Different strokes for different folks

In our last entry, we gave information about the various acupuncture qualifications out there, and what they meant. Now, we will begin to highlight the basic differences between 'proper' acupuncture and, well...erm...NOT 'proper' acupuncture. It's not an easy task, so it will be rather simplified but, if anyone wants further or deeper information, just ask. Again, if we find that people want to know more, if you give us a hint, we will gladly give you enough to cure insomnia and maybe not need to come and see us!

The basic idea behind Chinese medicine consists of two aspects: The Tao (or Dao) and Qi (or Chi). The Tao roughly translates as 'path' or 'way' and represents the flow of life, a journey or movement. Famously, Lao Tzu (who first tried to describe the Tao) said the Tao that can be spoken of is not the Tao. What on earth does this mean? It sounds a bit like that Kung Fu stuff and grasshoppers of the late 70's. Well, in some ways this is easy to understand, although hard to describe. It's a case of knowing yourself, your world, what feels 'real' and what doesn't. Sometimes this means we have to accept the rough with the smooth as just a part of life; the trick is to understand what the rough and smooth are trying to tell you, what lessons you can learn from them and how to apply the knowledge as you go through life. Sounds easy. It's simple but, not necessarily easy. Getting through life cut-off and isolated is not good for us, whether it's the rough or the smooth. Letting go of outdated or unhelpful thoughts and behaviours, reaching out to others for help and support, trusting the Tao - all require lots of effort and application. However, the Tao would ask that we don't struggle to do that, it says we have to stop fighting and pushing and fitting ourselves into the mould labelled 'should' and ease into the shape that Is. In it's simplest form, Chinese medicine states that dis-ease comes from not being in the Tao.

Western medicine, on the other hand, tends to come from the ideas generated by early philosophers like Descartes and scientists like Newton. Throughout the last couple of hundred years, understanding and describing the body has been broken down into systems and their individual components, a bit like a car engine and it's parts. So, symptoms or problems in one of those parts get treated as separate from the whole. Also, the part is treated as if that is where the actual problem lies. Whilst this is not, in itself, a harmful approach, it does not fit all conditions. There are many symptoms we experience that are nothing to do with the body being incapable of managing; rather, the body is being so efficient it is telling us it has had enough and wants some care and attention. When medical research looks for better answers to our health questions, it tends to take this reduced approach and examine the symptom itself and the hoped-for treatment in isolation from a whole human. This is generally considered the best way to find the 'truth' of a treatment, that is, the complaint and cure are not seen as connected to a person at all. If the aim is to find the chemical that destroys a particular cancer cell, for example, this is an excellent approach and something Chinese medicine does not do. If the aim is to find out what is causing depression - well - it's a bit more complicated than saying "that nut does not fit that bolt".

It's important that we make ourselves (that is, Beeston Acupuncture) clear in what we aim to achieve here. We want patients to make a free, informed choice about the treatment they select, to feel confident that their practitoner has their best interests at heart. In other words, if the best course is conventional medicine, we will tell you. Similarly, if we feel that acupuncture can offer you a better chance, or at least an improved chance, we will say. Any good acupuncturist would be the same - this is not just our approach but that of most of our properly qualified and experienced colleagues.

In the next post we shall explain more about Qi, and how we work with it as acupuncturists.

Why there are so many acupuncture services

You may have noticed that many people offer acupuncture as part of their health care service. Often the letters after their name are not standard, that is, different people claim different qualifications. What do all those letters mean? And how does their practice differ from each other?


Acupuncture is generally viewed as the act of putting needles into certain parts of the body to achieve relief from symptoms, the most commonly accepted symptom being pain. But, acupuncture, in that sense, is only a very small part of the overall system of Chinese medicine. A very important part, yes, but to know where and when to put needles requires a diagnosis. Because Chinese medicine has a whole different viewpoint from Western or 'allopathic' medicine, the way a diagnosis is made differs, too. Just as in allopathic medicine a series of observations, history taking and examinations are made but, being different systems, these are not carried out the same way, nor are they looking at the same things. Trying to superimpose one on the other often means that neither system is as effective as just using the one to it's purest extent. That is not to say the systems are not able to work together as, in the right hands, this is often an ideal combination. But the right hands make for the right results.


For example, if you had a broken leg and consulted an Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon, he/she might have a vague idea of what to do and carry out some basic treatments and your leg might set quite well. But, clearly, their expertise and competence in managing a broken leg would be nothing like as good as an orthopaedic surgeon, who would know all the possible ways to make sure your leg really did heal, that you had no ill effects from it and that any untoward incidents were managed properly. This would be especially true if it was a complicated fracture. Similarly, if you want acupuncture, going to someone with a short, basic training might be all you need but, they do not have the ability to diagnose using full Chinese medical principles. For short term, minor problems (such as a sprain or strain) this is not something to concern patients. But, for long-term or complicated problems, an acupuncturist who is fully trained is going to have a much better chance of sorting it out.


So, how to know who is fully trained? The first thing to do is ask! A fully qualified acupuncturist has the letters LicAc after their name, that is, Licenced Acupuncturist. Many are also members of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) but not all members are fully qualified and not all fully qualified practitioners are in the BAcC, so - ask!

GPs are often members of the British Medical Acupuncture Society (BMAS), an organisation that is specifically for allopathic practitioners like doctors, nurses, midwives etc. The basic training is 24 hours over two weekends.

Physiotherapists usually have AACP (Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists) after their name. This course has 80 hours training.

Other practitioners such as podiatrists, sports therapists and osteopaths may be in APO (Acupuncture Practitioners Organisation) which requires 80 hours training for full membership and 200 hours over 2 years for advanced membership.

LicAc requires a minimum of 3000 hours training, usually full time over three years - many LicAc programmes are aligned to Degree programmes at recognised universities.



There may be other qualifications but, these are the main ones you will see. So, choosing an acupuncturist very much depends on what it is you want them to do. Mostly, someone who does not hold a LicAc cannot call themselves 'an acupuncturist', although they are allowed to say they Do Acupuncture, that is, putting needles in points on the body. How they decide which points to use and when is not based on the diagnostic principles of Chinese medicine, so the acupuncture given is not based on the huge amount of information and knowledge belonging to that system. Generally, the short-course training is based on the acupuncture equivalent of first aid. If first aid is what you need, then those practitioners are excellent. If treatment of a problem is what you need, then a full diagnosis is the only way to get acupuncture that is more likely to be effective.

Next post, we shall look in more depth at what the difference is between the two systems of health care.

A Work In Progress

Well, it's the first week of our new site. We promise to work hard and keep it updated, as well as supply you with plently of information about us, acupuncture, health and all things in between. However, it would help us a lot if you could give us suggestions for the site, too. So, please, feel free to comment and pass on ideas, advice, information, links and so forth. We are blogging babies so, bear with us while we get into the new meedja.




In the coming weeks (or days, if we can get it together fast enough) we shall be sharing with you what it is we do, individually and as a partnership. First, though, who are 'we'?




About Us



We are both trained in the tradition of Five Element Acupuncture http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/abc/fiveelementtheory.php




David Yeomans qualified from The College of Traditional Acupuncture http://www.cta-uk.net/ as a Five Element practitioner 23 years ago and has been in practice ever since. A few years later he did the TCM course at Reading http://www.acupuncturecollege.org.uk/, and in the process learned about Chinese herbs. He is a Voice Dialogues facilitator http://www.marydisharoon.com/articles/whatisvoicedialogue.pdf, and uses this complex, revealing technique in his practice. Dave is also a mentor for students of A Course In Miracles http://www.acim.org/; he offers meditation coaching as well as practical self-help support and guidance for life skills.




Isobel Yeomans is a qualified nurse, Health Visitor and doula http://www.britishdoulas.co.uk/BirthDoula.htmwho became an acupuncturist in 2004, also training at The College of Traditional Acupuncture. Specialising in all things reproductive from pregnancy planning, fertility, pregnancy and labour, through to post natal, she has extensive experience in assisted conception (e.g., IVF).




What We Treat




David has considerable expertise in treating emotional and spiritual health, from anxiety and depression to relationship crises. Often, these parts of us are hidden and can make their needs known in our physical form as illness or pain. For example, chronic back pain can come about when we are not supported in life, whether in our jobs, relationships or in our self-belief. Using his wide range of skills and techniques, Dave is able to comfortably draw out what is ailing a person and work with them to achieve a sense of balance and contentment. Think of it as life-coaching, but with the additional benefit of significant improvement to your health as well!




Isobel specialises in everything to do with having babies. From pre-conceptual care via morning sickness, pelvic pain, 'minor' ailments of pregnancy through to pain relief in labour, she welcomes all stages of this important time in anyone's life. Her nursing background in paediatrics and Health Visiting means she can extend her practice into the post-natal period and advise on young children's health, too. However, at the other end of the baby spectrum, she works with peri and post menopausal women, treating not only the physical symptoms but supporting the life changes taking place.




Coming Soon




We are both training in Facial Enhancement Acupuncturehttp://www.facialenhance.co.uk/, and should be certificated in a few weeks time. We'll let you know when this exciting and effective treatment is available.

WELCOME!

Welcome to Beeston Acupuncture. We are Dave and Isobel Yeomans, acupuncturists extraordinaire!




For contact/appointments/chat telephone 0115 9431204