According to a survey sent to 1400 hospitals around the nation, about 25% offer complementary therapies. The modalities offered include acupuncture, massage, herbal medicine and chiropractic care. The hospitals which have these modalities available tend to be large facilities in urban areas. I think we're trending in the right direction here, with the future of health care being an optimal blend of allopathic and alternative medicine!
I'm not a big fan of bureaucracy (who is?) but after reading this article, I have more appreciation for the way acupuncture is regulated in the US. According to AdelaideNow, Australia is having a problem with fake acupuncturists! It's scary to think that people who may be entirely unqualified are actually putting needles into other people. However, we haven't gotten it right yet either. In some states there are no regulations whatsoever. In other states, acupuncturists have to be supervised by an MD. I'm hoping that as American acupuncture evolves from it's stage of infancy to adolescence, these kinks will be worked out to the benefit of both practitioners and consumers.
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23578614-2682,00.html
In my acupuncture practice, I've shied away from treating anyone for weight loss - mostly because I think eating a healthy diet and doing proper exercise are the best roads to sustainable weight control. But, a psychologist in New Zealand has been using gentle tapping acupressure of certain points as a tool for controlling cravings. The technique is also being used to treat a variety of mood disorders. This makes sense to me because stimulating acupuncture points can regulate the nervous system and stabilize the mood, leading to more control over cravings and subsequent weight loss.