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.
Indonesia to Hold First Acupuncture Exhibition in December
The Jakarta Post has reported that the Indonesian Association of Acupuncturists, also known as PAKSI, will host the first national exhibition of its kind in December. The exhibition, titled "The Indonesian Acupuncture Expo 2004," will be held at the Jakarta Convention Center in Senayan, central Jakarta From December 4-6, and will feature various seminars, workshops and presentations on acupuncture and traditional medicines.
"We want to present the development of acupuncture to the public," said PAKSI chairman Dr. Toni Hardjatno. "There are many misconceptions regarding acupuncture. Some people think it can cure anything, while it actually has limitations."
An estimated 600 participants from Indonesia and neighboring countries are expected to attend the event. PAKSI was recently formed as a component of Indonesia's Ministry of Health, and is a recognized organization under the World Federation of Acupuncture- Moxibustion Societies, an official non-governmental organization that advises the World Health Organization on matters related to acupuncture and Oriental medicine.