency, and lingering pathogenic factors. Some patterns
seem to be unique to modern society and are attributed to excessive
playing of computer games, eating junk food, softened discipline, and
use of vaccines and antibiotics. The section on diseases includes digestive,
respiratory, infectious, and miscellaneous conditions. The authors emphasize
clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, and treatment options. The last
chapter provides vignettes intended to illustrate the previous chapters.
The unique characteristics of children's diseases are addressed from
a developmental perspective, appropriately emphasizing the need to understand
children's health within the mother-child dyad. The authors describe
the needle techniques they have found most applicable to children. (Regrettably,
they fail to mention the desirability of microreflex systems, particularly
hand therapy and auricular medicine, for children afraid of needles.)
They admit with laudable honesty their lack of experience in acute conditions
and a few chronic diseases.
The chapters on teething, tonsillitis, sleep disturbances, eczema, and
fever are useful and practical. The section on Down syndrome is refreshingly
compassionate. The excellent results they report for children with attention-deficit
disorder is puzzling given the intricate nature of this condition.
With no supporting data, the authors assert that immunizations and antibiotics
are common causes of accumulation disorders in children. They also rebuke
the frequent use of steroids and bronchodilators to treat asthma. Their
stigmatization of these well-accepted treatments and preventive techniques
cannot be taken seriously when based solely on personal beliefs. While
antibiotics, steroids, and bronchodilators are surely at times inappropriately
overused and immunizations are not devoid of adverse effects, their
use has undoubtedly saved millions of lives and helped many patients
recover from their diseases. Opinions arguing against these modalities
must be carefully supported by solid scientific evidence, which is lacking
in this book.
Physician acupuncturists relish their privilege to feel at home with
the best of both worlds, Oriental and Western medicine. This book fails
to integrate both worlds because of its undocumented devaluation of
important and well-accepted conventional treatments and immunizations.
Unquestionably, the authors seem to have amassed a uniquely large experience
treating children with acupuncture over the years. The optimistic results
they communicate are exciting. It is hoped that in the future, the credibility
of this information increases with the authors' incorporation of research-based
efforts to examine and interpret their experience.
REVIEWER
Roberto A. Jodorkovsky, MD
8114 Sandpiper Circle, Suite 200
Baltimore, MD 21236
Phone: 410-931-1100
Fax: 410-931-0871
E-mail: Roberto_A_Jodorkovsky@mercy-ventures.com
Dr Roberto Jodorkovsky
is in private practice, specializing in General Pediatrics and Medical
Acupuncture. He is Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the
University of Maryland School of Medicine, and an attending Pediatric
Nephrologist at the University of Maryland Medical System. Dr Jodorkovsky
is the Vice-President and Secretary of the Maryland chapter, Medical
Acupuncture Society.
Yamamoto
New Scalp
Acupuncture (YNSA)
By Toshikatsu Yamamoto, MD, PhD
and Helene Yamamoto, SRN
Axel Springer Japan Publishing Inc., 1998
Reviewed By
Dr David P. Sniezek, DC, MD
As a physiatrist interested in pain management who has attended numerous
conferences on acupuncture and pain management, I eagerly anticipated
this book. While I felt I had a good working knowledge of most of the
treatment models and principles of acupuncture, I was fascinated to
learn of yet another method: scalp acupuncture. Once the transition
is made the first time into another system of acupuncture, such as auricular
therapy or reflexology, then the conceptual basis for this method of
treatment becomes very easy, almost natural. From the preface of this
book, it was apparent that this was a serious, scholarly work with the
intention of showing that scalp acupuncture has a role in mainstream
acupuncture practice.
To fully appreciate Dr Yamamoto's ambitious undertaking, it is necessary
not only to read deeply and carefully, but to have a working familiarity
with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and anatomy. The book's preface
provides some historical background about scalp acupuncture and the
Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture (YNSA); apparently, according to Dr Yamamoto,
it is distinct from the earlier forms of scalp acupuncture treatment.
The book progresses logically from the discussion of specific points,
and later delves into the presentation of patients treated with YNSA.
I particularly liked the photographic presentation of each particular
point with a description of its location and explanation for its use
with a list of indications. The precise illustrations enable the practitioner
to correctly locate and treat the appropriate points. The section on
case presentations is particularly useful and easy to follow. Finally,
there is an attempt to list some scientific studies; however, the studies
only show that more research is necessary.
Overall, I found this text to be of excellent quality, providing good,
clear, basic information in a pleasant and easy-to-follow format. Altogether,
this is an important, authoritative book that will prove to be a much-consulted
reference for anyone interested in another useful acupuncture paradigm.
REVIEWER
David P. Sniezek, DC, MD, LAc
2021 K St., NW #710
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: 202-296-3555
Fax: 202-296-0214
E-mail: sniezek@aol.com
Dr David P.
Sniezek is in solo private practice specializing in Medical Acupuncture,
Pain Management, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Washington,
DC.
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