The Difference Between Receiving an Acupuncture Treatment From a Medical Acupuncturist and a Traditional Acupuncturist

Acupuncture is one of the oldest medical approaches utilized for health conditions such as stress, pain in various areas of the body, anxiety, and even infertility. Although this modality of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is over 3,000 years old, acupuncture has only been practiced in the United States for approximately three decades. During that time, acupuncture has been progressively integrated with Western medicine. While this integration has many benefits, it also can cause confusion at times between receiving an acupuncture treatment from a medical acupuncturist versus receiving one from a traditional acupuncturist.

Whether you are considering acupuncture as a complementary therapy or as a career, it is important to understand the fundamental differences between the two areas of practice. The basic and most important difference lies in the training the professionals receive. Medical acupuncturists are Medical Doctors (MD) that participate in a course on acupuncture that is typically 200-300 hours. The course is designed to give physicians a working idea of the effects of acupuncture, teach them the techniques and further help them understand how their patients can benefits from this complementary therapy. However, some physicians offer acupuncture to their patients after receiving training for just a short period of time. Not only does this slim the chances of the treatment being effective, but in many states it is illegal.

On the other hand, traditional acupuncturists that are properly trained at an accredited institution and licensed have spent at least 2,000 hours learning principles and techniques of acupuncture. In majority of the states, it is required that an acupuncturist completes a 3-4 year program at an accredited acupuncture school during which they get both classroom education and supervised clinical application of what they had learned. This ensures that they are fully prepared to provide the public with effective and safe acupuncture treatments.

It is beneficial to thoroughly research the acupuncture schools in the state where you wish to practice. The Graduate School of Oriental Medicine at New York College, for instance, offers a 145-credit, nine-trimester Acupuncture Program during which students must complete an internship at their on-site clinic. The students are supervised by licensed professionals and the patients can get their treatment at a discounted price. New York College is an ACAOM-accredited school with four convenient locations in the New York metro area and a variety of holistic health degree programs.

The Development of Acupuncture Treatment

Acupuncture is an ancient holistic therapy, which follows the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The term “acupuncture” derives from the Latin words, “acus” which means “needle” and “puncture”, which means “to penetrate”. Fitting to its name, an acupuncture treatment consists of inserting thin needles into specific points on the body for the purpose of harmonizing the flow of energy, or qi (pronounced "chi").

Today, acupuncture needles are made of steel and are approximately .20mm with slight variations depending on the practitioners and the points that need to be addressed. However, it has taken 5,000 years of advancements to get them to this point. The earliest needles were made of sharpened bone, clay, and stone. Due to the brittleness of some of those materials, they were made into arrowhead shape rather than thin needles as they are today. Therefore, instead of inserting the object into the acupoints on the patient’s body, they would prick the points to stimulate them.

Although the technology has changes, acupuncturists today continue to follow the same Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principles. The governing dogma in acupuncture is treating the body as a whole, taking into consideration the physical, mental and emotional factors. Therefore, rather than just treating the symptoms, Acupuncturists strive to figure out the underlying issue of the health problem and develop a treatment plan for it.

Besides the needling technique, which requires thorough knowledge of over 300 acupoints on the body, Acupuncturists may include other holistic therapies including yoga, herbal remedies, and massage therapy into the treatment plan. The addition of other holistic therapies emphasizes the focus on treating the whole body and maintaining that health by utilizing various methods. Today, Acupuncturists also work closely with Western physicians to ensure that the patient receives the proper integrated medical care. Due to this integration, approximately 30% of Western physicians admit to referring their patients to holistic practitioners such as Acupuncturists.

If you are trying an acupuncture treatment, it is beneficial to first consult with your primary physician as they may know a licensed Acupuncturist. If not, you may find one by searching online or by attending a teaching clinic at an accredited acupuncture school. The Graduate School of Oriental Medicine at New York College, for instance, offers a 145-credit, nine-trimester Acupuncture Program during which students must complete an internship at their on-site clinic. The students are supervised by licensed professionals and the patients can get their treatment at a discounted price. New York College of Health Professions is an institutionally accredited and ACAOM-accredited school with four convenient locations in the New York metro area and a variety of holistic health degree programs.