Eastern and Western Acupuncture - What Are the Differences?

Acupuncture originally developed in Ancient China thousands of years ago.
However, the practice has taken on many forms over the centuries with different modalities, principles and terminologies created by other nations that adopted it.
Knowing the differences between eastern and western methods may help you choose the best action and adjunct treatment.
The Origin in the East Stone knives and pointed rocks were the first needles that relieved stress and illness when acupuncture was first used in China during the Stone Age at around 3000 B.
C.
"Bian" or stone needles developed into bamboo or slivers of animal bone then finally into metal needles during the Bronze Age of the Shang Dynasty.
The meridian system or channels of energy were also developed during this period.
During 475 to 221 B.
C.
, moxibustion, meridian and viscera pathology, acupuncture points, indications, contraindications and 9 needles were added.
More developments such as the use of fingers or "tsun", herbs and acupressure were found from 960 to 1368 A.
D.
Western Acceptance Between 1644 and 1911, acupuncture and other traditional Chinese medicines were traded by China with other foreign countries such as Japan, France, Spain, Portugal and Korea despite a decree to ban the practice.
By the 1900s, several Arabian, Asian and European countries have already discovered the therapeutic benefits and embraced acupuncture methods continuing research and development.
In the 1940s and 1950s, traditional Chinese methods were fused with Western discoveries to improve the system and techniques including acupuncture anesthesia.
The United States was first introduced to the treatment in 1916 although it took almost 60 years before the nation accepted it as effective and reliable.
Understanding the Differences Since Americans have a hard time understanding or accepting the Qi or vital energy that Chinese believe flows through a person's system, acupuncture had to evolve into Western standards thus leading to the creation of modern or medical acupuncture.
This is advantageous when trying to combine or use the traditional treatment with modern medicine as medical doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists and osteopaths use the same new terminologies, basis of diagnosis and treatments and systems.
Western acupuncture basically emphasizes the scientific perspective rather than the philosophical principles of TCM.
The term "acupuncture" is actually Western derived from the Latin words "akus" and "pungere" which means needle and prick.