A student stands over a patient, needle poised. They have a “perfect” prescription: a textbook combination of points harvested from a lecture slide on chronic lower back pain. But as the needle meets the skin, the student hesitates - the symptom of a quiet habit that has taken hold of our profession. We routinely say we “prescribe” points. It sounds efficient. It echoes the authority of biomedical culture and fits neatly into the insurance field. But vocabulary is never neutral; repeated long enough, it dictates behavior.
Acupuncture Poll
The Acupuncture Poll for May 2004 asked the following question:
"Do you believe it was appropriate for ACAOM to remove three of its commissioners by changing its bylaws?"
While it was hoped that the results of the poll would remain objective, it became apparent over the course of time that the results were being manipulated by certain individuals to achieve a particular result. Therefore, Acupuncture Today has decided not to publish the results of the poll. Instead, we are encouraging users to visit acupuncturetoday.com/acupuncturepoll/04archive/5_04.php to read the complete list of comments - both positive and negative - associated with the poll.