Lewin A J
West J Med. 1974 Jan;120(1):27-32.
Although both the philosophic and physiologic basis of acupuncture seems fanciful to Western medical thinking, the results obtained in the treatment of certain disease states cannot be lightly dismissed. Its use in the induction of surgical analgesia may have immediate application for Western Medicine. Its mechanism of action is a complete enigma, but information accumulated from research in hypnosis, visceral learning and, most important, the physiology of pain perception may contain clues to the pathophysiologic principles involved. The fact that many disorders for which acupuncture therapy is useful are thought to have a large psychosomatic component only serves to reinforce the Eastern concept of inseparability of mind and body. A great deal of attention is being given to this concept in the current medical literature. In order to define the role of acupuncture in modern medical practice, a more scientific approach in both clinical and basic research is necessary. If acupuncture can be proved safe and efficacious in the treatment of certain diseases, lack of knowledge regarding its mechanism of action should not delay its incorporation into our medical armamentarium.
尽管针刺疗法的哲学和生理学基础在西方医学思维看来似乎有些异想天开，但在某些疾病状态的治疗中所取得的成果却不能轻易被忽视。它在诱导手术镇痛方面的应用可能会立即对西医产生影响。其作用机制完全是个谜，但从催眠、内脏学习研究，以及最重要的疼痛感知生理学研究中积累的信息，可能包含了所涉及的病理生理原理的线索。针刺疗法所适用的许多病症被认为有很大的身心因素成分，这一事实只会强化东方关于身心不可分割的观念。当前的医学文献对这一观念给予了极大关注。为了确定针刺疗法在现代医学实践中的作用，临床和基础研究都需要采用更科学的方法。如果针刺疗法在某些疾病的治疗中被证明是安全有效的，那么对其作用机制缺乏了解不应阻碍它被纳入我们的医疗手段之中。
