It acts mainly by stimulating the nervous system and is believed to assist in inhibiting pain pathways. This type of treatment can also increase local nutritive blood flow, which we, as osteopaths, use to feed and fix muscle damage. It is mainly employed to treat musculoskeletal pain, including myofascial trigger point pain. Aside from this, it helps in the relief of post-operative pain and nausea. It is only as I write this that I am realising how well the aims of Osteopathy compliment the benefits of Western Medical Acupuncture. It is a valuable tool in my Osteopathy Tool Box!

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I trained in Western Medical Acupuncture after I had finished my final Osteopathic exams. I have two friends who studied Chinese Medicine for three years at Reading University and I had volunteered to be their human pin cushion for the Acupuncture part of that course. I have always been impressed with the results of this treatment - even in such (slightly shaky) hands!

 

However, when I started working in the NHS with local GP’s, word got back that I used our simpler adaptation of the traditional Chinese during my osteopathy clinics, and soon I was being referred patients specifically for Acupuncture and developed an afternoon clinic dedicated to this in Bridge Medical Practice.

 

Obviously a good knowledge of Anatomy and Physiology is vital before you can even consider administer Acupuncture so Osteopaths are ideally suited to this type of therapy. As primary Healthcare Practitioners we adapt the traditional Chinese form to compliment evidence-based medicine.