ACUPUNCTURE IN THE UNITED STATES
FROM THE 1970'S TO THE 1990'S
CRISTINA S. DE LA TORRE, M.D., EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The assessment of progress in any scientific field is based on a careful review of its historical landmarks. Reflecting on what has occurred before our cohort of activity helps us to better plan for the future.

We have selected three authors who, each from his own perspective, have watched American acupuncture evolve from an underground movement to an increasingly accepted medical modality.

Mark Seem, although himself not trained as an orthodox physician, has obtained his own acupuncture education from the French energetic team, which has become the mainstem of most American-trained physician acupuncturists. Seem actively teaches acupuncture to physicians and non-physicians, and is himself a practitioner of acupuncture.

Dan Bensky, an osteopathic physician, sought his own acupuncture training in China. He has made significant contributions to the field of acupuncture through his editorial and translation work of classical Chinese texts, making part of the vast theoretical base of acupuncture accessible to Western readers.

Alan Trachtenberg, a Western-trained physician and long-time advisor on research methodology for acupuncture, has given us another bridge to connect the esoteric Eastern system with our own ever-so-linear Western thought.

In the following pages, these authors reflect on their own paths and how they saw it all happen, from the Reston incident to the creation of the NIH's Office of Alternative Medicine. I salute all three of them and many more who will join our pages in future issues. As pioneers of this ancient practice in a new land, they are the ones who started the Fire so that we can now cover the Earth with our own contributions for future generations of acupuncturists.

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