In her practice, Gotham Wellness, Stefanie DiLibero uses an array of healing methods to help her patients with a variety of ailments. From aches and pains to serious allergies and psychological problems, DiLibero relies heavily on acupuncture to get her patients to feel better and get well. Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicinal practice dating back thousands of years. It relies on tiny needles inserted into the skin at specific points to stimulate meridians and affect a person’s qi, or natural energy. Acupuncture is an entirely safe, natural means of treatment. DiLibero’s practice draws from a broad range of sources and traditions. She has studied these practices extensively and draws heavily upon them for her work. Below, she explains some of the various acupuncture traditions and their origins.
Whenever someone comes to me for acupuncture treatment, I like to explain to them the theory behind my methodology. After all, acupuncture stems from a wealth of ancient tradition and technique that long predates most Western medical practices. There are a variety of acupuncture schools I draw from in my practice. Here are a few:
- Traditional Chinese acupuncture – This is the most common and highly utilized form of acupuncture. Most acupuncture techniques and theory are developed from the ancient Chinese medicinal practices. Despite its status as the foundation of acupuncture, traditional Chinese acupuncture is far from simple. A broad range of techniques and protocols are contained within this system.
- Korean acupuncture – Korean acupuncture draws heavily from Chinese and Japanese acupuncture styles, but is nevertheless considered its own style with its own unique practices. One subset of Korean acupuncture is hand acupuncture. In Korean acupuncture, points on the hands are considered to correspond to points on the rest of the body. As such, you can diagnose and treat conditions anywhere on the rest of the body by performing acupuncture on the corresponding parts of the hands.
- Auricular acupuncture – Auricular acupuncture is a highly specialized form of acupuncture. Much like Korean acupuncture, which considers the hands a microsystem of the entire body, auricular acupuncture does the same with the ears. An auricular acupuncturist will use the ears to diagnose and treat conditions anywhere else on the body. This extends beyond physical ailments: The auricular acupuncturist will treat psychological and emotional issues solely through ear acupuncture. In fact, auricular acupuncture has been especially effective in drug and alcohol detox.
- Japanese acupuncture – Acupuncture originated in China, but Japanese acupuncturists have long been using and altering the practice to suit their own theories and styles. While the proponents of traditional Chinese acupuncture will use a bevy of needles to perform their craft, Japanese acupuncture emphasizes far less stimulation to create a greater effect. As such, Japanese acupuncture uses needles of an even thinner gauge than most other forms of acupuncture. In addition, Japanese acupuncture uses fewer points of insertion on the body. The needles are also inserted to a much shallower depth, sometimes barely piercing the skin, other times just touching it. Unlike Korean or auricular acupuncture, the main focus of Japanese acupuncture is the abdomen, which is used as a diagnostic center on the body.
- Five-element acupuncture – Five-element acupuncture is similar to Japanese acupuncture in that it uses fewer needles inserted at shallower depths. But it differs from other styles because it largely focuses on the spiritual powers of acupuncture to heal psychological and physical diseases. Most practitioners of this facet of acupuncture receive specialized training from an institute that specializes in five-element acupuncture.
In a nutshell, these are the various styles most commonly used by acupuncturists today. In my own practice, I draw upon many of these traditions on at least some level. Though my practice primarily draws on traditional Chinese medicine, I try to incorporate wisdom from most of the acupuncture traditions. There are, however, acupuncturists and practitioners who specialize in specific forms of acupuncture. Experiment a bit, if you feel the need, and see which type of acupuncture is right for your needs.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
