Acupuncture

Traditional Evidence- A critical review of the literature on any topic relating to traditional knowledge (not scientific research) utilized in Acupuncture.

The focus should be on evaluating the source, not just presenting it at face value.

Step 1. Find at least 2 traditional evidence sources pertaining to Acupuncture.

You will not be able to find these in standard databases for scientific research evidence. (The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon, or the Nan Jing).

It is possible to utilise secondary sources as long as these are directly referring to the original information.

o Primary or original sources are the original writing about a topic
o Secondary sources are translations or reviews of this original information o
Additional ideas for sources of this information can be found at the end of thisdocument.

o You will need to utilise a selection of e-books, search engines and libraries to access appropriate information, which most likely will come in the form of books. It is OK to reference a website as long at these sites directly reference the original sources.
o Traditional evidence does NOT include any fad diet trends, even if they have been around for a decade or two!
o The more suitable information you can find the better, as this adds to the strength of the treatments used for particular conditions when they corroborate each other.

2. Choose a topic that can be found in all of your traditional evidence sources that includes a disease condition (ie. Headaches) and a treatment.
• It can help to initially locate a number of different traditional sources and read widely, prior to deciding on a topic as what you initially choose may not have much, if any, available literature. You can then choose a topic that you have been able to find information on.
Step 3.

Write a 750 word critical review of this literature that includes the following structure:
*Do not write a collection of direct quotes from the sources. Direct quotes should only be used when rewriting it would lose meaning and context.
o Introduction ?Introduce the topic you have chosen ?A little background on the topic ?Introduce the literature you have found and the basis for your selection of thisliterature

o Main body ?Explain each source of evidence and what it says on the treatment you have chosen(1 per Paragraph) ??Discuss its strengths and limitations as a source (originally written in anotherlanguage, not validated by other sources at the time, information about the author if known and any other generalized conclusions you can draw pertaining to the literature)

o Conclusion ?See if you can draw any conclusions from what you have found (Were the sourcessimilar enough to combine their results? Did the sources raise more questions than they answered? Should there be further research into an area to assess this? Has enough evidence been compiled to draw any conclusions? Are there major gaps in the knowledge?)

Step 4. N/A

Step 5. Include in-text referencing and a Reference list at the end of the document in Harvard Referencing style.

Where to find ideas – these are examples and you can choose to use any other source you find useful

Integrating Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine – video recording http://archive.org/details/openmind_ep1752

Codex Ebers – The Egyptian Codex Ebers, also called the Ebers Papyrus, is the oldest preserved medical document dating from about 1552 B.C. It is one of the most complete records of Egyptian medicine containing 700 formulas for a range of diseases. Papyrus Ebers: http://oilib.uchicago.edu/books/bryan_the_papyrus_ebers_1930.pdf
• Charaka Samhita – The Charaka Samhita is believed to have arisen around 400-200 BCE. It is felt to be one of the oldest and the most important ancient authoritative writings on Ayurveda http://www.gobookee.net/charaka-samhita-english-translation/
• Intro to 3 Types of Digestion in Ayurveda – Introduction to Nutrition and Dietary Therapies in Buddhist Ayurveda or Tibetan Medicine – Vata Dosha (Space and Air), Pitta Dosha
(Fire and Water), Kapha Dosha (Water and Earth) – Commentary on and Nutritional – Diet Therapy Lectures from the Charaka of Patanjali (200 B.C.), Sushruta of Nagarjuna (200 A.D.), Astanga Hridayam of Vagbhata (700 A.D.) and the “Four Tibetan Medical Tantras” (800 A.D) Series of 30min video presentations beginning with – http://archive.org/details/NUT108_Ayurvedic_Nutrition_001_Tibetan_Medicine
• Shyam Singha : Food is Medicine – audio presentation http://archive.org/details/ShyamSinghaFoodAsMedicine
• Interview with American Botanical Council’s Mark Blumenthal on Herbal Medicine (June 15, 2012) http://archive.org/details/RagRadio2012-06-15-MarkBlumenthal
• The medicine-men of the Apache (1892) – view e-book http://archive.org/stream/medicinemenofapa00bourrich#page/n3/mode/2up
• Folk-medicine: a chapter in the history of culture – view e-book http://archive.org/stream/39002086308286.med.yale.edu#page/8/mode/2up
• The science of oriental medicine: a concise discussion of its principles and methods, biographical sketches of its leading practitioners, its treatment of various prevalent diseases, useful information on matters of diet, exercise and hygiene – view e-book http://archive.org/stream/scienceoforienta00foow#page/14/mode/2up
• The magic of tea – audio recording http://archive.org/details/TheJoanKenleyShow- TheMagicOfTea