Zhiyan-Le 先生不懂美国文化，弄巧成拙。
http://www.100md.com
2007年1月11日
王澄 美国执照医生 纽约市3007年1月7日
Zhiyan-Le 先生发表了一封美国科学基金会1月5日给他的回信（见后附件1）。据此，Zhiyan-Le 先生说：“美国政府严正声明：从未支持‘中医是伪科学’的谎言。”我读了Zhiyan-Le 先生的文章，认为他完全弄错了，出了大丑。我建议Zhiyan-Le 先生有机会到美国来学习几年， 对他的英文，西方文化，社会常识的提高会有很大帮助。
我先把美国科学基金会给Zhiyan-Le的回信再翻译一遍：
寄信人：Jensen, Leslie A.
收信人：Zhiyan-Le
时间：2007年1月5日星期五
Zhiyan-Le先生：
, 百拇医药
这封信是我代表美国科学基金会对你的电邮信（你的信附在下面）的回答。我们检查了你指出的《科学和工程指标?2006》第7章，没有发现有关中医的内容。美国科学基金会至今没有、也不会给“替代医学”（alternative medicine）下定义。美国科学基金会至今没有、将来也不会就中医或很多与中医有关的事（实践）采取任何立场。就中医是不是“替代医学”、或“替代医学”是不是“伪科学”的问题，我们没有任何看法。我们的出版物的参考资料中可能讨论或定义了“伪科学”，但那并不表明我们对那些作者观点的认同或支持。
致礼
Leslie A. Jensen
FOIA/Privacy Act Officer
（总办公室）Office of the General Counsel
, 百拇医药
（美国科学基金会）National Science Foundation
王澄的评论：
1．这是一封态度非常中立，极为常见的信，像全世界所有的出版商说的话。尽管我本人是坚决反对中医的，但是站在美国科学基金会的立场上，如果我是Leslie A. Jensen ，我会写出完全一样的回信。这封信把美国科学基金会和中医划得清清楚楚，“拎得清”。美国人读这封公事公办的信，多少有一点“冷”的感觉，因为信中提到“将来也不会”。如果我们能读一下Zhiyan-Le先生提问的英文信全文，就会证实我的感觉。（Zhiyan-Le先生为什么没有登出他提问的信的英文全文？“问”和“答”对不上，因为“问”里没说哪本书哪个章节的事。）这种感觉如果用语言来表达就是，“请别再问我们对中医的态度，我们与此无关。”
2．就美国的文化习惯，我多谈一点，与这封信无关。美国人的文化有三个特点，一是不喜欢隐瞒自己的观点，二是能赞美尽量赞美，能鼓励尽量鼓励。三是对不喜欢的人和事说的中立一些，尽量不要说出“不喜欢”三个字。书信方面，不喜欢的答复非常公式化也非常短。否定别人的意见时多使用问句，少使用否定句。比如，不要说：“你的意见不对。”而说“照你这样说，会不会出现另一个不好的结果呢？”在美国，如果在一个不太重要的公文信中加上写信人个人的（对这件事） 的关心，他会加一句，“我们关注/期待这件事的进步/进展”。
, http://www.100md.com
3．英文：national 在美语是“全国”的意思，翻译成“国家”也没错，但是绝对没有“政府”的意思，更没有代表国家（政府）的意思。所以，把national转译成“美国政府国家科学基金会”和“美国官方及科学界”，其中“政府”和“官方”的说法就大错特错了。Zhiyan-Le 先生文章的题目：“美国政府严正声明”，错误太大了，“政府”，“严正”和“声明”都不对，题目中只有“美国”是对的。The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense…" ...NSF leadership has two major components: a director who oversees NSF staff and management responsible for program creation and administration, merit review, planning, budget and day-to-day operations; and a 24-member National Science Board (NSB) of eminent individuals that meets six times a year to establish the overall policies of the foundation. [美国全国科学基金会是一个独立的（由）美国联邦（出钱）的机构。主要管两件事：1。监督科研。2。决定科研方向。]
, 百拇医药
4．美国和中国政府不一样。美国政府从来就不过问医疗/医学的专业方面的事。因为没有一个美国政府的官员敢说他/她是医学专家，既是有的政治家以前是医生。美国政府一遇到专业的事，就说一句话：我们尊重专家的意见。对于像中医这样外国的事，政府最多就说到：加强两国交流。因此，Zhiyan-Le 先生所说“上文答复表明的是美国政府的立场”完全是无中生有，因为美国科学基金会不是美国政府。
5．Zhiyan-Le 先生说，（美国）证实了中医是有理论和有实践的完整的医学科学系统，是百分之百错误。中国的西医都不能证实“中医是有理论和有实践的完整的医学科学系统”，美国的西医怎么会关心中医是个什么东西。美国的主流医学主要是由有医生执照的美国白人，黑人，讲西班牙语的人组成的。而中国来到美国的没有美国医生执照的中医，即使有针灸师执照，都不是主流医学的医生。美国的（执照）医生叫physician。如果你有朋友在美国“行医”，你一定问他是不是有执照的physician。这些没有美国医生执照的中医，和没有英国医生执照的马伯英一样，他们说的中医外国热都不能算数，因为他们就居住国的医疗问题没有发言权。只有西方主流医学的医生群体（医生学会）的意见才算数。马伯英等人说的只是“住在外国的他们热”，不是“外国热”。同理，一个在中国学习针灸的非洲人能对中国的医疗政策有影响吗？
, 百拇医药
6．我一两天内将翻译出来一篇重要文章。美国全国反健康事业造假协会副总裁Stephen Barrett, M.D.史蒂芬巴雷特医学博士批中医的一篇长文。它代表了美国主流医学对中医的基本一致的否定态度。请留意阅读。题目是：警惕针灸，气功和中医。（英文附件2，懂英文的人可以先睹为快。）
----------------------------------
附件1。
美国政府严正声明：从未支持“中医是伪科学”的谎言。
[原创 2007-01-06 08:52:16 | 发表者: 直言了]
去年底，美国政府代表参加医学研讨会，回答采访时候明确说明：美国政府不支持“中医是伪科学”的言行，相反，是花了大量资金和人力等资源“进口”、研究和普及中医药，而且，今后还要更加强这方面的科研学术工作。昨天，2007年1月5日，美国政府国家科学基金会给咱发信，做了个严正声明：他们从来没有、将来也不会支持任何人的“中医是伪科学”的言论和主张。
, 百拇医药
一、事情由来：
中国一些来自宣传部门、科协、科普所和自然辩证法学会的自称“反伪斗士”的人，其实就是美国“科技警察”组织在中国的代理，他们通过宣传媒体等手段，对中医药搞造谣诽谤、说“中医是伪科学”等等活动，其实就是为了在中国实现该组织主要成员、美国娱乐演员兰迪的那套仇视中国文化的主张，企图把中国的科技学术发展掐死在摇篮之中、实现铲除中国文化的目标。譬如：
--- 原《科技日报》社社长兼总编林自新，是美国“科技警察”组织的中国成员和中国理事；
--- 郭正谊则是搞活动往来策划的代表；
--- 司马南模仿兰迪、以表演和赌博为主要活动手段，被该组织称为“中国的兰迪”；
--- 那位兰迪说，中医是“伪科学”，应该把中国文化叫作“巫术文化”。中国的何祚庥呢，就鹦鹉学舌地说：“中医是伪科学”、“中国传统文化90%是糟粕，看看中医气功就知道了。”
, 百拇医药
--- 郭正谊和司马南等人，接受美国“科技警察”组织的资助，在海外发表文章，大肆诬蔑诽谤中国文化和中医药；
--- 科协及科普所的“科普作家”们，大肆宣扬兰迪做法，试图用魔术表演替代科研实验、用赌博替代学术讨论。林自新等付诸实施，以中国东道国名义，邀请兰迪到中国搞表演和赌博。对那做法，美国纽约时报曾讥讽地说：中国要判断什么是真科学和伪科学，不用做科研实验和学术讨论，请我们的魔术演员到中国做做表演、就行了。
--- “反伪斗士”们的利益同盟、人民网科技频道编辑许秀华，编造假新闻、把那个美国娱乐演员称为著名的“学术专家”，鼓吹在在中国科技学术界实行“警察制度”（当代历史上最野蛮的、譬如德国法西斯，都不敢那么做！），甚至宣扬要那个美国组织和那位美国演员参与在中国学界做做“科技警察”（那是严重违犯国家安全法等法规的），
等等、等等。而且呢，他们彼此提供情报和彼此呼应，在中国搞了多次的污蔑诽谤中医的活动。中国“反伪斗士”们呢，经常把美国、美国政府和科学界挂在嘴上，好象美国政府及学界是多么支持他们似的；而那美国“科技警察”主要成员兰迪呢，更是如此，也是喜欢把美国政府和学界拿来为自己张扬、好象美国政府及学界多么支持他那套“中医是伪科学”的言论似的，而他搞张扬的其中一个部门呢，就是美国国家科学基金会。
, 百拇医药
简而言之呢，那帮人试图在中国社会制造一个印象：他们跟着美国“科技警察”组织屁股后面、说“中医是伪科学”的言论主张，好象得到了美国政府和学界的大力支持。
一、依法办事，请美国政府澄清事实。
为此呢，按照美国办事的惯例和法律程序，咱向美国政府国家基金会负责办公室发函，请他们核实说明他们是否支持“中医是伪科学”的言论和主张。咱发函询问的内容如下：
在你们的出版物的参考资料中，有关于“伪科学”的定义，说：“Pseudoscience: 'Claims presented so that they appear [to be] scientific even though they lack supporting evidence and plausibility (Shermer 1997, p. 33).”，而且呢，对这个定义的解释文字，把“选择医学”和中医包括在“伪科学”例子当中。
, 百拇医药
自1970年代开始，美国政府（包括健康及人类服务部）和许多专业科研机构，做了成千上百个临床试验，证实了中医是有理论和有实践的完整的医学科学系统。自1996-1997年以来，中医针灸已经成为美国社会的合法职业，而且，按照美国有关法律，医疗保险机构已经把中医针灸列入保险范围。经过30多年的和深入广泛的科研实验，世界卫生组织和70多个成员国（包括美国）把包括中医在内的传统医学作为全球和本国的发展医疗保健事业的战略措施，并向全球发布了战略报告。
如此，根据什么，你们的出版物把中医列为“伪科学”定义的解释？若你们没有确切可靠的科研实验来支持你们的结论，那么，按照美国联邦政府的立场，你们的出版物的那个说法本身是搞了“伪科学”，是在向公众社会传达误导（甚至是虚假的）信息。作为一个纳税人，我要求你们对此做出明确的和及时的说明解释。
一、美国政府明确表明立场：从未支持“中医是伪科学”。
咱的核实询问信件发出后大约三天，咱收到了答复。美国国家基金会代表以十分明确的口气做了严正声明：美国国家科学基金会从未支持、将来也不会支持“中医是伪科学”的言论和主张。下面是他们答复的原文：
, http://www.100md.com
From : Jensen, Leslie A.
Sent : Friday, January 5, 2007 7:03 AM
To : Zhiyan-Le
Dear Zhiyan-Le,
This responds on behalf of the NSF to your email message below. We have examined the text of Chapter 7 of the "Science and Engineering Indicators 2006" to which you refer. We find no reference to TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) in the text of the "S&E Indicators."
, 百拇医药
The NSF has not, and would not, define alternative medicine. The NSF has not, and will not, take any position on TCM, or on any of the many practices that might be included under TCM. And we have no opinion whatsoever on whether TCM is considered an alternative medicine, or what alternative medicine may or may not be considered "pseudo science."
Our reference or citation to other sources that may discuss or define "pseudo science" is neither an endorsement of nor support for any position taken by those authors.
, 百拇医药
Sincerely,
Leslie A. Jensen
FOIA/Privacy Act Officer
Office of the General Counsel
National Science Foundation
答复的大意是：在美国政府国家科学基金会的正式出版物《科学和工程指标?2006》（"Science and Engineering Indicators 2006" ）里，我们没有发现有关中医的内容。美国国家科学基金会至今没有、也不会就“选择医学”（alternative medicine）做定义。国家科学基金会至今没有、将来也不会就中医或中医实践采取任何立场。就中医是不是“选择医学”、或“选择医学”是不是“伪科学”，我们没有任何看法。我们的出版物的参考资料中包括了“伪科学”及其定义的讨论，但那并不表明我们对那些参考资料的作者的认同或支持。
, 百拇医药
答复执笔人叫蕾斯利?詹森，是该机构专门负责答复公民查询核实的工作人员。蕾斯利?詹森明确说明，其答复是代表美国联邦政府国家科学基金会的，因此，上文答复表明的是美国政府的立场。
一、简单结语：
美国国家科学基金会的答复和严正立场，十分明确地澄清了一个事实：不管是中国的“反伪斗士”、还是美国的“科技警察”，他们所谓的“中医是伪科学”的言论主张等等对中医搞的诬蔑诽谤，从没获得过任何美国官方及科学界的认同或支持、将来也不会。就是说呢，他们试图通过宣传媒体手段制造个“国际学界”支持他们的舆论印象，纯属是涉嫌欺骗的行为。
这类情况，发生不是第一次。譬如，所谓“道德卫士”邹承鲁，曾伪造证据把山东大学张颖清的中医经络学研究打成“伪科学”而予以封杀，后来，他看到他利用工作之便伪造证据的真相大白了，就在人民网科技频道发表文章、试图通过诺贝尔医学奖负责机构的一位秘书的话制造社会舆论，好象该机构对中医药没兴趣，因此就可以继续把“伪科学”的政治帽子扣在张颖清教授的头上了。人民网科技频道编辑许秀华密切配合，不顾新闻法规、重复地发了邹承鲁那篇文章，外加重复发了对张颖清鞭尸打棍子的诬蔑诽谤文字、甚至还发流氓文字对批评者搞公开辱骂。
, 百拇医药
然而，咱给诺贝尔医学奖负责机构的负责人、前诺贝尔基金大会主席发了询问信件，请他对此做做核实。他回复说：他们对中医药十分感兴趣，且已经跟中国建立了研究开发中医药的合作交流渠道。核实证明，邹承鲁不但是搞了伪造证据、且试图掩盖而又搞了个作假欺骗。就此核实，人民网科技频道是予以严厉封杀，至今不发诺奖医学奖负责机构的负责人和前诺贝尔基金大会主席的核实，而是继续发表邹承鲁那些伪造证据的文字。对如此嚣张的弄虚作假的媒体行为，不该做做调查处理吗？
一言以蔽之，“反伪斗士”们是以“反伪”名义作伪、以“打假”名义作假的一帮，他们跟美国“科技警察”密切合作，试图以“反伪科学”的名义、把中国科技学术发展掐死在摇篮里。这就是他们的本质。
补充：
反中医的人，愚昧无知，喜欢造谣，居然连“.gov”是美国政府的网站都不知道，把美国政府比作苏联政府（他们当中不少就是‘苏联派’教育出来的，难怪）。看看美国政府网站称呼，看看美国国家科学基金会的自我介绍，就知道他们是多么愚蠢而靠造谣为生的了：
, 百拇医药
http://www.firstgov.gov/Agencies/Federal/All_Agencies/N.shtml
A-Z Index of U.S. Government Departments and Agencies
National Science Foundation
http://www.nsf.gov/about/
About the National Science Foundation
NSF AT A GLANCE
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense…" ...
, http://www.100md.com
WHO WE ARE
NSF leadership has two major components: a director who oversees NSF staff and management responsible for program creation and administration, merit review, planning, budget and day-to-day operations; and a 24-member National Science Board (NSB) of eminent individuals that meets six times a year to establish the overall policies of the foundation. The director and all Board members serve six year terms. Each of them, as well as the NSF deputy director, is appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. ...
, http://www.100md.com
. MORE...
其员工属于美国联邦政府工作人员：
http://www.nsf.gov/about/career_opps/
此贴击中“反伪斗士”国际背景要害，所以呢，他们要群起而攻之，结果是进一步暴露了他们靠欺骗为生。
此文原载：http://zhiyanle.blog.hexun.com/7205052_d.html
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附件2。
美国全国反健康事业造假协会副总裁Stephen Barrett, M.D.（史蒂芬巴雷特）医学博士批中医的一篇长文（2004年）。它代表了美国主流医学对中医的基本一致的否定态度。请留意阅读。题目是：警惕针灸，气功和中医。
, 百拇医药
（英文全文，原文链接）
Be Wary of Acupuncture, Qigong, and "Chinese Medicine"
Stephen Barrett, M.D.
"Chinese medicine," often called "Oriental medicine" or "traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)," encompasses a vast array of folk medical practices based on mysticism. It holds that the body's vital energy (chi or qi) circulates through channels, called meridians, that have branches connected to bodily organs and functions. Illness is attributed to imbalance or interruption of chi.. Ancient practices such as acupuncture, Qigong, and the use of various herbs are claimed to restore balance.
, 百拇医药
Traditional acupuncture, as now practiced, involves the insertion of stainless steel needles into various body areas. A low-frequency current may be applied to the needles to produce greater stimulation. Other procedures used separately or together with acupuncture include: moxibustion (burning of floss or herbs applied to the skin); injection of sterile water, procaine, morphine, vitamins, or homeopathic solutions through the inserted needles; applications of laser beams (laserpuncture); placement of needles in the external ear (auriculotherapy); and acupressure (use of manual pressure). Treatment is applied to "acupuncture points," which are said to be located throughout the body. Originally there were 365 such points, corresponding to the days of the year, but the number identified by proponents during the past 2,000 years has increased gradually to about 2,000 [1]. Some practitioners place needles at or near the site of disease, whereas others select points on the basis of symptoms. In traditional acupuncture, a combination of points is usually used.
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Qigong is also claimed to influence the flow of "vital energy." Internal Qigong involves deep breathing, concentration, and relaxation techniques used by individuals for themselves. External Qigong is performed by "Qigong masters" who claim to cure a wide variety of diseases with energy released from their fingertips. However, scientific investigators of Qigong masters in China have found no evidence of paranormal powers and some evidence of deception. They found, for example, that a patient lying on a table about eight feet from a Qigong master moved rhythmically or thrashed about as the master moved his hands. But when she was placed so that she could no longer see him, her movements were unrelated to his [2]. Falun gong, which China recently banned, is a Qigong varient claimed to be "a powerful mechanism for healing, stress relief and health improvements."
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Most acupuncturists espouse the traditional Chinese view of health and disease and consider acupuncture, herbal medicine, and related practices to be valid approaches to the full gamut of disease. Others reject the traditional approach and merely claim that acupuncture offers a simple way to achieve pain relief. The diagnostic process used by TCM practitioners may include questioning (medical history, lifestyle), observations (skin, tongue, color), listening (breathing sounds), and pulse-taking. Six pulse aspects said to correlate with body organs or functions are checked on each wrist to determine which meridians are "deficient" in chi. (Medical science recognizes only one pulse, corresponding to the heartbeat, which can be felt in the wrist, neck, feet, and various other places.) Some acupuncturists state that the electrical properties of the body may become imbalanced weeks or even months before symptoms occur. These practitioners claim that acupuncture can be used to treat conditions when the patient just "doesn't feel right," even though no disease is apparent.
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TCM (as well as the folk medical practices of various other Asian countries) is a threat to certain animal species. For example, black bears-valued for their gall bladders-have been hunted nearly to extinction in Asia, and poaching of black bears is a growing problem in North America.
Dubious Claims
The conditions claimed to respond to acupuncture include chronic pain (neck and back pain, migraine headaches), acute injury-related pain (strains, muscle and ligament tears), gastrointestinal problems (indigestion, ulcers, constipation, diarrhea), cardiovascular conditions (high and low blood pressure), genitourinary problems (menstrual irregularity, frigidity, impotence), muscle and nerve conditions (paralysis, deafness), and behavioral problems (overeating, drug dependence, smoking). However, the evidence supporting these claims consists mostly of practitioners' observations and poorly designed studies. A controlled study found that electroacupuncture of the ear was no more effective than placebo stimulation (light touching) against chronic pain [3]. In 1990, three Dutch epidemiologists analyzed 51 controlled studies of acupuncture for chronic pain and concluded that "the quality of even the better studies proved to be mediocre. . . . The efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic pain remains doubtful." [4] They also examined reports of acupuncture used to treat addictions to cigarettes, heroin, and alcohol, and concluded that claims that acupuncture is effective as a therapy for these conditions are not supported by sound clinical research [5].
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Acupuncture anesthesia is not used for surgery in the Orient to the extent that its proponents suggest. In China physicians screen out patients who appear to be unsuitable. Acupuncture is not used for emergency surgery and often is accompanied by local anesthesia or narcotic medication [6].
How acupuncture may relieve pain is unclear. One theory suggests that pain impulses are blocked from reaching the spinal cord or brain at various "gates" to these areas. Another theory suggests that acupuncture stimulates the body to produce narcotic-like substances called endorphins, which reduce pain. Other theories suggest that the placebo effect, external suggestion (hypnosis), and cultural conditioning are important factors. Melzack and Wall note that pain relief produced by acupuncture can also be produced by many other types of sensory hyperstimulation, such as electricity and heat at acupuncture points and elsewhere in the body. They conclude that "the effectiveness of all of these forms of stimulation indicates that acupuncture is not a magical procedure but only one of many ways to produce analgesia [pain relief] by an intense sensory input." In 1981, the American Medical Association Council on Scientific Affairs noted that pain relief does not occur consistently or reproducibly in most people and does not operate at all in some people [7].
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In 1995, George A. Ulett, M.D., Ph.D., Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, University of Missouri School of Medicine, stated that "devoid of metaphysical thinking, acupuncture becomes a rather simple technique that can be useful as a nondrug method of pain control." He believes that the traditional Chinese variety is primarily a placebo treatment, but electrical stimulation of about 80 acupuncture points has been proven useful for pain control [8].
The quality of TCM research in China has been extremely poor. A recent analysis of 2,938 reports of clinical trials reported in Chinese medical journals concluded that that no conclusions could be drawn from the vast majority of them. The researchers stated:
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In most of the trials, disease was defined and diagnosed according to conventional medicine; trial outcomes were assessed with objective or subjective (or both) methods of conventional medicine, often complemented by traditional Chinese methods. Over 90% of the trials in non-specialist journals evaluated herbal treatments that were mostly proprietary Chinese medicines. . . .
Although methodological quality has been improving over the years, many problems remain. The method of randomisation was often inappropriately described. Blinding was used in only 15% of trials. Only a few studies had sample sizes of 300 subjects or more. Many trials used as a control another Chinese medicine treatment whose effectiveness had often not been evaluated by randomised controlled trials. Most trials focused on short term or intermediate rather than long term outcomes. Most trials did not report data on compliance and completeness of follow up. Effectiveness was rarely quantitatively expressed and reported. Intention to treat analysis was never mentioned. Over half did not report data on baseline characteristics or on side effects. Many trials were published as short reports. Most trials claimed that the tested treatments were effective, indicating that publication bias may be common; a funnel plot of the 49 trials of acupuncture in the treatment of stroke confirmed selective publication of positive trials in the area, suggesting that acupuncture may not be more effective than the control treatments. [9]
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Two scientists at the University of Heidelberg have developed a "fake needle" that may enable acupuncture researchers to perform better-designed controlled studies. The device is a needle with a blunt tip that moves freely within a copper handle. When the tip touches the skin, the patient feels a sensation similar to that of an acupuncture needle. At the same time, the visible part of the needle moves inside the handle so it appears to shorten as though penetrating the skin. When the device was tested on volunteers, none suspected that it had not penetrated the skin [10].
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In 2004, a University of Heidelberg team proved the worth of their "sham acupuncture" technique in a study of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in women who underwent breast or gynecologic surgery. The study involved 220 women who received either acupuncture or the sham procedure at the acupuncture point "Pericardium 6" on the inside of the forearm. No significant difference in PONV or antivomiting medication use was found between the two groups or between the people who received treatment before anesthesia was induced and those who received it while anesthetized [11]. A subgroup analysis found that vomiting was "significantly reduced" among the acupuncture patients, but the authors correctly noted that this finding might be due to studying multiple outcomes. (As the number of different outcome measures increases, so do the odds that a "statistically significant" finding will be spurious.) This study is important because PONV reduction is one of the few alleged benefits of acupuncture supported by reports in scientific journals. However, the other positive studies were not as tightly controlled..
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Risks Exist
Improperly performed acupuncture can cause fainting, local hematoma (due to bleeding from a punctured blood vessel), pneumothorax (punctured lung), convulsions, local infections, hepatitis B (from unsterile needles), bacterial endocarditis, contact dermatitis, and nerve damage. The herbs used by acupuncture practitioners are not regulated for safety, potency, or effectiveness. There is also risk that an acupuncturist whose approach to diagnosis is not based on scientific concepts will fail to diagnose a dangerous condition.
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The adverse effects of acupuncture are probably related to the nature of the practitioner's training. A survey of 1,135 Norwegian physicians revealed 66 cases of infection, 25 cases of punctured lung, 31 cases of increased pain, and 80 other cases with complications. A parallel survey of 197 acupuncturists, who are more apt to see immediate complications, yielded 132 cases of fainting, 26 cases of increased pain, 8 cases of pneumothorax, and 45 other adverse results [12]. However, a 5-year study involving 76 acupuncturists at a Japanese medical facility tabulated only 64 adverse event reports (including 16 forgotten needles and 13 cases of transient low blood pressure) associated with 55,591 acupuncture treatments. No serious complications were reported. The researchers concluded that serious adverse reactions are uncommon among acupuncturists who are medically trained [13].
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Moe recently, members of the British Acupuncture Council who participated in two prospective studies have reported low complication rates and no serious complications among patients who underwent a total of more than 66,000 treatments 14,15]. An accompany editorial suggests that in competent hands, the likelihood of complcations is small [16]. Since outcome data are not available, the studies cannot compare the balance of risks vs benefit. Nor do the studies take into account the likelihood of misdiagnosis (and failure to seek appropriate medical care) by practitioners who use traditional Chinese methods.
, http://www.100md.com
Questionable Standards
In 1971, an acupuncture boom occurred in the United States because of stories about visits to China by various American dignitaries. Entrepreneurs, both medical and nonmedical, began using flamboyant advertising techniques to promote clinics, seminars, demonstrations, books, correspondence courses, and do-it-yourself kits. Today some states restrict the practice of acupuncture to physicians or others operating under their direct supervision. In about 20 states, people who lack medical training can perform acupuncture without medical supervision. The FDA now classifies acupuncture needles as Class II medical devices and requires labeling for one-time use by practitioners who are legally authorized to use them [17]. Acupuncture is not covered under Medicare. The March 1998 issue of the Journal of the American Chiropractic Association carried a five-part cover story encouraging chiropractors to get acupuncture training, which, according to one contributor, would enable them to broaden the scope of their practice [18].
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The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) has set voluntary certification standards and certified several thousand practitioners. By November 1998, 32 states had licensing laws, with 29 of them using NCCAOM examination as all or part of their educational, training, or examination requirement, and three with additional eligibility criteria. The credentials used by acupuncturists include C.A. (certified acupuncturist), Lic. Ac. (licensed acupuncturist), M.A. (master acupuncturist), Dip. Ac. (diplomate of acupuncture), and O.M.D. (doctor of Oriental medicine). Some of these have legal significance, but they do not signify that the holder is competent to make adequate diagnoses or render appropriate treatment.
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In 1990, the U.S. Secretary of Education recognized what is now called the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) as an accrediting agency. However, such recognition is not based on the scientific validity of what is taught but upon other criteria [19]. Ulett has noted:
Certification of acupuncturists is a sham. While a few of those so accredited are naive physicians, most are nonmedical persons who only play at being doctor and use this certification as an umbrella for a host of unproven New Age hokum treatments. Unfortunately, a few HMOs, hospitals, and even medical schools are succumbing to the bait and exposing patients to such bogus treatments when they need real medical care.
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The National Council Against Health Fraud has concluded:
Acupuncture is an unproven modality of treatment.
Its theory and practice are based on primitive and fanciful concepts of health and disease that bear no relationship to present scientific knowledge
Research during the past 20 years has not demonstrated that acupuncture is effective against any disease.
, http://www.100md.com Perceived effects of acupuncture are probably due to a combination of expectation, suggestion, counter-irritation, conditioning, and other psychologic mechanisms.
The use of acupuncture should be restricted to appropriate research settings,
Insurance companies should not be required by law to cover acupuncture treatment,
Licensure of lay acupuncturists should be phased out.
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Consumers who wish to try acupuncture should discuss their situation with a knowledgeable physician who has no commercial interest [20].
The NIH Debacle
In 1997, a Consensus Development Conference sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and several other agencies concluded that "there is sufficient evidence . . . of acupuncture's value to expand its use into conventional medicine and to encourage further studies of its physiology and clinical value." [21] The panelists also suggested that the federal government and insurance companies expand coverage of acupuncture so more people can have access to it. These conclusions were not based on research done after NCAHF's position paper was published. Rather, they reflected the bias of the panelists who were selected by a planning committee dominated by acupuncture proponents [22]. NCAHF board chairman Wallace Sampson, M.D., has described the conference "a consensus of proponents, not a consensus of valid scientific opinion."
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Although the report described some serious problems, it failed to place them into proper perspective. The panel acknowledged that "the vast majority of papers studying acupuncture consist of case reports, case series, or intervention studies with designs inadequate to assess efficacy" and that "relatively few" high-quality controlled trials have been published about acupuncture's effects. But it reported that "the World Health Organization has listed more than 40 [conditions] for which [acupuncture] may be indicated." This sentence should have been followed by a statement that the list was not valid.
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Far more serious, although the consensus report touched on Chinese acupuncture theory, it failed to point out the danger and economic waste involved in going to practitioners who can't make appropriate diagnoses. The report noted:
The general theory of acupuncture is based on the premise that there are patterns of energy flow (Qi) through the body that are essential for health. Disruptions of this flow are believed to be responsible for disease. The acupuncturist can correct imbalances of flow at identifiable points close to the skin.
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Acupuncture focuses on a holistic, energy-based approach to the patient rather than a disease-oriented diagnostic and treatment model.
Despite considerable efforts to understand the anatomy and physiology of the "acupuncture points," the definition and characterization of these points remains controversial. Even more elusive is the scientific basis of some of the key traditional Eastern medical concepts such as the circulation of Qi, the meridian system, and the five phases theory, which are difficult to reconcile with contemporary biomedical information but continue to play an important role in the evaluation of patients and the formulation of treatment in acupuncture.
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Simply stated, this means that if you go to a practitioner who practices traditional Chinese medicine, you are unlikely to be properly diagnosed.
Diagnostic Studies
In 1998, following his lecture at a local college, an experienced TCM practitioner diagnosed me by taking my pulse and looking at my tongue. He stated that my pulse showed signs of "stress" and that my tongue indicated I was suffering from "congestion of the blood." A few minutes later, he examined a woman and told her that her pulse showed premature ventricular contractions (a disturbance of the heart's rhythm that could be harmless or significant, depending on whether the individual has underlying heart disease). He suggested that both of us undergo treatment with acupuncture and herbs-which would have cost about $90 per visit. I took the woman's pulse and found that it was completely normal. I believe that the majority of nonmedical acupuncturists rely on improper diagnostic procedures. The NIH consensus panel should have emphasized the seriousness of this problem.
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A study published in 2001 illustrates the absurdity of TCM practices. A 40-year-old woman with chronic back pain who visited seven acupuncturists during a two-week period was diagnosed with "Qi stagnation" by 6 of them, "blood stagnation" by 5 , "kidney Qi deficiency" by 2, "yin deficiency" by 1, and "liver Qi deficiency" by 1. The proposed treatments varied even more. Among the six who recorded their recommendations, the practitioners planned to use between 7 and 26 needles inserted into 4 to 16 specific "acupuncture points" in the back, leg, hand, and foot. Of 28 acupuncture points selected, only 4 (14%) were prescribed by two or more acupuncturists. [23] The study appears to have been designed to make the results as consistent as possible. All of the acupuncturists had been trained at a school of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Six other volunteers were excluded because they "used highly atypical practices," and three were excluded because they had been in practice for less than three years. Whereas science-based methods are thoroughly studied to ensure that they are reliable, this appears to be the first published study that examines the consistency of TCM diagnosis or treatment. I would expect larger studies to show that TCM diagnoses are meaningless and have little or nothing to do with the patient's health status. The study's authors state that the diagnostic findings showed "considerable consistency" because nearly all of the practitioners found Qi or blood stagnation. However, the most likely explanation is that these are diagnosed in nearly everyone. It would be fascinating to see what would happen if a healthy person was examined by multiple acupuncturists.
, http://www.100md.com
For Additional Information
CSICOP Investigation of TCM and Pseudoscience in China
NCAHF Position Paper on Acupuncture
Questioning Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld's Acupuncture Story
References
Skrabanek P. Acupuncture: Past, present, and future. In Stalker D, Glymour C, editors. Examining Holistic Medicine. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 1985.
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Kurtz P, Alcock J, and others. Testing psi claims in China: Visit by a CSICOP delegation. Skeptical Inquirer 12:364-375, 1988.
Melzack R, Katz J. Auriculotherapy fails to relieve chronic pain: A controlled crossover study. JAMA 251:1041?1043, 1984
Ter Reit G, Kleijnen J, Knipschild P. Acupuncture and chronic pain: A criteria-based meta-analysis. Clinical Epidemiology 43:1191-1199, 1990.
Ter Riet G, Kleijnen J, Knipschild P. A meta-analysis of studies into the effect of acupuncture on addiction. British Journal of General Practice 40:379-382, 1990.
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Beyerstein BL, Sampson W. Traditional Medicine and Pseudoscience in China: A Report of the Second CSICOP Delegation (Part 1). Skeptical Inquirer 20(4):18-26, 1996.
American Medical Association Council on Scientific Affairs. Reports of the Council on Scientific Affairs of the American Medical Association, 1981. Chicago, 1982, The Association.
Ulett GA. Acupuncture update 1984. Southern Medical Journal 78:233?234, 1985.
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Tang J-L, Zhan S-Y, Ernst E. Review of randomised controlled trials of traditional Chinese medicine. British Medical Journal 319:160-161, 1999.
Streitberger K, Kleinhenz J. Introducing a placebo needle into acupuncture research. Lancet 352:364-365, 1998.
Streitberger K and others. Acupuncture compared to placebo-acupuncture for postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis: A randomised placebo-controlled patient and observer blind trial. Anesthesia 59:142-149, 2004.
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Norheim JA, Fennebe V. Adverse effects of acupuncture. Lancet 345:1576, 1995.
Yamashita H and others. Adverse events related to acupuncture. JAMA 280:1563-1564, 1998.
White A and others. Adverse events following acupuncture: Prospective surgery of 32,000 consultations with doctors and physiotherapists. BMJ 323:485-486, 2001.
MacPherson H and others. York acupuncture safety study: Prospective survey of 24,000 treatments by traditional acupuncturists. BMJ 323:486-487, 2001.
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Vincent C. The safety of acupuncture. BMJ 323:467-468, 2001.
Acupuncture needle status changed. FDA Talk Paper T96-21, April 1, 1996
Wells D. Think acu-practic: Acupuncture benefits for chiropractic. Journal of the American Chiropractic Association 35(3):10-13, 1998.
Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education. Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies and Associations. Criteria and Procedures for Listing by the U.S. Secretary For Education and Current List. Washington, D.C., 1995, U.S. Department of Education.
, http://www.100md.com
Sampson W and others. Acupuncture: The position paper of the National Council Against Health Fraud. Clinical Journal of Pain 7:162-166, 1991.
Acupuncture. NIH Consensus Statement 15:(5), November 3-5, 1997.
Sampson W. On the National Institute of Drug Abuse Consensus Conference on Acupuncture. Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine 2(1):54-55, 1998.
Kalauokalani D and others. Acupuncture for chronic low back pain: Diagnosis and treatment patterns among acupuncturists evaluating the same patient. Southern Medical Journal 94:486-492, 2001.
, http://www.100md.com
Zhiyan-Le 先生发表了一封美国科学基金会1月5日给他的回信（见后附件1）。据此，Zhiyan-Le 先生说：“美国政府严正声明：从未支持‘中医是伪科学’的谎言。”我读了Zhiyan-Le 先生的文章，认为他完全弄错了，出了大丑。我建议Zhiyan-Le 先生有机会到美国来学习几年， 对他的英文，西方文化，社会常识的提高会有很大帮助。
我先把美国科学基金会给Zhiyan-Le的回信再翻译一遍：
寄信人：Jensen, Leslie A.
收信人：Zhiyan-Le
时间：2007年1月5日星期五
Zhiyan-Le先生：
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这封信是我代表美国科学基金会对你的电邮信（你的信附在下面）的回答。我们检查了你指出的《科学和工程指标?2006》第7章，没有发现有关中医的内容。美国科学基金会至今没有、也不会给“替代医学”（alternative medicine）下定义。美国科学基金会至今没有、将来也不会就中医或很多与中医有关的事（实践）采取任何立场。就中医是不是“替代医学”、或“替代医学”是不是“伪科学”的问题，我们没有任何看法。我们的出版物的参考资料中可能讨论或定义了“伪科学”，但那并不表明我们对那些作者观点的认同或支持。
致礼
Leslie A. Jensen
FOIA/Privacy Act Officer
（总办公室）Office of the General Counsel
, 百拇医药
（美国科学基金会）National Science Foundation
王澄的评论：
1．这是一封态度非常中立，极为常见的信，像全世界所有的出版商说的话。尽管我本人是坚决反对中医的，但是站在美国科学基金会的立场上，如果我是Leslie A. Jensen ，我会写出完全一样的回信。这封信把美国科学基金会和中医划得清清楚楚，“拎得清”。美国人读这封公事公办的信，多少有一点“冷”的感觉，因为信中提到“将来也不会”。如果我们能读一下Zhiyan-Le先生提问的英文信全文，就会证实我的感觉。（Zhiyan-Le先生为什么没有登出他提问的信的英文全文？“问”和“答”对不上，因为“问”里没说哪本书哪个章节的事。）这种感觉如果用语言来表达就是，“请别再问我们对中医的态度，我们与此无关。”
2．就美国的文化习惯，我多谈一点，与这封信无关。美国人的文化有三个特点，一是不喜欢隐瞒自己的观点，二是能赞美尽量赞美，能鼓励尽量鼓励。三是对不喜欢的人和事说的中立一些，尽量不要说出“不喜欢”三个字。书信方面，不喜欢的答复非常公式化也非常短。否定别人的意见时多使用问句，少使用否定句。比如，不要说：“你的意见不对。”而说“照你这样说，会不会出现另一个不好的结果呢？”在美国，如果在一个不太重要的公文信中加上写信人个人的（对这件事） 的关心，他会加一句，“我们关注/期待这件事的进步/进展”。
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3．英文：national 在美语是“全国”的意思，翻译成“国家”也没错，但是绝对没有“政府”的意思，更没有代表国家（政府）的意思。所以，把national转译成“美国政府国家科学基金会”和“美国官方及科学界”，其中“政府”和“官方”的说法就大错特错了。Zhiyan-Le 先生文章的题目：“美国政府严正声明”，错误太大了，“政府”，“严正”和“声明”都不对，题目中只有“美国”是对的。The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense…" ...NSF leadership has two major components: a director who oversees NSF staff and management responsible for program creation and administration, merit review, planning, budget and day-to-day operations; and a 24-member National Science Board (NSB) of eminent individuals that meets six times a year to establish the overall policies of the foundation. [美国全国科学基金会是一个独立的（由）美国联邦（出钱）的机构。主要管两件事：1。监督科研。2。决定科研方向。]
, 百拇医药
4．美国和中国政府不一样。美国政府从来就不过问医疗/医学的专业方面的事。因为没有一个美国政府的官员敢说他/她是医学专家，既是有的政治家以前是医生。美国政府一遇到专业的事，就说一句话：我们尊重专家的意见。对于像中医这样外国的事，政府最多就说到：加强两国交流。因此，Zhiyan-Le 先生所说“上文答复表明的是美国政府的立场”完全是无中生有，因为美国科学基金会不是美国政府。
5．Zhiyan-Le 先生说，（美国）证实了中医是有理论和有实践的完整的医学科学系统，是百分之百错误。中国的西医都不能证实“中医是有理论和有实践的完整的医学科学系统”，美国的西医怎么会关心中医是个什么东西。美国的主流医学主要是由有医生执照的美国白人，黑人，讲西班牙语的人组成的。而中国来到美国的没有美国医生执照的中医，即使有针灸师执照，都不是主流医学的医生。美国的（执照）医生叫physician。如果你有朋友在美国“行医”，你一定问他是不是有执照的physician。这些没有美国医生执照的中医，和没有英国医生执照的马伯英一样，他们说的中医外国热都不能算数，因为他们就居住国的医疗问题没有发言权。只有西方主流医学的医生群体（医生学会）的意见才算数。马伯英等人说的只是“住在外国的他们热”，不是“外国热”。同理，一个在中国学习针灸的非洲人能对中国的医疗政策有影响吗？
, 百拇医药
6．我一两天内将翻译出来一篇重要文章。美国全国反健康事业造假协会副总裁Stephen Barrett, M.D.史蒂芬巴雷特医学博士批中医的一篇长文。它代表了美国主流医学对中医的基本一致的否定态度。请留意阅读。题目是：警惕针灸，气功和中医。（英文附件2，懂英文的人可以先睹为快。）
----------------------------------
附件1。
美国政府严正声明：从未支持“中医是伪科学”的谎言。
[原创 2007-01-06 08:52:16 | 发表者: 直言了]
去年底，美国政府代表参加医学研讨会，回答采访时候明确说明：美国政府不支持“中医是伪科学”的言行，相反，是花了大量资金和人力等资源“进口”、研究和普及中医药，而且，今后还要更加强这方面的科研学术工作。昨天，2007年1月5日，美国政府国家科学基金会给咱发信，做了个严正声明：他们从来没有、将来也不会支持任何人的“中医是伪科学”的言论和主张。
, 百拇医药
一、事情由来：
中国一些来自宣传部门、科协、科普所和自然辩证法学会的自称“反伪斗士”的人，其实就是美国“科技警察”组织在中国的代理，他们通过宣传媒体等手段，对中医药搞造谣诽谤、说“中医是伪科学”等等活动，其实就是为了在中国实现该组织主要成员、美国娱乐演员兰迪的那套仇视中国文化的主张，企图把中国的科技学术发展掐死在摇篮之中、实现铲除中国文化的目标。譬如：
--- 原《科技日报》社社长兼总编林自新，是美国“科技警察”组织的中国成员和中国理事；
--- 郭正谊则是搞活动往来策划的代表；
--- 司马南模仿兰迪、以表演和赌博为主要活动手段，被该组织称为“中国的兰迪”；
--- 那位兰迪说，中医是“伪科学”，应该把中国文化叫作“巫术文化”。中国的何祚庥呢，就鹦鹉学舌地说：“中医是伪科学”、“中国传统文化90%是糟粕，看看中医气功就知道了。”
, 百拇医药
--- 郭正谊和司马南等人，接受美国“科技警察”组织的资助，在海外发表文章，大肆诬蔑诽谤中国文化和中医药；
--- 科协及科普所的“科普作家”们，大肆宣扬兰迪做法，试图用魔术表演替代科研实验、用赌博替代学术讨论。林自新等付诸实施，以中国东道国名义，邀请兰迪到中国搞表演和赌博。对那做法，美国纽约时报曾讥讽地说：中国要判断什么是真科学和伪科学，不用做科研实验和学术讨论，请我们的魔术演员到中国做做表演、就行了。
--- “反伪斗士”们的利益同盟、人民网科技频道编辑许秀华，编造假新闻、把那个美国娱乐演员称为著名的“学术专家”，鼓吹在在中国科技学术界实行“警察制度”（当代历史上最野蛮的、譬如德国法西斯，都不敢那么做！），甚至宣扬要那个美国组织和那位美国演员参与在中国学界做做“科技警察”（那是严重违犯国家安全法等法规的），
等等、等等。而且呢，他们彼此提供情报和彼此呼应，在中国搞了多次的污蔑诽谤中医的活动。中国“反伪斗士”们呢，经常把美国、美国政府和科学界挂在嘴上，好象美国政府及学界是多么支持他们似的；而那美国“科技警察”主要成员兰迪呢，更是如此，也是喜欢把美国政府和学界拿来为自己张扬、好象美国政府及学界多么支持他那套“中医是伪科学”的言论似的，而他搞张扬的其中一个部门呢，就是美国国家科学基金会。
, 百拇医药
简而言之呢，那帮人试图在中国社会制造一个印象：他们跟着美国“科技警察”组织屁股后面、说“中医是伪科学”的言论主张，好象得到了美国政府和学界的大力支持。
一、依法办事，请美国政府澄清事实。
为此呢，按照美国办事的惯例和法律程序，咱向美国政府国家基金会负责办公室发函，请他们核实说明他们是否支持“中医是伪科学”的言论和主张。咱发函询问的内容如下：
在你们的出版物的参考资料中，有关于“伪科学”的定义，说：“Pseudoscience: 'Claims presented so that they appear [to be] scientific even though they lack supporting evidence and plausibility (Shermer 1997, p. 33).”，而且呢，对这个定义的解释文字，把“选择医学”和中医包括在“伪科学”例子当中。
, 百拇医药
自1970年代开始，美国政府（包括健康及人类服务部）和许多专业科研机构，做了成千上百个临床试验，证实了中医是有理论和有实践的完整的医学科学系统。自1996-1997年以来，中医针灸已经成为美国社会的合法职业，而且，按照美国有关法律，医疗保险机构已经把中医针灸列入保险范围。经过30多年的和深入广泛的科研实验，世界卫生组织和70多个成员国（包括美国）把包括中医在内的传统医学作为全球和本国的发展医疗保健事业的战略措施，并向全球发布了战略报告。
如此，根据什么，你们的出版物把中医列为“伪科学”定义的解释？若你们没有确切可靠的科研实验来支持你们的结论，那么，按照美国联邦政府的立场，你们的出版物的那个说法本身是搞了“伪科学”，是在向公众社会传达误导（甚至是虚假的）信息。作为一个纳税人，我要求你们对此做出明确的和及时的说明解释。
一、美国政府明确表明立场：从未支持“中医是伪科学”。
咱的核实询问信件发出后大约三天，咱收到了答复。美国国家基金会代表以十分明确的口气做了严正声明：美国国家科学基金会从未支持、将来也不会支持“中医是伪科学”的言论和主张。下面是他们答复的原文：
, http://www.100md.com
From : Jensen, Leslie A.
Sent : Friday, January 5, 2007 7:03 AM
To : Zhiyan-Le
Dear Zhiyan-Le,
This responds on behalf of the NSF to your email message below. We have examined the text of Chapter 7 of the "Science and Engineering Indicators 2006" to which you refer. We find no reference to TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) in the text of the "S&E Indicators."
, 百拇医药
The NSF has not, and would not, define alternative medicine. The NSF has not, and will not, take any position on TCM, or on any of the many practices that might be included under TCM. And we have no opinion whatsoever on whether TCM is considered an alternative medicine, or what alternative medicine may or may not be considered "pseudo science."
Our reference or citation to other sources that may discuss or define "pseudo science" is neither an endorsement of nor support for any position taken by those authors.
, 百拇医药
Sincerely,
Leslie A. Jensen
FOIA/Privacy Act Officer
Office of the General Counsel
National Science Foundation
答复的大意是：在美国政府国家科学基金会的正式出版物《科学和工程指标?2006》（"Science and Engineering Indicators 2006" ）里，我们没有发现有关中医的内容。美国国家科学基金会至今没有、也不会就“选择医学”（alternative medicine）做定义。国家科学基金会至今没有、将来也不会就中医或中医实践采取任何立场。就中医是不是“选择医学”、或“选择医学”是不是“伪科学”，我们没有任何看法。我们的出版物的参考资料中包括了“伪科学”及其定义的讨论，但那并不表明我们对那些参考资料的作者的认同或支持。
, 百拇医药
答复执笔人叫蕾斯利?詹森，是该机构专门负责答复公民查询核实的工作人员。蕾斯利?詹森明确说明，其答复是代表美国联邦政府国家科学基金会的，因此，上文答复表明的是美国政府的立场。
一、简单结语：
美国国家科学基金会的答复和严正立场，十分明确地澄清了一个事实：不管是中国的“反伪斗士”、还是美国的“科技警察”，他们所谓的“中医是伪科学”的言论主张等等对中医搞的诬蔑诽谤，从没获得过任何美国官方及科学界的认同或支持、将来也不会。就是说呢，他们试图通过宣传媒体手段制造个“国际学界”支持他们的舆论印象，纯属是涉嫌欺骗的行为。
这类情况，发生不是第一次。譬如，所谓“道德卫士”邹承鲁，曾伪造证据把山东大学张颖清的中医经络学研究打成“伪科学”而予以封杀，后来，他看到他利用工作之便伪造证据的真相大白了，就在人民网科技频道发表文章、试图通过诺贝尔医学奖负责机构的一位秘书的话制造社会舆论，好象该机构对中医药没兴趣，因此就可以继续把“伪科学”的政治帽子扣在张颖清教授的头上了。人民网科技频道编辑许秀华密切配合，不顾新闻法规、重复地发了邹承鲁那篇文章，外加重复发了对张颖清鞭尸打棍子的诬蔑诽谤文字、甚至还发流氓文字对批评者搞公开辱骂。
, 百拇医药
然而，咱给诺贝尔医学奖负责机构的负责人、前诺贝尔基金大会主席发了询问信件，请他对此做做核实。他回复说：他们对中医药十分感兴趣，且已经跟中国建立了研究开发中医药的合作交流渠道。核实证明，邹承鲁不但是搞了伪造证据、且试图掩盖而又搞了个作假欺骗。就此核实，人民网科技频道是予以严厉封杀，至今不发诺奖医学奖负责机构的负责人和前诺贝尔基金大会主席的核实，而是继续发表邹承鲁那些伪造证据的文字。对如此嚣张的弄虚作假的媒体行为，不该做做调查处理吗？
一言以蔽之，“反伪斗士”们是以“反伪”名义作伪、以“打假”名义作假的一帮，他们跟美国“科技警察”密切合作，试图以“反伪科学”的名义、把中国科技学术发展掐死在摇篮里。这就是他们的本质。
补充：
反中医的人，愚昧无知，喜欢造谣，居然连“.gov”是美国政府的网站都不知道，把美国政府比作苏联政府（他们当中不少就是‘苏联派’教育出来的，难怪）。看看美国政府网站称呼，看看美国国家科学基金会的自我介绍，就知道他们是多么愚蠢而靠造谣为生的了：
, 百拇医药
http://www.firstgov.gov/Agencies/Federal/All_Agencies/N.shtml
A-Z Index of U.S. Government Departments and Agencies
National Science Foundation
http://www.nsf.gov/about/
About the National Science Foundation
NSF AT A GLANCE
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense…" ...
, http://www.100md.com
WHO WE ARE
NSF leadership has two major components: a director who oversees NSF staff and management responsible for program creation and administration, merit review, planning, budget and day-to-day operations; and a 24-member National Science Board (NSB) of eminent individuals that meets six times a year to establish the overall policies of the foundation. The director and all Board members serve six year terms. Each of them, as well as the NSF deputy director, is appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. ...
, http://www.100md.com
. MORE...
其员工属于美国联邦政府工作人员：
http://www.nsf.gov/about/career_opps/
此贴击中“反伪斗士”国际背景要害，所以呢，他们要群起而攻之，结果是进一步暴露了他们靠欺骗为生。
此文原载：http://zhiyanle.blog.hexun.com/7205052_d.html
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附件2。
美国全国反健康事业造假协会副总裁Stephen Barrett, M.D.（史蒂芬巴雷特）医学博士批中医的一篇长文（2004年）。它代表了美国主流医学对中医的基本一致的否定态度。请留意阅读。题目是：警惕针灸，气功和中医。
, 百拇医药
（英文全文，原文链接
Be Wary of Acupuncture, Qigong, and "Chinese Medicine"
Stephen Barrett, M.D.
"Chinese medicine," often called "Oriental medicine" or "traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)," encompasses a vast array of folk medical practices based on mysticism. It holds that the body's vital energy (chi or qi) circulates through channels, called meridians, that have branches connected to bodily organs and functions. Illness is attributed to imbalance or interruption of chi.. Ancient practices such as acupuncture, Qigong, and the use of various herbs are claimed to restore balance.
, 百拇医药
Traditional acupuncture, as now practiced, involves the insertion of stainless steel needles into various body areas. A low-frequency current may be applied to the needles to produce greater stimulation. Other procedures used separately or together with acupuncture include: moxibustion (burning of floss or herbs applied to the skin); injection of sterile water, procaine, morphine, vitamins, or homeopathic solutions through the inserted needles; applications of laser beams (laserpuncture); placement of needles in the external ear (auriculotherapy); and acupressure (use of manual pressure). Treatment is applied to "acupuncture points," which are said to be located throughout the body. Originally there were 365 such points, corresponding to the days of the year, but the number identified by proponents during the past 2,000 years has increased gradually to about 2,000 [1]. Some practitioners place needles at or near the site of disease, whereas others select points on the basis of symptoms. In traditional acupuncture, a combination of points is usually used.
, 百拇医药
Qigong is also claimed to influence the flow of "vital energy." Internal Qigong involves deep breathing, concentration, and relaxation techniques used by individuals for themselves. External Qigong is performed by "Qigong masters" who claim to cure a wide variety of diseases with energy released from their fingertips. However, scientific investigators of Qigong masters in China have found no evidence of paranormal powers and some evidence of deception. They found, for example, that a patient lying on a table about eight feet from a Qigong master moved rhythmically or thrashed about as the master moved his hands. But when she was placed so that she could no longer see him, her movements were unrelated to his [2]. Falun gong, which China recently banned, is a Qigong varient claimed to be "a powerful mechanism for healing, stress relief and health improvements."
, http://www.100md.com
Most acupuncturists espouse the traditional Chinese view of health and disease and consider acupuncture, herbal medicine, and related practices to be valid approaches to the full gamut of disease. Others reject the traditional approach and merely claim that acupuncture offers a simple way to achieve pain relief. The diagnostic process used by TCM practitioners may include questioning (medical history, lifestyle), observations (skin, tongue, color), listening (breathing sounds), and pulse-taking. Six pulse aspects said to correlate with body organs or functions are checked on each wrist to determine which meridians are "deficient" in chi. (Medical science recognizes only one pulse, corresponding to the heartbeat, which can be felt in the wrist, neck, feet, and various other places.) Some acupuncturists state that the electrical properties of the body may become imbalanced weeks or even months before symptoms occur. These practitioners claim that acupuncture can be used to treat conditions when the patient just "doesn't feel right," even though no disease is apparent.
, 百拇医药
TCM (as well as the folk medical practices of various other Asian countries) is a threat to certain animal species. For example, black bears-valued for their gall bladders-have been hunted nearly to extinction in Asia, and poaching of black bears is a growing problem in North America.
Dubious Claims
The conditions claimed to respond to acupuncture include chronic pain (neck and back pain, migraine headaches), acute injury-related pain (strains, muscle and ligament tears), gastrointestinal problems (indigestion, ulcers, constipation, diarrhea), cardiovascular conditions (high and low blood pressure), genitourinary problems (menstrual irregularity, frigidity, impotence), muscle and nerve conditions (paralysis, deafness), and behavioral problems (overeating, drug dependence, smoking). However, the evidence supporting these claims consists mostly of practitioners' observations and poorly designed studies. A controlled study found that electroacupuncture of the ear was no more effective than placebo stimulation (light touching) against chronic pain [3]. In 1990, three Dutch epidemiologists analyzed 51 controlled studies of acupuncture for chronic pain and concluded that "the quality of even the better studies proved to be mediocre. . . . The efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic pain remains doubtful." [4] They also examined reports of acupuncture used to treat addictions to cigarettes, heroin, and alcohol, and concluded that claims that acupuncture is effective as a therapy for these conditions are not supported by sound clinical research [5].
, 百拇医药
Acupuncture anesthesia is not used for surgery in the Orient to the extent that its proponents suggest. In China physicians screen out patients who appear to be unsuitable. Acupuncture is not used for emergency surgery and often is accompanied by local anesthesia or narcotic medication [6].
How acupuncture may relieve pain is unclear. One theory suggests that pain impulses are blocked from reaching the spinal cord or brain at various "gates" to these areas. Another theory suggests that acupuncture stimulates the body to produce narcotic-like substances called endorphins, which reduce pain. Other theories suggest that the placebo effect, external suggestion (hypnosis), and cultural conditioning are important factors. Melzack and Wall note that pain relief produced by acupuncture can also be produced by many other types of sensory hyperstimulation, such as electricity and heat at acupuncture points and elsewhere in the body. They conclude that "the effectiveness of all of these forms of stimulation indicates that acupuncture is not a magical procedure but only one of many ways to produce analgesia [pain relief] by an intense sensory input." In 1981, the American Medical Association Council on Scientific Affairs noted that pain relief does not occur consistently or reproducibly in most people and does not operate at all in some people [7].
, 百拇医药
In 1995, George A. Ulett, M.D., Ph.D., Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, University of Missouri School of Medicine, stated that "devoid of metaphysical thinking, acupuncture becomes a rather simple technique that can be useful as a nondrug method of pain control." He believes that the traditional Chinese variety is primarily a placebo treatment, but electrical stimulation of about 80 acupuncture points has been proven useful for pain control [8].
The quality of TCM research in China has been extremely poor. A recent analysis of 2,938 reports of clinical trials reported in Chinese medical journals concluded that that no conclusions could be drawn from the vast majority of them. The researchers stated:
, 百拇医药
In most of the trials, disease was defined and diagnosed according to conventional medicine; trial outcomes were assessed with objective or subjective (or both) methods of conventional medicine, often complemented by traditional Chinese methods. Over 90% of the trials in non-specialist journals evaluated herbal treatments that were mostly proprietary Chinese medicines. . . .
Although methodological quality has been improving over the years, many problems remain. The method of randomisation was often inappropriately described. Blinding was used in only 15% of trials. Only a few studies had sample sizes of 300 subjects or more. Many trials used as a control another Chinese medicine treatment whose effectiveness had often not been evaluated by randomised controlled trials. Most trials focused on short term or intermediate rather than long term outcomes. Most trials did not report data on compliance and completeness of follow up. Effectiveness was rarely quantitatively expressed and reported. Intention to treat analysis was never mentioned. Over half did not report data on baseline characteristics or on side effects. Many trials were published as short reports. Most trials claimed that the tested treatments were effective, indicating that publication bias may be common; a funnel plot of the 49 trials of acupuncture in the treatment of stroke confirmed selective publication of positive trials in the area, suggesting that acupuncture may not be more effective than the control treatments. [9]
, 百拇医药
Two scientists at the University of Heidelberg have developed a "fake needle" that may enable acupuncture researchers to perform better-designed controlled studies. The device is a needle with a blunt tip that moves freely within a copper handle. When the tip touches the skin, the patient feels a sensation similar to that of an acupuncture needle. At the same time, the visible part of the needle moves inside the handle so it appears to shorten as though penetrating the skin. When the device was tested on volunteers, none suspected that it had not penetrated the skin [10].
, 百拇医药
In 2004, a University of Heidelberg team proved the worth of their "sham acupuncture" technique in a study of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in women who underwent breast or gynecologic surgery. The study involved 220 women who received either acupuncture or the sham procedure at the acupuncture point "Pericardium 6" on the inside of the forearm. No significant difference in PONV or antivomiting medication use was found between the two groups or between the people who received treatment before anesthesia was induced and those who received it while anesthetized [11]. A subgroup analysis found that vomiting was "significantly reduced" among the acupuncture patients, but the authors correctly noted that this finding might be due to studying multiple outcomes. (As the number of different outcome measures increases, so do the odds that a "statistically significant" finding will be spurious.) This study is important because PONV reduction is one of the few alleged benefits of acupuncture supported by reports in scientific journals. However, the other positive studies were not as tightly controlled..
, 百拇医药
Risks Exist
Improperly performed acupuncture can cause fainting, local hematoma (due to bleeding from a punctured blood vessel), pneumothorax (punctured lung), convulsions, local infections, hepatitis B (from unsterile needles), bacterial endocarditis, contact dermatitis, and nerve damage. The herbs used by acupuncture practitioners are not regulated for safety, potency, or effectiveness. There is also risk that an acupuncturist whose approach to diagnosis is not based on scientific concepts will fail to diagnose a dangerous condition.
, 百拇医药
The adverse effects of acupuncture are probably related to the nature of the practitioner's training. A survey of 1,135 Norwegian physicians revealed 66 cases of infection, 25 cases of punctured lung, 31 cases of increased pain, and 80 other cases with complications. A parallel survey of 197 acupuncturists, who are more apt to see immediate complications, yielded 132 cases of fainting, 26 cases of increased pain, 8 cases of pneumothorax, and 45 other adverse results [12]. However, a 5-year study involving 76 acupuncturists at a Japanese medical facility tabulated only 64 adverse event reports (including 16 forgotten needles and 13 cases of transient low blood pressure) associated with 55,591 acupuncture treatments. No serious complications were reported. The researchers concluded that serious adverse reactions are uncommon among acupuncturists who are medically trained [13].
, 百拇医药
Moe recently, members of the British Acupuncture Council who participated in two prospective studies have reported low complication rates and no serious complications among patients who underwent a total of more than 66,000 treatments 14,15]. An accompany editorial suggests that in competent hands, the likelihood of complcations is small [16]. Since outcome data are not available, the studies cannot compare the balance of risks vs benefit. Nor do the studies take into account the likelihood of misdiagnosis (and failure to seek appropriate medical care) by practitioners who use traditional Chinese methods.
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Questionable Standards
In 1971, an acupuncture boom occurred in the United States because of stories about visits to China by various American dignitaries. Entrepreneurs, both medical and nonmedical, began using flamboyant advertising techniques to promote clinics, seminars, demonstrations, books, correspondence courses, and do-it-yourself kits. Today some states restrict the practice of acupuncture to physicians or others operating under their direct supervision. In about 20 states, people who lack medical training can perform acupuncture without medical supervision. The FDA now classifies acupuncture needles as Class II medical devices and requires labeling for one-time use by practitioners who are legally authorized to use them [17]. Acupuncture is not covered under Medicare. The March 1998 issue of the Journal of the American Chiropractic Association carried a five-part cover story encouraging chiropractors to get acupuncture training, which, according to one contributor, would enable them to broaden the scope of their practice [18].
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The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) has set voluntary certification standards and certified several thousand practitioners. By November 1998, 32 states had licensing laws, with 29 of them using NCCAOM examination as all or part of their educational, training, or examination requirement, and three with additional eligibility criteria. The credentials used by acupuncturists include C.A. (certified acupuncturist), Lic. Ac. (licensed acupuncturist), M.A. (master acupuncturist), Dip. Ac. (diplomate of acupuncture), and O.M.D. (doctor of Oriental medicine). Some of these have legal significance, but they do not signify that the holder is competent to make adequate diagnoses or render appropriate treatment.
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In 1990, the U.S. Secretary of Education recognized what is now called the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) as an accrediting agency. However, such recognition is not based on the scientific validity of what is taught but upon other criteria [19]. Ulett has noted:
Certification of acupuncturists is a sham. While a few of those so accredited are naive physicians, most are nonmedical persons who only play at being doctor and use this certification as an umbrella for a host of unproven New Age hokum treatments. Unfortunately, a few HMOs, hospitals, and even medical schools are succumbing to the bait and exposing patients to such bogus treatments when they need real medical care.
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The National Council Against Health Fraud has concluded:
Acupuncture is an unproven modality of treatment.
Its theory and practice are based on primitive and fanciful concepts of health and disease that bear no relationship to present scientific knowledge
Research during the past 20 years has not demonstrated that acupuncture is effective against any disease.
, http://www.100md.com Perceived effects of acupuncture are probably due to a combination of expectation, suggestion, counter-irritation, conditioning, and other psychologic mechanisms.
The use of acupuncture should be restricted to appropriate research settings,
Insurance companies should not be required by law to cover acupuncture treatment,
Licensure of lay acupuncturists should be phased out.
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Consumers who wish to try acupuncture should discuss their situation with a knowledgeable physician who has no commercial interest [20].
The NIH Debacle
In 1997, a Consensus Development Conference sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and several other agencies concluded that "there is sufficient evidence . . . of acupuncture's value to expand its use into conventional medicine and to encourage further studies of its physiology and clinical value." [21] The panelists also suggested that the federal government and insurance companies expand coverage of acupuncture so more people can have access to it. These conclusions were not based on research done after NCAHF's position paper was published. Rather, they reflected the bias of the panelists who were selected by a planning committee dominated by acupuncture proponents [22]. NCAHF board chairman Wallace Sampson, M.D., has described the conference "a consensus of proponents, not a consensus of valid scientific opinion."
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Although the report described some serious problems, it failed to place them into proper perspective. The panel acknowledged that "the vast majority of papers studying acupuncture consist of case reports, case series, or intervention studies with designs inadequate to assess efficacy" and that "relatively few" high-quality controlled trials have been published about acupuncture's effects. But it reported that "the World Health Organization has listed more than 40 [conditions] for which [acupuncture] may be indicated." This sentence should have been followed by a statement that the list was not valid.
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Far more serious, although the consensus report touched on Chinese acupuncture theory, it failed to point out the danger and economic waste involved in going to practitioners who can't make appropriate diagnoses. The report noted:
The general theory of acupuncture is based on the premise that there are patterns of energy flow (Qi) through the body that are essential for health. Disruptions of this flow are believed to be responsible for disease. The acupuncturist can correct imbalances of flow at identifiable points close to the skin.
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Acupuncture focuses on a holistic, energy-based approach to the patient rather than a disease-oriented diagnostic and treatment model.
Despite considerable efforts to understand the anatomy and physiology of the "acupuncture points," the definition and characterization of these points remains controversial. Even more elusive is the scientific basis of some of the key traditional Eastern medical concepts such as the circulation of Qi, the meridian system, and the five phases theory, which are difficult to reconcile with contemporary biomedical information but continue to play an important role in the evaluation of patients and the formulation of treatment in acupuncture.
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Simply stated, this means that if you go to a practitioner who practices traditional Chinese medicine, you are unlikely to be properly diagnosed.
Diagnostic Studies
In 1998, following his lecture at a local college, an experienced TCM practitioner diagnosed me by taking my pulse and looking at my tongue. He stated that my pulse showed signs of "stress" and that my tongue indicated I was suffering from "congestion of the blood." A few minutes later, he examined a woman and told her that her pulse showed premature ventricular contractions (a disturbance of the heart's rhythm that could be harmless or significant, depending on whether the individual has underlying heart disease). He suggested that both of us undergo treatment with acupuncture and herbs-which would have cost about $90 per visit. I took the woman's pulse and found that it was completely normal. I believe that the majority of nonmedical acupuncturists rely on improper diagnostic procedures. The NIH consensus panel should have emphasized the seriousness of this problem.
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A study published in 2001 illustrates the absurdity of TCM practices. A 40-year-old woman with chronic back pain who visited seven acupuncturists during a two-week period was diagnosed with "Qi stagnation" by 6 of them, "blood stagnation" by 5 , "kidney Qi deficiency" by 2, "yin deficiency" by 1, and "liver Qi deficiency" by 1. The proposed treatments varied even more. Among the six who recorded their recommendations, the practitioners planned to use between 7 and 26 needles inserted into 4 to 16 specific "acupuncture points" in the back, leg, hand, and foot. Of 28 acupuncture points selected, only 4 (14%) were prescribed by two or more acupuncturists. [23] The study appears to have been designed to make the results as consistent as possible. All of the acupuncturists had been trained at a school of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Six other volunteers were excluded because they "used highly atypical practices," and three were excluded because they had been in practice for less than three years. Whereas science-based methods are thoroughly studied to ensure that they are reliable, this appears to be the first published study that examines the consistency of TCM diagnosis or treatment. I would expect larger studies to show that TCM diagnoses are meaningless and have little or nothing to do with the patient's health status. The study's authors state that the diagnostic findings showed "considerable consistency" because nearly all of the practitioners found Qi or blood stagnation. However, the most likely explanation is that these are diagnosed in nearly everyone. It would be fascinating to see what would happen if a healthy person was examined by multiple acupuncturists.
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For Additional Information
CSICOP Investigation of TCM and Pseudoscience in China
NCAHF Position Paper on Acupuncture
Questioning Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld's Acupuncture Story
References
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Kurtz P, Alcock J, and others. Testing psi claims in China: Visit by a CSICOP delegation. Skeptical Inquirer 12:364-375, 1988.
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Ter Riet G, Kleijnen J, Knipschild P. A meta-analysis of studies into the effect of acupuncture on addiction. British Journal of General Practice 40:379-382, 1990.
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Beyerstein BL, Sampson W. Traditional Medicine and Pseudoscience in China: A Report of the Second CSICOP Delegation (Part 1). Skeptical Inquirer 20(4):18-26, 1996.
American Medical Association Council on Scientific Affairs. Reports of the Council on Scientific Affairs of the American Medical Association, 1981. Chicago, 1982, The Association.
Ulett GA. Acupuncture update 1984. Southern Medical Journal 78:233?234, 1985.
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Tang J-L, Zhan S-Y, Ernst E. Review of randomised controlled trials of traditional Chinese medicine. British Medical Journal 319:160-161, 1999.
Streitberger K, Kleinhenz J. Introducing a placebo needle into acupuncture research. Lancet 352:364-365, 1998.
Streitberger K and others. Acupuncture compared to placebo-acupuncture for postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis: A randomised placebo-controlled patient and observer blind trial. Anesthesia 59:142-149, 2004.
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Norheim JA, Fennebe V. Adverse effects of acupuncture. Lancet 345:1576, 1995.
Yamashita H and others. Adverse events related to acupuncture. JAMA 280:1563-1564, 1998.
White A and others. Adverse events following acupuncture: Prospective surgery of 32,000 consultations with doctors and physiotherapists. BMJ 323:485-486, 2001.
MacPherson H and others. York acupuncture safety study: Prospective survey of 24,000 treatments by traditional acupuncturists. BMJ 323:486-487, 2001.
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Vincent C. The safety of acupuncture. BMJ 323:467-468, 2001.
Acupuncture needle status changed. FDA Talk Paper T96-21, April 1, 1996
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Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education. Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies and Associations. Criteria and Procedures for Listing by the U.S. Secretary For Education and Current List. Washington, D.C., 1995, U.S. Department of Education.
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Sampson W and others. Acupuncture: The position paper of the National Council Against Health Fraud. Clinical Journal of Pain 7:162-166, 1991.
Acupuncture. NIH Consensus Statement 15:(5), November 3-5, 1997.
Sampson W. On the National Institute of Drug Abuse Consensus Conference on Acupuncture. Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine 2(1):54-55, 1998.
Kalauokalani D and others. Acupuncture for chronic low back pain: Diagnosis and treatment patterns among acupuncturists evaluating the same patient. Southern Medical Journal 94:486-492, 2001.
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