Acupuncture gaining more popularity in Indonesia
Acupuncture gaining more popularity in Indonesia
Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
Once discounted as non-scientific healing method, acupuncture has
gained growing credibility and popularity internationally. In
Indonesia, medical doctors are embracing the technique and
acupuncturists have become a recognized profession.
From May 20 to May 22, the Association of Indonesian
Acupuncturists (PAKSI) held an expo, including seminars and
workshops on acupuncture.
Hundreds of acupuncturists and doctors took part in this
first-of-a-kind event, eagerly paying the combined Rp 1 million
(US$111) expo fee.
"This is the first time we have ever held an expo. Previously,
we have done a lot of smaller events. We held this event mostly
to prepare ourselves, because we will be the host of the World
Symposium of Acupuncturists in 2006," Paksi secretary-general
Siti Murniati said after the opening of the expo.
The trade side of expo was not large, with only about a dozen
exhibits selling traditional medicines and electro-acupuncture
equipment participating.
However, the first day's seminar was packed with interested
participants.
Workshops on the second and the third days addressed specific
topics like acupuncture for easing wrinkles, for diabetes
mellitus, and psychological complaints like depression.
"People now accept acupuncture as a scientific method and we
are seeing a growing demand for the service," Siti said.
"However, the quality of acupuncture services has to be
improved," she said.
PAKSI, which has 3,000 registered members, has arranged to
improve acupuncture training from certified 300-hour courses to a
college diploma curriculum.
"We have a three-year diploma college for acupuncture in
Surabaya. We will have another one in Jakarta and one in Malang,"
Siti, who is a dentist-cum-acupuncturist said.
The chairman of PAKSI, Tomi Hardjatno, said that one of
PAKSI's missions was to promote acupuncture services that were
professional, effective, safe and rational.