'Western Medical Acupuncture' - a pseudoscientific hybrid concoction

Looking at what is actually a very good book called

An Introduction to Western Medical Acupuncture,

Adrian White PhD MA BM BCh (Author), Mike Cummings MB ChB Dip Med Ac (Author), Jacqueline Filshie MBBS FRCA(Author)
''I find your review a little inaccurate - as TCM is not based on `myths and metaphors' as you seem to imply - but a highly coherent rational paradigm based on generations of empirical clinical observation. It does beg the question of whether you have studied TCM or not? Or is this only your personal prejudice - you are then exhibiting the very behaviour and belief-systems you appear to be condemning!

(you can find this book on : http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0443071772/ref=rdr_ext_tmb)

I came across this rather offensive review   - not to the book which is quite excellent - but to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) from a person who is hiding behind the title name "not buying into metaphor medicine' (afraid it seems to give their own name, or say who they are): 

''At a time when all too many are willing to follow a guru into a belief-system based approach, i.e., TCM, and abandon their scientific education, this book antidotes the prevailing fascination with myths and metaphors by providing fact-based, straightforward instruction.
I applaud Drs. White, Cummings, and Filshie in their publication of a clinically meaningful text packed with legitimate information that medical professionals should be expected to understand if they are going to advertise themselves as acupuncturists.''

My response to this rather bigoted and offensive put down of TCM was as follows:

''I find your review a little inaccurate - as TCM is not based on `myths and metaphors' as you seem to imply - but a highly coherent rational paradigm based on generations of empirical clinical observation. It does beg the question of whether you have studied TCM or not? Or is this only your personal prejudice - you are then exhibiting the very behaviour and belief-systems you appear to be condemning!

I agree with you that Drs. White, Cummings, and Filshie in their publication of their Introduction to Western Medical Acupuncture text do present a `clinically meaningful text packed with legitimate information that medical professionals should be expected to understand if they are going to advertise themselves as acupuncturists', but then so do many TCM texts - if you have read any, that is.''

It is sad when educated doctors or medical professionals (as I assume this person is) are so narrow-minded.  I can only assume that this person is a rather arrogant and blinked medic - who cannot understand (more likely doesn't wan to understand) a paradigm different to his or her own.''

Personally I find the term 'Western Medical Acupuncture' something of a pseudoscientific hybrid concoction.  What it really implies is a cut down, rudimentary 'trigger-point' impoverished kind of acupuncture, without any of the sophisticated conceptual framework that underpins TCM.

For more on this please see:

http://www.christchurch-osteopathy-acupuncture.co.nz/acupuncture/scientificBasis.html

and the excellent cartoon  (video) on:

http://www.christchurch-osteopathy-acupuncture.co.nz/acupuncture/traditionalDry.html