Traditional versus modern Acupuncture

CONCLUSION

Rambo attitudes ("Let's kill the Bastards !" or "Attack is the best means of defence" etc) are justified by many governments and generals as sound Defence Policy against perceived attack.

Ramboism may succeed for a time but, unless the attacked group and its genetic code is exterminated, that policy usually fails in the long-term, as is shown by the history of invaded lands. The wheel turns and the natives survive to rise again. (Ireland was occupied but won back its independence after more than 800 years).

Rambo policy is used in medicine and vet medicine (antibiotics against bacterial diseases, test and slaughter policy against bovine tuberculosis etc). Although it is very successful in some cases, it has failed to eradicate many of the infectious diseases (especially chronic diseases). TCM and holistic medical philosophies of ecology (avoidance of perceived attack and enhancement of apt adaptive responses) are more likely to succeed.

In western concepts, Avoidance of the Evitable and Adaptation to the Inevitable imply a fine-tuned balance of the immune, autonomic and neuro-endocrine systems, which can be brought under a degree of voluntary control (even in animals) by conditioning/self training/biofeedback/visceral learning. Active pursuit of passive defence is also in line with Judaeo-Christian guidelines for physical and mental health/wellbeing: a balanced life, in tune with nature; good diet/fasting, physical/mental work, relaxation/meditation, love of self/love of others etc. Yin-Yang concepts were not confined to the East.

Non-specific parasites and their reluctant human and animal hosts must learn, or be helped to learn, to co-exist in some form of harmony/balance. Otherwise, it seems the parasites will thrive long after the hosts shall have become extinct. But, as Murphy's Law prevails ("If something can go wrong, it will, at the worst possible time"), Rambo is unlikely to quit.

Meanwhile:

1. The basis for AP lies in a knowledge of the position and functions of the AP points and in relationships between the Channels, the direction and time sequence of Qi flow in the Channel circuits and the MASTER (energy transfer) points.

2. Few (if any) Master Acupuncturists know all the points. (There are over 1000 points if all AP systems are included). However, to claim to be an acupuncturist and not know the main points is tantamount to charlatanism, if not fraud.

3. Beginners can get good clinical results by Trigger Point (TP) Therapy, Scar Therapy, Neural Therapy, Dermatomal/Segmental Nerve Stimulation. These are all part of AP therapy but they are the simplest part and need no knowledge of Oriental medical concepts or AP principles. Thus, a TP therapist is not always an acupuncturist but an acupuncturist always uses TP therapy, where appropriate.

4. As a prospective acupuncturist, you can be as good or as mediocre as you wish to be. There are four main options in the study of AP therapy:

a. TP and allied therapy (very simple, little study needed).

b. Classical AP therapy (very complex; needs years of study; may not be essential; adequate training difficult to get in some countries).

c. Cookbook AP (Incorporates TP therapy. Relatively simple, if you have good charts, system - and a minimum of home study of AP methods).

d. Intermediate AP (Cookbook system plus a minimum of formal lectures on basic AP principles, plus a 6-12 months of part-time home study). The minimum requirement for proper use of AP is study of the location, function, uses and contraindications of the main AP points.

I suggest that option 4 is the best for most busy professionals. Your National AP association can help you to select a suitable course.