Challenges and choices: translational acupuncture research spectrum-a proposal

Abstract

For more than half a century，the modern bioresearch in acupuncture has made remarkable advancements, proving scientific basis underlying the traditional, intuitive treatment, as well as leading to some new discoveries with the potential to enhance the effectiveness of acupuncture as we know it. Meanwhile, the clinical researches have started to shift its paradigm from traditional individual observation to modern evidence-based medicine. However, there is little interaction between basic and clinic researches, which are like two separate worlds, not benefiting each other. Also the education and training of acupuncture are still traditional style, little combining with modern studies. To bridging the large gap, we need translational science involving in. In this article, with a critical reviews of the limitations of the traditional methods of acupuncture, the challenges faced by clinic practices and placebo-control studies, and the advantages and disadvantages of basic research, we propose a methodological paradigm of the translational research, Translational Acupuncture Research Spectrum, that meets the current situation of acupuncture researches, hoping to give insights into this field and to promote modern acupuncture to move towards a new stage.