Understanding the difference between Traditional and Modern/Medical Acupuncture.
Here at the Monkton Farleigh Osteopathic Practice Katie and Lucy offer modern/medical acupuncture as an adjunct to their Osteopathic treatment. We consider it another tool in our tool box to help repair the musculoskeletal system and resume full function and health. There is some confusion amongst patients as to what acupuncture is and how modern/medical acupuncture differs from traditional acupuncture. Here is an explaination that may help.
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a treatment that consists in pricking the patient with a special needle. It developed in China about 2,000 years ago. Traditional Chinese acupuncture uses a complicated system of ancient ideas that are not easy for most of us to understand or accept today. However, many modern Western practitioners find that acupuncture can be understood in scientific terms. This makes it easier to use in a Western setting and it is becoming increasingly acceptable here. Many hospitals today offer acupuncture to their patients and the British Medical Acupuncture Society has over 2500 members.
Today, therefore, there are two main forms of acupuncture: traditional and modern.
What are the main differences between traditional and modern acupuncture?
The differences are mainly at the level of theory/ideas about what is going on when one inserts an acupuncture needle into a patient. There, are, however, also some practical differences. The principal differences between the traditional and modern schools can be summarized as follows :
TRADITIONAL ACUPUNCTURE
- Follows rules laid down in the past.
- Based on pre-scientific ideas.
- Practical rather than mystical but appeals to Westerners interested in mysticism and energy flow.
- Traditional diagnostic methods are used, such as the pulse and the appearance of the tongue.
- Generally more needles are inserted and for a longer period of time compared to modern acupuncture.
MODERN/MEDICAL ACUPUNCTURE
- Largely or completely ignores the old rules.
- Based on modern anatomy and physiology.
- No element of mysticism.
- Physiological diagnostic methods are used such as trigger points and muscle tightness.
- Generally fewer needles are used and for shorter periods of time – often 2 minutes or less. This makes it easy to combine with Osteopathic treatment within a treatment session and also leads to fewer adverse treatment reactions.
The chief advantage of the modern approach, so far as Western health professionals are concerned, is that it can easily be assimilated to the rest of their training. Also, it has given rise to some new forms of treatment, such as periosteal acupuncture, which is good for treating joint pain.
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Testimonials
” The best Osteopath in the area by far! Katie is so warm and friendly, and not to mention marvellous at her craft. I really can’t speak highly enough of her! …” Emma Wilson
“Doug is professional, friendly and extremely thorough. After the amount of times I have walked out of the clinic with all pain magically gone, I don’t trust anyone else with my spine!” Zara
“Katie is a very empathic and highly skilled practitioner. I would absolutely recommend her to any of my clients ….” Anne Moss – Pilates Instructor
“Sian’s gentle, yet effective approach to her work made it an easy experience for our 11 year old son when visiting for a back and ankle injury, who up until meeting Sian did not like going to the Osteopath. She was extremely professional and I can not recommend her enough.” Susan
“I often refer patients to Katie and get treated by her personally as I know I can trust her to be kind and professional whilst getting great results.” Sally Knudsen – Physiotherapist, Bath RUH
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Fitness Friday - Instagram vs reality!One of the osteopathic principles is “Structure governs function”.Tried my winter trained Peleton legs out today for the first time since Autumn. Castle Combe looked beautiful and so good for the soul to get out in this fab weather. Of course I practiced what I preach before setting off - tennis balled the gluts, foam rollered the quads and some good lower back stretches to get my creaky spine ready for action. Felt surprisingly good.! Maybe next time we’ll be allowed to stop for a bite to eat. 😊 #feelinggood #wiltshirecountryside #castlecombevillage #cyclefit #osteotips👍🏽 #peletonbike #practicewhatyoupreach #osteopathyforsports #osteopathybath #osteopathywiltshire #lightattheendofthetunnelFitness Friday! Following on from last week’s post - a great way in which we can progressively overload is to increase the volume of our training. This can be done in many different ways:Brighter days ahead! We hope you’re all enjoying the sunshine! Remember we are still open throughout the roadmap out of lockdown and we are still wearing full PPE and thoroughly cleaning the clinic between each patient!Caught up with my lovely friend Fran, during a social distancing walk this week, who is involved in this great health education project. BIRD is committed to encouraging greater public awareness of bone and joint disease ( not just effecting the elderly) and helping patients, their friends, families and colleagues to understand their conditions. Couldn’t wait to share this with my patients . #jointawareness #healtheducationworks #spreadingtheword #rheumatoidarthritis #psoriaticarthritisawareness #osteoporosis #bathinstituteforrheumaticdisease#osteopathyforempowerment #osteopathybath #osteopathywiltshire