Fusing East and West with Acupuncture and Osteopathy

It often seems as though Eastern and Western approaches to health are often at odds with one another. This is not always true. More and more osteopaths are now suggesting that clients try a combination of both practices, fusing Western osteopathy with Eastern acupuncture. Acupuncture is holistic approach to health that has its origins in China, having been refined and developed evolved over 2000 years. It is based on the philosophy that our health relies on the free flow of our body’s energy – known as Qi –  through a system of channels that lie beneath our skin. The pathways are all connected to the body’s vital organs, so if the flow of Qi is upset in some way (either by physical illness or emotional disturbances),  the health and harmony of our body comes out of balance.

Acupuncture works by placing a number of miniscule needles into specific pressure points in our body that run along the energy pathways under our skin. Not only does this  stimulate energy flow and disperse pent-up tensions, but it taps into the body’s own healing response, which is capable of restoring its natural balance.

But what does acupuncture have to do with osteopathy? The two actually have very similar philosophies. Both believe that a problem can only be solved if you eliminate the source of the illness, rather than merely treating its symptoms. They see the body and mind as being interconnected, which is why osteopaths often recommend acupuncture in combination with osteopathic treatments.

While acupuncture can be seen as merely a means of relieving pain, it helps heal specific problems and diseases. Below are some of the problems and conditions that acupuncture can help with:

• High blood pressure and problems with circulation
• Cranial complaints, as well as headaches and migraines
• Respiratory problems,  including asthma, breathlessness, and various others.
• Musculo-skeletal problems, helping to soothe pain in the muscles and joints. Deals with many osteopathic problems such as stiffness in the knees and neck, sciatica, frozen shoulder, and arthritis.
• Allergies
• Insomnia or aiding relaxation

Many patients also say that acupuncture has given them gives an overall sense of wellbeing – improving their energy levels, vitality, and general health. 

People are often apprehensive about acupuncture because needles are involved. Therapists reassure their clients by explaining that the needles used for acupuncture are not the same as those they use at the doctor’s office for injections. They are a lot finer and do penetrate the body very different ways. While everyone responds to pain differently, many do not find the experience painful at all.

Some are sold on the idea of western medication. Others are convinced that natural healing is the only way to go. But we don’t have to choose one practice over the other. For people in chronic pain or with debilitating injuries, merging eastern and western practices may be the best hope to feeling fitter, stronger, and healthier.

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The content of this page is informed by feedback from osteopaths in the Hertfordshire area and also practices in Leeds. Further input was received from clinics in Luton and a practitioner in Glasgow. Finally a contribution was made by osteopathic practitioners in Nottingham