Wyant G M, Camerlain M
Can Anaesth Soc J. 1977 Jan;24(1):75-89.
Acupuncture has been described as it is practiced in the People's Republic of China. To understand fully the preoccupation of the Chinese with this mode of treatment one must be familiar with its economic, historical and cultural background. Since conditions in Western countries are totally different from those in China it is obvious that acupuncture cannot be transplanted in toto from country to country, but that it requires reassessment of its usefulness as a treatment modality. Although further basic and clinical studies must be carried out, it would appear at the moment that acupuncture may have a useful place as yet and additional means of treating pain, especially in areas in which present treatment is less than satisfactory. At the moment no clear indication is obvious for acupuncture anaesthesia in countries in which this specialty is well developed and where adequate numbers of trained anaesthetists are available.
针灸在中国的实际应用情况已有所描述。要全面理解中国人对这种治疗方式的关注，就必须熟悉其经济、历史和文化背景。由于西方国家的情况与中国完全不同，显然针灸不能原封不动地从一个国家移植到另一个国家，而是需要重新评估其作为一种治疗方式的效用。尽管必须开展进一步的基础研究和临床研究，但目前看来，针灸可能仍有其用武之地，是治疗疼痛的又一种手段，尤其是在当前治疗效果欠佳的领域。目前，在那些该专业发展良好且有足够数量训练有素的麻醉师的国家，针灸麻醉尚无明确的适用指征。
