Spring Break
Millions of Americans try acupuncture
Practice used for relieving illnesses including migraines, fatigue
Adrian Northrup
Issue date: 10/24/05 Section: Health
Although he never has tried acupuncture, UW-Eau Claire junior James Schultz said he would if he had the chance.
"I think it would be something different to try," he said.
Freshman Allison Olson said she has more mixed feelings about it.
"I think that acupuncture is kind of creepy," she said. "The fact that you stick needles in yourself to feel better is kind of ironic."
Schultz and Olson are in the majority in that they don't know much about the practice. Acupuncture practitioners said few students receive the alternative practice, but that it can relieve a wide variety of ailments.
Doctors also are apprehensive about acupuncture. According to the American Medical Association, only 1 percent of American doctors would suggest acupuncture as an alternative medicine.
Although there are multiple acupuncture clinics in the Eau Claire area, neither Schultz nor Olson said they knew where any of the clinics are.
"I have no clue where to go to get it done," Schultz said.
Barbara Wheeler is certified in both acupuncture and massage therapy by the state of Wisconsin and is one of two acupuncturists at Marshfield Clinic at Oakwood Center, 3501 Golf Road.
She said she sees acupuncture patients ranging from young teens to adults in their 90s.
"Acupuncture is appropriate from the teen years on," Wheeler said.
Diane Omtvedt, another acupuncturist in the Eau Claire area, is both a certified acupuncturist and a nurse practitioner. She owns the Root and Branch Acupuncture Center, 202 Eau Claire St., and also works at the the university's Student Health Service.
Omtvedt and Wheeler said they see one to two students every week.
"The majority of students aren't aware of acupuncture," Omtvedt said. "Some have never heard of it."
According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Web site, citing a 2002 National Health Interview Survey, an estimated 8.2 million people in the United States have tried acupuncture, and 2.1 million people have tried acupuncture in the last year.
"I think it would be something different to try," he said.
Freshman Allison Olson said she has more mixed feelings about it.
"I think that acupuncture is kind of creepy," she said. "The fact that you stick needles in yourself to feel better is kind of ironic."
Schultz and Olson are in the majority in that they don't know much about the practice. Acupuncture practitioners said few students receive the alternative practice, but that it can relieve a wide variety of ailments.
Doctors also are apprehensive about acupuncture. According to the American Medical Association, only 1 percent of American doctors would suggest acupuncture as an alternative medicine.
Although there are multiple acupuncture clinics in the Eau Claire area, neither Schultz nor Olson said they knew where any of the clinics are.
"I have no clue where to go to get it done," Schultz said.
Barbara Wheeler is certified in both acupuncture and massage therapy by the state of Wisconsin and is one of two acupuncturists at Marshfield Clinic at Oakwood Center, 3501 Golf Road.
She said she sees acupuncture patients ranging from young teens to adults in their 90s.
"Acupuncture is appropriate from the teen years on," Wheeler said.
Diane Omtvedt, another acupuncturist in the Eau Claire area, is both a certified acupuncturist and a nurse practitioner. She owns the Root and Branch Acupuncture Center, 202 Eau Claire St., and also works at the the university's Student Health Service.
Omtvedt and Wheeler said they see one to two students every week.
"The majority of students aren't aware of acupuncture," Omtvedt said. "Some have never heard of it."
According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Web site, citing a 2002 National Health Interview Survey, an estimated 8.2 million people in the United States have tried acupuncture, and 2.1 million people have tried acupuncture in the last year.