New BMJ Medical Journal On Acupuncture

Main Category: Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine
Article Date: 11 Nov 2008 - 2:00 PST

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The BMJ Group is to begin publishing a medical journal on acupuncture from next year, it was announced today (Tuesday 11 November 2008).

This will be the first complementary medicine title that the BMJ Group has published.

Acupuncture in Medicine is a quarterly title, which aims to build the evidence base for acupuncture. It is currently self-published by the British Medical Acupuncture Society (BMAS).

From January next year, it will be issued through the BMJ Group's Affinity programme on behalf of the Society.

BMJ Group provides a range of products and services to doctors, other healthcare professionals, and patients. Through Affinity this includes a full publishing service from business development, through editorial support, to sales and marketing.

As part of the service, the journal will be fully digitised and an archive of all its back issues will be made available online.

Acupuncture in Medicine was first published in 1982 and boasts a multidisciplinary international editorial board.

The journal's editor in chief is Dr Adrian White, of the Peninsula Medical School in Plymouth, and its editor is Dr Mike Cummings, Medical Director of the BMAS.

The Society has close to 3000 members, all of whom use Western medical acupuncture within primary and secondary care following an orthodox medical diagnosis by a suitably trained practitioner.

Commenting on the move, BMJ and BMJ Journals Publishing Director, Peter Ashman, said "The journal is a good complement for our existing portfolio of journals and we're certain that the Society's members and other subscribers will appreciate the benefits of the decision the BMAS has made on their behalf."

He continued: "The BMAS is ambitious for its journal to grow and flourish and we're looking forward to working with the Society to develop an editorial and commercial strategy which will achieve the aims of BMAS and those of its members, while reaching out to the wider global community interested in this fascinating area of medicine."

Editor in chief Dr White said: "We are delighted to be bringing acupuncture research into the mainstream of medical publishing with this link up with the BMJ Group. Acupuncture is being researched to increasingly high standards, and all healthcare professionals need to be aware of the findings so they can help their patients choose the best treatment for their condition."

Editor Dr Mike Cummings added: "This is an exciting time for acupuncture research and particularly for the Western medical approach to acupuncture that is encouraged by the BMAS. More and more healthcare professionals are learning how to use acupuncture within their practice, and they stand to benefit from the journal's rigorous approach to research.

The new arrangements for publishing Acupuncture in Medicine, and the associated co-operation within the BMJ Group, will appropriately enhance the profile of this approach and the science behind it."

The British Medical Acupuncture Society was formed in 1980 as an association of medical practitioners interested in acupuncture. Since 2002, membership has been open to most regulated healthcare professionals.

British Medical Association