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Acupuncture
Styles
There are
several different styles of acupuncture practice. Almost all schools in the United States teach TCM-based (Traditional
Chinese Medicine) acupuncture, based on standard practices in the People's
Republic of China.
Since acupuncture originated in China,
most practitioners should have a good grounding in this style.
One
acupuncture style is called Five Elements. I called my business Five Elements
because of personal reasons, but I am not a Five Elements style practitioner.
The style of acupuncture I rely on the most is influenced by the works of Kiiko
Matsumoto, who has spent her lifetime studying with Japanese masters such as
Master Nagano, and synthesizing their approach into her own unique style.
Kiiko's work also draws on her studies of the ancient Chinese classics, which
she reinterprets in the light of modern Western medicine. The major differences
between Japanese and Chinese styles are needling and point location.
The needles
used in Japanese style treatments are thinner, and insertion is delicate.
Effectiveness of treatment relies on precise point location and often, the
addition of a stimulus from heat, rather than twirling the needle strongly. If
you have ever had an acupuncture treatment and felt the strong sensation was
unpleasant, you may prefer a Japanese style treatment.
A Japanese
style practitioner finds the anatomical location of the acupoint just the way a
TCM style practitioner does. However, the location just serves as a guide to
finding the exact spot on each unique person, using finger pressure. Once the
"live" spot is found, the needle will be inserted.
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Robert
Hayden, a Japanese style practitioner explains it like this. "Acupuncture
points are more than anatomical landmarks; they are manifestations of a
functional problem in the body. As such, they are normally dormant, becoming
active when a pathological condition begins to form. It goes without saying
that acupuncture point location based solely on anatomical knowledge will be
less effective than point location based on skilled palpations."
My
acupuncture style, therefore, is based on our interaction. I can feel the
qualities of tissue, such as tension, at a presumed point, but ideally, you
would be able to talk to me about your sensations when I apply pressure. Often,
I will palpate one area of the body to check for pressure or pain. This may
seem to be unrelated to your complaint, but an area of tension will indicate a
blockage that may be related to your symptom. This is referred to as a reflex
zone. Then I will press on the acupoint to see if it relaxes that area or takes
away the pain. Sometimes it may feel like the pain transfers to the acupoint.
The purpose of point selection then becomes "clearing" the reflex area, and/or
direct alleviation of the symptom. Acupoint
selection in my sessions, therefore, becomes a matter of determining what works
empirically, as well as what is indicated theoretically.
The more
centered you can be during your acupuncture time, the more you will be able to
help me select the points best suited to your case. Avoid stimulants or pain
medication before your appointment, if possible. Try to be focused on your
body. Although feedback about painful areas is very helpful, we would expect to
have minimal conversation during the treatment. Our acupuncture session becomes
a time for your body to communicate directly, in non-verbal terms.
Read
our acupuncture
FAQs here.
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