Acupuncture in America

KAWAIHAE — In his new book, “The Birth of Acupuncture in America: The White Crane’s Gift,” Steven Rosenblatt, M.D., PhD, L.Ac, provides a concise explanation of acupuncture — principles often used at the OceanMed Clinic that he opened in Kawaihae last November.

As one of the founders of this field in the U.S., he co-authored the book with Keith Kirts to help explain how acupuncture works and its evolution in America. It is touted as the first accessible and entertaining introduction to acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine for the ordinary reader, and also contains practical information on diet, exercise and first aid techniques.

Published by Balboa Press, it uses a simple question and answer format to give practical uses for many of the acupuncture techniques. It also employs a journal technique to express the insights of a Taoist master acupuncturist, Dr. Ju Gim Shek, on the origin of acupuncture in the West.

Rosenblatt explains how the introduction of acupuncture into Western medicine has begun to change the health care system in the U.S. A growing number of doctors in integrative and holistic medicine utilize acupuncture as a scientific approach to use the energy of the body to control and correct physical health.

“The white crane is the symbol of the doctor in China. The myth of the flying stork bringing the baby is the Western adaption of this symbol,” he said. “Acupuncture is truly a gift from the storehouse of ancient Chinese knowledge. It is the White Crane’s gift.”

Dr. Rosenblatt was originally trained in acupuncture and oriental medicine by Dr. Shek. He was taken to Hong Kong where he graduated from the Hong Kong Acupuncture College as the first Western student of Dr. James Tin Yau So. Upon his return he organized and was the first clinical director of the UCLA Acupuncture Research Project in the medical school department of anesthesiology.

The book is available on the Balboa Press website.