Why We Do Acupuncture
— Demetrios Papadopoulos, MD, FAAMA, AAMA Board of Directors
As traditional western physicians, we have continually noted areas in our practice where the patient is not being best served. We oftentimes prescribe expensive medications with doubtful benefits and numerous dangerous side effects. Surgical procedures are performed with dubious indications at great financial costs with, again, doubtful or unproven benefits, and with potentially dangerous risks. We are given inadequate time to properly counsel our patients and to offer our healing presence to them at critically necessary times for them. We strongly recommend immunizations to patients of all ages, many of which have not been thoroughly tested for safety and efficacy. More recently, our careers, livelihoods, and reputations can be destroyed if we merely question “expert opinions” or ask that we discuss and debate their recommendations. Are not our opinions, derived from practice and study, valid? The list goes on and on.
And everyone talks about “burnout?”
Of course, we practice modern medicine, because we believe ours is the best system in the world. And oftentimes we see remarkable results. But something is lacking … and good physicians are always looking for better ways to treat the patient.
Enter the field of ACUPUNCTURE.
We have discovered that we can treat the entire patient: the physical, the mental, the psychological, and the spiritual components. Our patients are grateful that we do this.
We can practice “Energy Medicine.” Our learning began with Qi, Prana, and Pneuma. Now we are now learning more and more about these through modern science, especially quantum physics.
We derive positive results for our patients with minimal side effects and risks.
Even if we fail in our specific treatment for a pathologic condition, the patient usually feels better in some ways after treatment.
We have been able to take on new learning in a comprehensive treatment modality that has been around for thousands of years and to which modern techniques are continually being applied to improve healing.
We have been humbled! It is not we, ourselves, that are doing the healing. We are conduits of the healing presence of the universe.
Finally, and thankfully, we have learned that the human body has the innate power to heal if it will only be allowed to do so.
