I thought this was an interesting and thorough comparison of the 2 forms of acupuncture. Although most patients will not know the difference when seeking out acupuncture for the first time, its important to realize that there are different styles. Personally, I much prefer Japanese style acupuncture for its effectiveness and painless needling style, which incorporates much care for the patients comfort. There is a difference, similar to Western Medicine, all Dr's are not equal and neither are the medicine they practice. Hope you enjoy the read and find it enlightening.
Sushi Versus Stir-Fry: My Move from TCM Acupuncture to Japanese Acupuncture
Originally published in North American Journal of Oriental Medicine, July 1995
Jake Paul Fratkin, OMD
"Having now been exposed to both TCM and Japanese approaches, I feel I can make some basic comparisons. First, Japanese meridian therapy prioritizes root treatment to balance the various excesses and deficiencies in the acupuncture channels. Root treatment is a whole body treatment, based on evaluating fundamental meridian imbalances, and restoring them to harmony. After the root imbalance is treated, the branch, or complaint oriented, treatment can be performed.
Combining both root and branch treatments is considered more effective than branch treatment alone, and in my clinical experience, recovery time for patients seems twice as fast in terms of the number of treatments required. Root balancing allows the energetic network to return to its most efficient posture, facilitating and accelerating healing.
In this regard, TCM acupuncture makes an effective branch, or complaint oriented, treatment. The TCM construct of local, distal and remote point selection is both powerful and balanced. When preceded with an accurate balancing of the channels in a root treatment, however, healing time is accelerated, and the effects last longer.
In TCM, points are chosen according to recommendations based on the complaint. Rarely is palpation employed, either on the channel or the pulse, with the common exception of looking for a shi points. In Japanese style, however, pulse, point, and abdomen palpation are thoroughly relied upon. Besides the accuracy that this affords in choosing points for therapy, it returns acupuncture to its higher art, namely the skill and ability of the practitioner to discern the energetic imbalance of the patient.
Why have I turned to Japanese style? I can compare Japanese and Chinese styles by referring to cooking, looking at Japanese sushi versus a Chinese stir-fried rice dish. Both are very nutritious; both are delicious. But sushi is exquisite in its design, execution, and taste. It is delicate, thoughtful, and subtle. Stir-fry is tasty and satisfying, but it lacks finesse and sophistication. Ingredients are cut quickly, tossed without much thought, and served efficiently. If one is to pursue acupuncture as an art, one that requires a lifetime of study, practice, and effort, one should apply oneself to the more refined Japanese style. In this way, one will move beyond medical application, towards a cultivation of feeling, sensing, and affecting the patient’s energetic network. The ultimate achievement is not only enhanced health for the patient, but as important, personal development through self cultivation of a very ancient and spiritual art."
JAKE PAUL FRATKIN, OMD is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine in practice since 1978. After seven years basic training in Japanese acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in this country, he went to Beijing for one year to do advanced hospital training in herbal internal medicine, pediatrics and medical qi gong. He is the author of CHINESE HERBAL PATENT MEDICINES, (2001), a respected reference work of 1200 Chinese herbal products available in this country. In 1999 he received the national award, Acupuncturist of the Year, from the American Association of Oriental Medicine, and 2006 he received the award as Acupuncture Teacher of the Year. He is a recognized expert in the treatment of leaky gut syndrome, chronic respiratory and digestive disorders. Jake lives and practices in Boulder, Colorado