Friday 18 July 2014

acupuncture traditional versus modern trigger point therapy - communication and dialogue is far better than division

More on this  - because it illustrates that principle that the way forward on this is communication and dialogue.  It's very sad when acupuncture is only deemed to be legitimate medicine only with great reservation.

It is also equally sad and unhelpful when traditionally trained acupuncturists (e.g New Zealand Register of Acupuncture members) do not participate in such discussions, or cannot integrate into mainstream healthcare, or cannot speak the language of biomedical science or communicate (or want to communicate!) with GPs and other health specialists.


For those of you who may be following this discussion - I did receive a reply from a friend colleague osteopath, who is conscientious and although initially training in Western Medical Acupuncture, is certainly developing his acupuncture to a high level:


Mike I suggest contacting the authors,especially Dr Cummings. Having previous brought this up with him in conversation you might be surprised if you do have a chat


My response was:

Thanks for your suggestion. As I'm unlikely to be in the UK to do any British Medical Acupuncture Society training, it's unlikely I'll get to meet Dr Cummings as you have. I could try contacting him through the publisher of his book - but if you could find an email address for him, from your own British Medical Acupuncture Society log-in, I would be most grateful. 

You are most welcome to copy and paste the text of my own comments above, on my behalf - into the Blog / Forum / members-area of the British Medical Acupuncture Society or British Osteopathy Association or General Osteopathic Council sites - where I'm sure I'll eventually communicate with the right people - and I would welcome any dialogue that ensued. my email is: mike@ osteopathy-acupuncture.com. Yes - I could join the British Medical Acupuncture Society to paste this - but a bit of a waste of 79 UK pounds! Thanks for your help. Hope all is going well in your own acupuncture practice. regards, M

Monday 14 July 2014

updated - 'Western Medical Acupuncture' - a horrible hybrid concoction - I guess they want to distance themselves as much as possible from TCM acupuncture.

'Western Medical Acupuncture' - a horrible hybrid concoction - I guess they want to distance themselves as much as possible from TCM acupuncture.

Recently, I was buying a book from Amazon (actually a very good book called) 'An Introduction to Western Medical Acupuncture' when I came across this scathing and highly offensive review (to an otherwise good book)

(you can find this book, and the TCM hostile review on : http://www.amazon.co.uk/...3071772/ref=rdr_ext_tmb)

The review is from a person who is hiding behind the title name "not buying into metaphor medicine' (afraid it seems to give their own name, or say who they are): 

''At a time when all too many are willing to follow a guru into a belief-system based approach, i.e., TCM, and abandon their scientific education, this book antidotes the prevailing fascination with myths and metaphors by providing fact-based, straightforward instruction. I applaud Drs. White, Cummings, and Filshie in their publication of a clinically meaningful text packed with legitimate information that medical professionals should be expected to understand if they are going to advertise themselves as acupuncturists.''

My response to this rather bigoted and offensive put down of TCM was as follows:


''I find your review a little inaccurate - as TCM is not based on `myths and metaphors' as you seem to imply - but a highly coherent rational paradigm based on generations of empirical clinical observation. It does beg the question of whether you have studied TCM or not? Or is this only your personal prejudice - you are then exhibiting the very behaviour and belief-systems you appear to be condemning!

I agree with you that Drs. White, Cummings, and Filshie in their publication of their Introduction to Western Medical Acupuncture text do present a `clinically meaningful text packed with legitimate information that medical professionals should be expected to understand if they are going to advertise themselves as acupuncturists', but then so do many TCM texts - if you have read any, that is.''



It is very very sad when educated doctors or medical professionals (as I assume this person is) are so narrow-minded (or possibly this person is just a dim-wit journalist or book reviewer). I can only assume that this person is a rather arrogant and blinked medic - who cannot understand (more likely doesn't want to understand) a paradigm different to his or her own.

Is the dominant medical culture of biomedical science so threatened by TCM that it arouses such passionate hatred and bigotry. Fortunately we no longer get burned at the stake as witches by the inquisition, yet I detect the same level of intolerance alive and well in our 21st century.

Personally I find the term 'Western Medical Acupuncture' something of a horrible hybrid concoction. What it really implies is a cut down, rudimentary 'trigger-point' impoverished kind of acupuncture, without any of the rich and highly sophisticated conceptual framework that underpins TCM.

I would also like to post this text onto any blog page of the websites of the BAcC, British Medical Acupuncture Society, or General Medical Council (UK, AUS, or NZ) but sadly I do not have a member log-in for these sites. I would be happy if anyone want to post this text to the World Acupuncture, or Australian Acupuncture Societies. 

This text is also on my own blog - if you have any comments (you'll probably have to copy and paste these links into your browser) :

go to blog, signature line - bottom of page on:

www.christchurch-osteopathy-acupuncture.co.nz - 

For more on this please also see (you might have to copy and paste these links into your browser:

http://www.christchurch-...re/scientificBasis.html 

and the excellent cartoon (video) - highly recommended - on:

http://www.christchurch-...ture/traditionalDry.html

Sunday 13 July 2014

'Western Medical Acupuncture' registration: diplomacy in the enemy camp



Why I'm considering Western Medical Acupuncture registration:

under ACC regulations I cannot do a 'combined' treatment - i.e. 'mix and match'.  

At the moment I am in an ethical dilemma, as I have to bill either (and exclusively) for either Osteopathy or Acupuncture, and therefore cannot perhaps (if ACC were to really fussy) mix and match - which is usually in the patient's best interests, for the best possible treatment for them. 

If I were also registered under a Western Medical Acupuncture scope of practice - then no one could find fault with this.

Also, I intend to promote Traditional Chinese Medicine 'behind enemy lines' as it were - as many osteopaths are interested in Traditional Chinese Medicine, beyond and in addition to the Western Medical Acupuncture approach.

So rather that 'dancing with the devil'  I see this more as 'diplomacy in the enemy camp'.  And even such abrasive personalities as S, do have some redeeming graces.  Better communication and contact (speak their language) than division and 'tribalism'.

So despite my earlier blog  - perhaps involvement, debate and communication is the best way forward.  It usually always is.

Friday 11 July 2014

'Western Medical Acupuncture' - a pseudoscientific hybrid concoction

Looking at what is actually a very good book called

An Introduction to Western Medical Acupuncture,

Adrian White PhD MA BM BCh Mike Cummings MB ChB Dip Med Ac Jacqueline Filshie MBBS FRCA
''I find your review a little inaccurate - as TCM is not based on `myths and metaphors' as you seem to imply - but a highly coherent rational paradigm based on generations of empirical clinical observation. It does beg the question of whether you have studied TCM or not? Or is this only your personal prejudice - you are then exhibiting the very behaviour and belief-systems you appear to be condemning!


(you can find this book on : http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0443071772/ref=rdr_ext_tmb)

I came across this rather offensive review   - not to the book which is quite excellent - but to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) from a person who is hiding behind the title name "not buying into metaphor medicine' (afraid it seems to give their own name, or say who they are): 

''At a time when all too many are willing to follow a guru into a belief-system based approach, i.e., TCM, and abandon their scientific education, this book antidotes the prevailing fascination with myths and metaphors by providing fact-based, straightforward instruction.
I applaud Drs. White, Cummings, and Filshie in their publication of a clinically meaningful text packed with legitimate information that medical professionals should be expected to understand if they are going to advertise themselves as acupuncturists.''



My response to this rather bigoted and offensive put down of TCM was as follows:



''I find your review a little inaccurate - as TCM is not based on `myths and metaphors' as you seem to imply - but a highly coherent rational paradigm based on generations of empirical clinical observation. It does beg the question of whether you have studied TCM or not? Or is this only your personal prejudice - you are then exhibiting the very behaviour and belief-systems you appear to be condemning!

I agree with you that Drs. White, Cummings, and Filshie in their publication of their Introduction to Western Medical Acupuncture text do present a `clinically meaningful text packed with legitimate information that medical professionals should be expected to understand if they are going to advertise themselves as acupuncturists', but then so do many TCM texts - if you have read any, that is.''


It is sad when educated doctors or medical professionals (as I assume this person is) are so narrow-minded.  I can only assume that this person is a rather arrogant and blinked medic - who cannot understand (more likely doesn't wan to understand) a paradigm different to his or her own.''


Personally I find the term 'Western Medical Acupuncture' something of a pseudoscientific hybrid concoction.  What it really implies is a cut down, rudimentary 'trigger-point' impoverished kind of acupuncture, without any of the sophisticated conceptual framework that underpins TCM.

For more on this please see:

http://www.christchurch-osteopathy-acupuncture.co.nz/acupuncture/scientificBasis.html

and the excellent cartoon  (video) on:

http://www.christchurch-osteopathy-acupuncture.co.nz/acupuncture/traditionalDry.html


Tuesday 8 July 2014

After-hours Osteopathy and Acupuncture appointments still available, but best to book several days in advance. Generally free appointment times (mornings and afternoons) are always available if you need to see an Osteopath immedately.

Just a reminder to everyone that the evenings appointments seem to be very popular - and if you do require an after-hours evening Osteopathy or Acupuncture appointment, then I would suggest booking several days ahead (even a week or more).

Generally I can still see you for an Osteopathy appointment - on the day.  Mornings and mid-day appointments are usually available, and I try to keep some free times every day, for emergencies and acute patients, where you need to see an Osteopath immediately.  (It is only the late afternoons, after 4.30pm, and evenings that tend to fill up).

I'm still working most Saturdays, and these are becoming increasingly busy  - but there are generally still always some free Osteopathy and Acupuncture appointments available on Saturdays, if you are flexible.

You can, of course, easily book your own appointments online, from the website:

www.christchurch-osteopathy-acupuncture.co.nz

And yes, you can still phone on 03 980 2425

If you haven't been before, or would like more information, please see:
http://www.christchurch-osteopathy-acupuncture.co.nz/osteopathy/firstVisit.html

(sorry -  you may need to copy and paste these links into your browser)