A writer for Forbes magazine has declared that “battlefield” acupuncture is the biggest and most dangerous quackery of the past year (view article here). The writer, Steven Salzberg has made clear in the past that he is very anti alternative medicine. You can read many well reasoned arguments in the comment section of the article. Many who are familiar with science and research on acupuncture realize that there are some who refuse to believe their own science.
The research from the British Medical journal that Salzberg sites was strenuously criticized for inappropriate statistical analysis. While many will argue about the details and merits of this study verses that study, the truth is that some very respected authorities have endorsed acupuncture as valid medical treatment. Among them is the World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health.
Salzberg’s article in many ways points out biggest argument for acupuncture as valid medical treatment. The U.S. military has spent millions of dollars on research and implementation of acupuncture within the system of care for U.S. soldiers. Everyone knows that the U.S. military is probably the most focused, conservative, “put up or shut up” group within the United States. The U.S. military is strictly a results oriented organization- if it doesn’t work- they don’t use it.
The U.S. Military has endorsed the use of acupuncture as being valuable, safe, cost effective and important for the health of U.S. soldiers. That is a tough argument to beat.
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