Acupuncture Questions & Answers
These acupuncture questions and answers were written to inform the public and practitioners that there are other types of acupuncture apart from what is accepted as being the 'norm' that most people associate acupuncture with TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine).
As you will read below Modern Acupuncture is coming of 'age' with its techniques and applications not found within TCM acupuncture systems, or its teaching curriculum's.
That there is a wealth of knowledge within European Modern Acupuncture systems that is not even realised within TCM systems.
Table of Contents:
Are there different types of Acupuncture ...?
Times Newspaper Critique Articles on TCM Acupuncture ....
Auriculotherapy / Ear Acupuncture ...?
Bio-Physical Acupuncture Medicine ...?
Mora Therapy / Bio-resonances ...?
Acupuncture Qualifications in Teaching ...?
Acupuncture is a form of treatment that has withstood the test of time using certain areas of a persons body, that are known as acupuncture points. These acupuncture points lie on and along what are known as meridians or energy lines, that traverse the body. There are many concepts and theories of how it is supposed to work as a system and this was why it was not accepted by the medical establishment at first and still has problems in being accepted. As a treatment in some areas it has moved forward considerably while in others it is more or less stagnant still using old none medical terminology associated with TCM that is not understandable by the general public or most Western medically trained doctors. |
Acupuncture is predominantly associated with China, but history records that it was also being utilised within Indian and Egyptian cultures as well, so is it just solely from the Chinese knowledge base?
Are there different types of Acupuncture ...?
Yes there are, surprisingly most people do not realise that there are different types of acupuncture, the reader is left to their own thoughts about which type would suit them from the descriptions categorised below.
One interesting area within acupuncture is 'titles'.
TCM is now trying to re-invent itself by starting to use the title 'Modern' Western acupuncture, which really belongs to the European acupuncture founders like Dr. Voll., Kropej and Dr. Nogier. systems etc.
The European systems do not belong to TCM or utilise its diagnostic / assessment procedures.
The European points and charts are not the same in many ways.
But, then again TCM has different charts for Chinese body points, so anything is possible, a typical example of this is the bladder meridian, even within TCM charts this meridians points locations differ.
Formulae / TCM Acupuncture...?
This is commonly used by the medical profession per say, because of its ease of use and learning of where to place / insert acupuncture needles.
The one problem associated with this type of acupuncture is that 50% to 60% of the time it will work very well, the other 40% is not as reliable, as it is based on symptomatology rather than causes.
When formulae acupuncture does not work, some patients have been told that they must be one of the people that acupuncture does not work on?
Not that the person giving the treatment has no other way of discerning which points should be used or for that matter why the acupuncture has not worked!
Recently a new patient who had this experience, informed me that she was told that her muscles were to 'tight' as the needles were bouncing out!
She now knows that acupuncture does work on her and that her muscles were not too tight for acupuncture needles and they don't hurt!
How can you tell you have received formulae acupuncture, very easily, as the practitioner does not take any pulses or 'electrical' readings as in EAV / EDS and places the needles in position for that "named" condition with the formulae found to be usually of benefit.
Acupuncture points / areas are electrically known as areas of LOW skin resistance so are detectable by this method. There are many units available for this detection, the most primitive being a "beeper unit".
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Also points known as Ashi points or local tender points can also utilised.
Many formulae 'medically' trained practitioners utilise a medical diagnosis to complement their formulae acupuncture treatment systems. The only problem foreseen with this is that the diagnosis may have been wrong in the first place?
However, most Medically trained acupuncture practitioners then have Western Anatomy and Physiology with its disease and pathology experience.
This is used by practitioners who use and take your Chinese pulses to work out where the 'energy is' and where it should be, the objective being to balance your energy and meridians in the correct 'energetic' place and time of day.
In theory it is a superior treatment in comparison to formulae acupuncture, as it is looking at the person as a whole rather than just a 'bad shoulder' shall we say.
Its disadvantage is that it uses terminology that is hard to understand, by the medical profession and the public alike who are not familiar with Chinese terminology.
It cannot test remedies, and is not as replicable in its finer aspects, with other experienced practitioners who practice this type of acupuncture.
Traditionally it uses needles only, but some practitioners use other ways to administer treatment.
This type of acupuncture relies on a "pulse" diagnosis that is not replicable with other practitioners as in double blind trials, so can be classed as being subjective.
It is also interesting that no double blind trials as far is known have been done with respect to 'pulse' findings being verified by clinical tests, in this respect it is still in the 'dark ages' and has not moved forward.
There are some who would keep it a mystery instead of looking at the clinically science based evidence of it being 'electrical and magnetic' because it infringes on their archaic mindset ideals.
The offer of doing double blind trials has been made many times to other types of TCM Acupuncture that do not practice European based systems of EAV / EDS; Auricular or ACR, not in stating that we are better, but in asking questions about 'public safety with a primary diagnosis' as has always been stated by myself which should be recognised "if you cannot diagnose effectively how do you know what you are treating?".
This then raises issues of 'what are they treating and what is their rationale for the treatment'?
The pulse diagnosis is also utilised for the use of Chinese Herbs, but again the question has to be asked about the initial diagnosis?
Such as those posed in a Times Newspaper article from 'Western' medically trained Chinese Professionals :
Professor Zhang Gongyao
“TCM has no clear understanding of the human body, of the functions of medicines and their links to disease. It like a boat without a compass : It may reach the shore but its all up to luck." His online petition demands that Traditional Medicine be stripped of its mention in the Chinese Constitution and that such treatments should no longer be covered by medical insurance.
Fang Zhouzi a Bio-Chemist
“Acupuncture too, gives him concern. At what angle should the needles be inserted, and how deep? Fang and his fellow doubters worry that the lack of scientific research in the Western manner is letting traditional practitioners get away with murder. Zhang scoffs: "What exactly is the pulse? Do they mean the flow of blood, or is it the heart beat, the breath and the softness of the blood vessels? Some Doctors boast that they can even tell if a woman is pregnant from reading her pulse. The biggest problem is that there is no standard.”
My offer STILL STANDS in undertaking a 'proper' not a pseudo comparative diagnostic double blind testing, the results of which would then be confirmed or NOT confirmed with other clinical tests, the results of which would be published.
Moxibustion is a deep heat applied using a herb that heats the skin.
It is seemingly a TCM treatment in its own right that can be applied in many forms to the person, either on or near acupuncture points.
Two of the more common forms are heating via a stick of moxa or using 'cups' which are made from glass, with a piece of the moxa lighted and then placed under the cups on the skin, over the lighted moxa.
This is quite a safe and useful technique even though it may not sound like it.
Or you can just utilise the 'cups' without any heat placed under them.
Electrical 'heaters' were manufactured, but didn't have the same effects as the moxa herb who's English name is mugwort and also grows freely in the English countryside.
First and foremost all needles used should individually packed and sterile.
If a practitioner tries to use anything other than individually packed sterile needles do NOT allow them to use these needles no matter what they say!
Asepsis - immediately after use they should be placed in a 'Sharpes Box' for disposal.
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Once a needle is inserted you should not feel it, if you do, then say something to have it re-positioned or removed.
You should not bleed from an acupuncture needle insertion, the odd speck of blood is within reason acceptable.
We have had reports from patients that when they have seen another practitioner the needles didn't insert properly or 'bounced off the skin'.
This means one of 3 things, that the needles are blunt or have possibly been used before or the practitioner is not a good acupuncture practitioner (see below Needle-less Acupuncture below).
This can be applied in a variety of ways, using lasers, EAP (Electro-Acupuncture) units, conductive materials or LED's (led emitting diodes - light), lasers etc.
Patients should not feel any discomfort when this type of treatment is used.
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Measurement with a proper measurement unit enhances acupuncture results because each point that is measured is an information centre helping to discern, with an experienced Modern Acupuncturist, which of the points are relevant to being treated and which points are symptomatic of the condition / problem that the patient is experiencing. In determining what is known as a causal chain. |
The beeper unit at one point gained popularity within the UK as a home treatment unit, by finding a point and then treating it, but then people found that they did not get the results that they expected using them? This is primarily because "beeper units" will find ALL areas of LOW skin resistance which in a nutshell explains comments about what beeper units are, in that they are just point finders that 'beep', not information gatherers, contrary to what some acupuncture practitioners would have the general public believe! |
The differences between utilising a beeper unit and numerical measurements for meridian evaluations. Beeper Evaluation As can be seen a "beep or beep, beep" does NOT give any diagnostic information for evaluation, other than an area of LOW skin resistance has been located on TCM's systems of CMP's (central Measurement points). Disadvantages of Beeper Evaluation
European Measurement Evaluation The ability to measure the European systems of CMP's allows the practitioner to assess numerically which CMP's require further |
investigational readings to be taken along the Meridians individual points.
Advantages of European systems of Western Acupuncture ....
- Individual Meridian point measurements evaluation.
- Further individual point measurements evaluation along the meridian.
- European based systems of acupuncture have more Meridian CMP's for evaluation using Western Anatomy & Physiology terminology etc.
Auriculotherapy / Ear Acupuncture ...?
Ear acupuncture is initially thought of by the public for smoking, weight loss or addictions, this is because a lot of people jumped on the band wagon and denigrated this very useful powerful skill in just treating smoking or obesity problems.
It is also utilised but this statement does NOT apply to addictions like drug treatments.
Auricular acupuncture is also utilised in drug rehabilitation treatments using formulae acupuncture.
The European Auricular (ear) systems of acupuncture uses measurement to find, assess and treat the person, this system was formulated by Dr. Nogier.
It is NOT a TCM system of Auricular Acupuncture.
Interestingly the TCM system copied and used a lot from the Nogier system points, except for the measurement concepts, of which many TCM practitioners still utilise beeper units.
Even down to the picture of a foetus in the auricle (ear).
Nogier was the first person to coin the phrase 'Man in the Ear' and also Auriculomedicine, the system again uses Western Medical terminology, not TCM terminology.
Xiao Shaolin translated and introduced the discoveries of Paul Nogier, a French doctor of medicine, in December 1958.
It says: "The auricle is not simply a piece of uneven cartilage. It has a close connection with the internal organs. When an internal organ has disorder, a corresponding reaction will emerge in the auricle."
Nogier put forward a map of auricular points, on which the distribution of the auricular points, for the first time, was regarded as, "an inverted projection of an embryo."
So the next time you read about Auricular Acupuncture think of Dr. Nogier and not Chinese TCM acupuncture.
One of its main advantages is that the person dos not need to get undressed for assessment or treatment.
There are over 300 individual auricular (Ear) points, which as you can imagine are quite close to each other ....
One TCM acupuncture tutor teaching Auricular informed me that he could "feel" with his fingers which points needed treating? This is the equivalent of holding a mains cable and discerning the amps, volts and its polarity, bearing in mind that a finger 'pad' will cover at least 3 to 4 points in the ear, but he nor other will not do a double blind diagnostic testing with me, I wonder why? My opinion on this statement is simply, rhetorical GARBAGE. |
This tutor and others, then wonder why such professionals from China such as Professor Zhang Gongyao and Fang Zhouzi a Bio-Chemist make statements as they have? (see Times Newspaper article above).
Bio-Physical Acupuncture Medicine ...?
This type of acupuncture encompassed auricular (ear) acupuncture with the use of measurements combined with taking measurements from the hands and feet with added diagonal measurements of the body quadrants and head area, it also introduced a further confirmatory diagnostic test utilising Kirlian Photography in the assessment and profiling of patients.
Again readers will start to recognise the importance of taking numerical measurement readings that allow the practitioner to start evaluating for diagnosis what and which areas need attention.
Needles or none needle acupuncture can be used with this system of treatment that is again European based on known physiological body frequency treatment windows.
Frequency windows have known physiological effects or actions when applied to the body, TCM does not teach this within its acupuncture curriculum's.
These are systems where the practitioner takes readings using an accurate measurement instrument (that is NOT a beeper unit).
These systems are more computerised than the Mora Therapy systems, each having an advantage over the other.
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Which should be the fundamental concepts of any treatment systems, especially in 'detecting' treating deeper underlying causal chains of conditions etc.
The readings inform the practitioner about the points, rather like information centres as described previously.
This allows the practitioner to build up a picture of what is happening and which points have a priority in needing treatment.
Diagnostically and treatment wise it is far ahead of TCM formulae acupuncture and has the advantage over 5 element acupuncture because of its terminology being Western medical terminology, and utilising the measurement of more meridian CMP's (central measurement points) and their individual meridian points along the meridian, that are not even part of TCM systems.
By using these specific Western measurement techniques, referral is easier if it is needed.
EAV / EDS can also be used to test remedies against the person to see if they would be effective in helping with whatever is happening.
It is replicable and reliable technique with experienced practitioners of Modern acupuncture.
It also uses hand, foot and head readings to assess what is happening, TCM has no means of measuring these quadrant areas by "hand" like Modern acupuncture techniques.
One reason that it has not gained popularity is because of the learning involved and the time it takes to measure and assess what is going on with the person.
Mora Therapy / Bio-resonances ...?
Mora Therapy uses the bio-resonances of the person being tested and treated.
A more simplistic explanation is that it uses the persons own 'energy' to treat them with by correcting it and then filtering the "subtle electrical energy", before sending it back to the person using acupuncture points that are known as Voll points (EAV / EDS systems).
It utilises a numerical measurement system that is accurate and diagnostic when applied correctly.
It treats the person without needles and there are no what might be termed electric shocks.
The patient feels very little except a feeling of well being as treatment progresses.
The system can also be used to test remedies against the person if necessary.
Strange that TCM use terminology such as Yang - Positive and Yin - Negative, but then try and deny that this is in essence "electro magnetic?"
As proven by taking readings from Cadavers, which TCM has never accomplished with its 'old' concepts of 'energy' and also energetically as proven by our very own existence, such as the usage of Hospital equipment taking electrical readings.
Even a plant that is isolated and denied this 'electro magnetic energy' WILL DIE!
These Voll points are not TCM (Traditional Chinese medicine) points.
The Voll system also has extra meridians for testing and treatment, that are not available via TCM acupuncture points or systems, nor are they taught within formulae or TCM systems.
One reason it has not gained popularity is because of the costs of the units and the learning involved, it also takes time to measure and assess what is going on with the person.
Kirlian Photography is primarily utilised for diagnosis as to which areas need attention, by taking photographs using a Kirlian photographic camera. As can be seen the camera takes energetic photos of the hands and feet Its also a way of monitoring treatment progress, that the patient as well as the practitioner can see as to how acupuncture treatment is progressing. |
It was first introduced into and utilised with Modern acupuncture.
It is not taught within TCM training curriculum's or systems of acupuncture.
A lot of fascinating research was done using kirlian, about energy etc., like taking a kirlian photo of leaves and foods before and after being nuked by a microwave!
Well worth an internet search and read if your that way inclined.
Magnetic Field Therapy (MFT), can be used with Modern acupuncture in combination with the actual treatment, so giving the patient added therapy and accelerated healing.
MFT is not normally used by formulae or TCM practitioners with their form of acupuncture, but can be used by these practitioners, as it is a treatment within its own right.
One an example of magnetic fields used in accelerated healing would be a broken bone, with the right frequencies and frequency of treatment it will heal it in half of the normal expected healing time of 6 weeks.
As a clinic we have done this many times, including none healing fractures.
There are also what are known as ELF's (extremely low frequencies) utilised with magnetic fields treatments.
Acupuncture Qualifications in Teaching ...?
Did you know that Modern Acupuncture has the first 'English' University degree in EAP?
That it had the first University Cert.Ed., and NVQ trainer teaching qualifications in the UK that were awarded to an experienced clinical practitioner of Modern Acupuncture.
That TCM has a different Anatomy & Physiology than Western Medicine?
But, is the same equivalent (source BAc.), but has no educational accreditation as being such an equivalent?
Yes, its a degree course, but not like it is perpetrated, practitioners have to learn:
- The Chinese language and its terminology with associated 'meanings' for each point.
- TCM Anatomy & Physiology - that has YET to be interpreted or understood within 'Western Medicine' and visa versa with a majority of practitioners of Chinese / TCM with no medical background or training in Western Anatomy & Physiology.
- Learn how to take a pulse diagnosis, that has been found NOT to be replicable with other experienced practitioners in their diagnostic findings when put to the 'test'.
- Nor has the pulses existence been found with such units as a doppler?
- Needle insertion techniques etc., etc.
- Learning formulae for conditions associated with Chinese / TCM Anatomy & Physiology and pulse findings.
For a further breakdown on acupuncture see ....
Chinese / TCM Acupuncture according to BAc, do not recognise the body's 'electrical' properties?
As a simplistic statement if there were no electrical properties then we would all be dead!
Even though it has been scientifically evaluated as our body having electrical properties with the ultimate electrical readings taken from cadavers (dead bodies).
Yes, 'electrical' readings have been taken both auricular and body wise, but for some reason the Chinese / TCM pulses where not available on the cadavers for assessment/evaluation?
We then go back to the foundational statement of any treatment "if you cannot diagnose, you cannot treat", which can be put another way.
If TCM have not the Western Medical knowledge or experience, there is a likelihood of missing or even masking an underlying condition that would possibly need referral to a medical or dental practitioner, some may not be that evident as they have slipped past their 'system of diagnosis' for whatever reasons, which is where EDS / EAV testing comes into its own as a primary care preventative diagnostic system.
A most recent example being of a 9 years old girl, no energy starting to lose weight, who had been maintained with 5 Element 'energy' balancing from a Chinese / TCM practitioner, her parents were informed that she needed relaxation and calming down? She attended our clinic for an evaluation via various tests including EAV / EDS test readings - which confirmed she had started with symptoms of juvenile diabetes, which alone in theory would be suspect just from her medical case history taken. The parent was informed of the findings and the child was referred to her doctor and advised on certain nutritional aspects of her diet, within one and a half weeks she had put 1 1/2 pounds back on in weight and was a much happier person playing with her friends!
The question that 'begs' to be asked is why was this missed and puts a different perspective on the degree course that this TCM practitioner attended.
The future of acupuncture as a system will be over taken, no needles will be used.
The taking of pharmaceutical medicines will become more rare, why?
Well one of the top executives has now admitted that quite a lot of pharmaceutical medicines, do NOT work, and this has been known for a 'long time' within the pharmaceutical industry and also by medical doctors!
Why has this person only now just admitted this?
Well its clever marketing in one sense (apart from being the truth), as the pharmaceutical 'giants' are now concentrating on genetic engineering.
Are these new concepts or old paradigms that are being presented by the 'establishments' like :-
The new cancer 'cure' of taking serum from the cancer tumour and re-injecting it into the person, it is also called isotherapy and has been used for a VERY long time by homoeopathy etc., but the scientific establishments have now discovered it and amazingly it works, well now it does?
Which planet have they been on?
The money making planet, no matter how immoral it may sound please bear in mind 'cures do not make money', this is fact not fiction!
Nottingham University discovered after research of course, that Feverfew is good for headaches, perhaps they can't read, as it has been known for about 100 years that its good for headaches, its in all the old herbal books!
But now we should be cautious with it?
In other words what they are really after is a Pharmaceutical patent for the Feverfew as a medicine!
I wonder who got an easy peasy PhD for that one and the one below?
The 'new' investigative protocol and findings of dental x-rays for Osteoporosis?
Funny this has been known dentally for years, not just 2006 / 2007, but someone will get something out of this fascinating "discovery" that is a well known fact, seems the medical fraternity is starting to listen a little bit!
For other fascinating discoveries to be made, that are ALREADY KNOWN see dental problems.
Just as it was discovered that the World isn't flat.
It took a while but the information penny eventually dropped, why?
Because you can't control everything all of the time, people will find out eventually and even faster now with the internet!
Sceptical yes I am, when you objectively read and research what is being stated by science, it is not what most people think it is?
A lot of sciences are run by MONEY, not objectiveness and observation, these ideals go out the window when the researchers funding is withdrawn or threatened with being withdrawn because findings don't support the product bumph etc, etc.
As a scientist if you were commissioned by a company with funding to research something for the company, but found that it had adverse effects how long do you think they would carry on funding you for - not long is the truthful answer.
Another cancer screening that is revolutionary is by dogs believe it or not in detecting cancer!
When asked about this on a BBC television program the British Cancer Research pooh poohed it and said that it wasn't scientific as they could diagnose cancer in its early initial stages?
The American Oncologist then took this challenge and diluted known cancer patients urine 30 times more than what could be found 'scientifically' and used trained dogs who detected the urine samples with more or less 100% findings.
But the scientific based tests that the British Cancer Research senior researcher quoted could find at this dilution, he then commented back with "you can't use dogs for this, its not scientific"?
Being sceptical, it would also possibly reduce funding, jobs etc.
Not the positive side of releasing funds for further research areas such as into the causes of cancer.
So for the moment you will have to put your trust in cancer being found 30 times less or LATER than what it could be found with a dogs sense of smell!
Objectively ask yourself if the British Cancer Research scientist or one of their family was found to possibly have a cancer by a trained dog would he ignore it?
I do NOT think so!
