CityView Magazine

CityViewNC.com | 65 to acupuncture for pain management and for the treatment of colds and flu, allergies, arthritis, digestive problems, infertility and even smoking cessation and weight loss. While statistics are tough to come by, the 2002 National Health Interview Survey included questions about acupuncture. Of the 31,044 adults who responded, 4.1 percent said they had tried acupuncture and 1.1 percent, or roughly 2.13 million Americans, said they had recently undergone acupuncture treatment. In North Carolina, about 400 licensed acupuncturists are currently practicing, according to Paola Ribadeneira, executive director of the N.C. Acupuncture Licensing Board. That is an increase of about 100 since she assumed her position seven years ago. The licensing board ensures that each acupuncturist meets safety guidelines established by the N.C. General Assembly. To receive or maintain their licenses, acupuncturists must complete a three-year course of study at a nationally accredited school of Oriental medicine. They must also satisfy a continuing education requirement every two years when they renew their licenses. For medical doctors wanting to add acupuncture to their practices, the training standards are different. Rick Serano, chief of neurology at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, said he completed his acupuncture training in mere weeks. He provides acupuncture two days a week at his office off Walter Reed Road and performs the procedure on some of his patients at the hospital. Serano begins each acupuncture session with a good look at a patient's tongue and hands and a check of the radial pulse. He uses this information plus details the patient shares to decide where to place the needles and how best to combine traditional Western medicine with Eastern treatment. Martha Wellons of Fayetteville came to see Dr. Serano seeking relief from a stubborn pain in her hip and lower back. She visits him every few months. The pain never fully disappears, she said, but an acupuncture session reduces her discomfort significantly for about two weeks. It took Serano a few minutes to decide where to insert the needles. Then he pulled one out of the package, told Wellons to take a deep breath and exhale. He inserted the tiny needle near her right heel. He placed another in her right ankle, one on her left lower calf, another below her sternum and one in her left hand. Wellons said she feels no sharp pains when the needles pierce her skin, just a dull ache when they hit their mark. But for Wellons and others who seek acupuncture, the benefits outweigh a few moments of discomfort. Acupuncturists tend to take a holistic approach, Browning said, and focus much of their attention on the prevention of illness and disease by assessing their sleep habits, diet, exercise regimen and total well being. "We're going to take a look at the whole body," she said. "We are very well- trained in healthcare. We have a good, strong foundation of knowledge about the human body." CV

• Cover