Furor in China After Wikipedia Calls Acupuncture "Pseudoscience"

News of an ongoing controversy over Wikipedia's classification of acupuncture as a "pseudoscience" has finally made it to China, prompting many to come to the defense of the ancient practice.

The People's Daily reported the news has "provoke(d) public wrath," while Beijing News reported many Chinese netizens have "become outraged" at the Wikipedia article (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acupuncture) that says traditional Chinese medicine is "not based upon scientific knowledge."

Tap image for larger view

Leading practitioners of acupuncture are denouncing the "pseudoscience" label.

Du Lin, director of the acupuncture department at the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Hospital in Dongzhimen, explained that the effects of traditional Chinese medicine are hard to detect and quantify. By contrast, Du pointed out that Western medicine is often powerless to help patients who still experience pain after being given treatment.

Click "Read more" for the rest of this story.

Images: A Better Way to Health, QQ Tech

---