More docs learning acupuncture techniques

Aaron Cook, an acupuncture specialist from the University of California-San Diego, treats a patient aboard the hospital ship Comfort in April. Navy doctors are receiving training in the ancient Chinese practice of using small pins at the body's key pressure points.


More docs learning acupuncture techniques
By Andrew Tilghman - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Dec 20, 2009 10:57:08 EST

For 42-year-old Chief Electronics Technician (SW/AW/IUSS) Dawn Muraca, drugs and physical therapy didn’t help with the back and wrist pain she’d suffered for several years.

“We got to the end of the line and the occupational therapist was like, ‘We really don’t know anything else we can do for you,’ ” Muraca said. “I was open to trying anything.”

That’s when her primary care doctor suggested she go visit one of the Navy’s new acupuncture specialists — Navy doctors trained in the ancient Chinese practice of using small pins at the body’s key pressure points.

Since February, Muraca has had about a dozen 45-minute treatments at Naval Medical Center San Diego.

“I’m virtually pain-free. Sometimes it’s immediate — as soon as you get done with a treatment, you can feel the difference,” Muraca said.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/12/navy_acupuncture_121909w/