Cultural Competency Term Paper

Total Length: 870 words ( 3 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 1+

Page 1 of 3

Cultural Competency

Practiced for over 2,500 years in China, where it originated, acupuncture is an important part of the holistic system of traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture was first introduced in Europe about 200 years ago by Jesuit priests who served as Catholic missionaries in the East. Most of its modem popularity in America and Europe followed the normalization of relations between the West and the Peoples Republic of China (Pfeifer, 1988). At first, acupuncture caused quite a stir among culturally-biased skeptics in the Western medical community, but over time it has come to be recognized as a legitimate medical technique that should be integrated into standard medical practice for a number of conditions.

According to traditional Chinese Medicine, health is achieved through the harmonious balance between the opposing forces of yin (spirit) and yang (blood) (Acupuncture, Medicomm). The attraction between them creates an energy known as qi (pronounced chee) and health is dependent on its proper flow. Imbalances in this natural flow of energy are thought to result in disease. Acupuncture aims to restore health by improving the flow of qi which is thought to flow through the body via fourteen primary meridians or channels. To strengthen the flow of qi, or remove blockages in the meridians, an acupuncturist inserts a number of tiny, sterile, flexible needles just under the skin at specific points along the channels called acupoints.
Thousands of acupoints along the meridians are associated with specific internal organs or organ systems.

Western science has neither proven nor accepted the notion of qi (Acupuncture, Medicomm). Nor do Western medical doctors and those with a Christian world-view accept any of the metaphysical Chinese religious assumptions that lie at the very heart of acupuncture theory. Even so, the medical community is paying attention to evidence indicating that acupuncture leads to real physiologic changes in the body. Studies have shown inserting needles into the skin stimulates nerves in the underlying muscles. This stimulation is believed to send impulses up the spinal cord to a part of the brain known as the limbic system, as well as to the midbrain and the pituitary gland. The signaling leads to the release of endorphins and monoamines, chemicals that block pain signals in the spinal chord and brain. Other research suggests that acupuncture alters blood flow in the brain and may prompt the release of certain brain hormones, such as serotonin, which transmit nerve impulses (The fine points of acupuncture, Health Pages).

As proof of use as an effective medical treatment, two United States government agencies and The World Health Organization have given their nod of approval to acupuncture (The….....

Show More ⇣


     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


Related Essays

Cultural Proficiency Receptivity Scale

relations – effectively highlighting the need for cultural competency on my part as an aspiring counselor. It is my personal goal to ensure that each student does feel honored and respected. Being a minority, I have had to face the uncomfortable questions about racism, cultural preferences, and insufficient learning conditions and resources in the past. These are the very same obstacles to learning for many students. I realize that I may not be certain about how best to handle such concerns emanating from students – effectively meaning that this is an area in which I ought to… Continue Reading...

The Importance of Cultural Awareness

Introduction Police officers interact with the public on a daily basis, requiring cross-cultural competency and communications skills. Whereas lack of awareness of cross-cultural differences may lead to conflicts and misunderstandings, cultural competency can foster harmonious relationships among multiple community stakeholders. Misunderstandings can also lead to inefficiencies in inter-agency communication, potentially complicating cases by unnecessarily diverting a case to child protective services or the courts. For police officers, cross-cultural competencies impact interactions with citizens, victims, suspects, and coworkers. Cross-cultural competency directly affects the quality of service delivery. Both police officers and civilian employees in multiple sectors need to enhance cross-cultural knowledge as part… Continue Reading...

An Indepth Analysis of Diversity Management

is most apparent and crucial in multinationals. Nowadays, both markets and consumers are diverse in nature, thereby necessitating a diverse workforce. Cultural competency denotes an individual's or company's knowledge, skills and understanding which aids them in embracing diversity and collaborating effectively with individuals hailing from different backgrounds (whether cultural, linguistic, religious or economic) (O'Neill, 2016). Cultural competency indicates non-tolerance of discrimination as well as acceptance of, and respect to, all owing to their differences. Nobody is viewed as superior or inferior. It indicates an all-encompassing, dynamic company culture. The aforementioned introductory section, and consequently, the paper, is largely derived from Rice's 2010 work. The author has put forward a balanced, holistic… Continue Reading...

Postoperative Nursing Management

in a range of healthcare environments. For example, there are at least five separate components of a cultural competency that been introduced to many baccalaureate of nursing programs consisting of different learning strategies, methods for evaluation, and recommendations for effective implementation for each component (Calvillo, et al., 2009). There have also been more hands-on approaches designed such as the community-based participatory research program that foster interactions with diverse community involvement which can also build cultural competencies quickly (Anderson, et al., 2007). However, despite these benefits, it should be noted that cultural competencies may not be enough on their own, given the lack of support relative to critical… Continue Reading...

Human Resources

who offer minimal benefits to applicants.  Cultural competency is also a pressing issue in human resources. When companies expand globally, they may find themselves in charge of workforces that have entirely different norms of behavior and communication. Human resources professionals need to understand the value of cultural competency, training managers to become more culturally aware and ensuring that employees also remain sensitive to diversity.  Conclusion A promising field, human resources refers to the management of a company’s most valuable asset: its people. Recruiting, retaining, and developing top talent promotes the goals of the company and also… Continue Reading...

sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Cultural Competency" (2005, May 07) Retrieved May 20, 2024, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/cultural-competency-64801

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Cultural Competency" 07 May 2005. Web.20 May. 2024. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/cultural-competency-64801>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Cultural Competency", 07 May 2005, Accessed.20 May. 2024,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/cultural-competency-64801