The University of South Alabama Physicians Group Lunch ‘N’ Learn lecture series for March will feature Dr. Melanie Landry, an acupuncturist and anesthesiologist at the USA Physicians Group. Her lecture, entitled “Acupuncture: Thinking Outside the Docs,” will take place on March 20, 2007 at 11:30 a.m. at the Infirmary West Conference Room. The lecture will provide information regarding this well-established tradition of acupuncture therapy and its ability to blend with today's modern treatments.

Acupuncture is a different kind of pain relief– relief that does not rely on prescription drugs alone that can be complementary rather than contradictory. This technique, used for centuries, is effective in relieving pain with little if any side effects.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine of the National Institutes of Health, acupuncture originated in China more than 2,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest and most commonly used medical procedures in the world. It is a family of procedures involving stimulation of anatomical points on the body by a variety of techniques. American practices of acupuncture incorporate medical traditions from China, Japan, Korea, and other countries. The acupuncture technique that has been most studied scientifically involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation. The 2002 National Health Interview Survey found that an estimated 8.2 million U.S. adults had used acupuncture, up from an estimated 2.1 million U.S. adults the previous year.

The lecture and lunch is provided free of charge.  Reservations are required.  For more information regarding the lecture or to make reservations, please call (251) 460-7770 or email kebarnes@usouthal.edu.