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The chief advantage of the modern approach, so far as Western health
professionals are concerned, is that it can easily be assimilated to
the rest of their training. Also, it has given rise to some new forms of
treatment, such as periosteal acupuncture, that did not form part of the
traditional system. A very important feature is that it is quick to
perform so that a good number of patients can be treated at a sitting.
There is a school of thought which holds that if you do non-traditional
acupuncture you can treat "simple" disorders such as musculoskeletal pain
but not more "complicated" disorders, which require the traditional
methods. I don't subscribe to this view.
For one thing, treating musculoskeletal problems with needling is
often more demanding technically than treating, say, ulcerative
colitis. For another, there is not much research evidence to show that
any kind of acupuncture has more than a placebo effect, so
claims for the superiority of any particular method within acupuncture
can only be a matter of personal opinion.
For the method I use I would
claim only that it is at least as effective as any other I have
encountered, it is quick to perform, and it is compatible with what we
think we know at present about the mechanisms of acupuncture.
Acupuncture is not a complete system of medicine but rather a
therapeutic tool that can be used by a wide range of health
professionals. Its main advantages are that it works in some disorders
for which there is little or no effective treatment and that, in
competent hands, it is relatively safe. Much of acupuncture is concerned
with pain relief but it can also be used for certain non-painful
disorders.
To get an idea of the approach on which these courses are based, please
see the FAQs and my article Where to place the needles and
for how long?
Applying for a course
I teach courses regularly in London but am also available to travel
outside London and indeed to run courses abroad, outside the UK. In
recent years I have taught courses in Ireland, Greece, and Iceland. The
exact structure and content of the courses varies somewhat according
to the professional audience for whom they are designed (doctors,
physiotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, nurses, or podiatrists).
They are suitable for health professionals with no previous experience
of acupuncture and also for those who have previously attended another
course and who wish to explore a different way of approaching
acupuncture.
Course participants are strongly advised to obtain immunisation against
hepatitis B. Note that this does not provide complete immunity from
infection.
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For further details, availability, and costs please send an email to
ac@acampbell.org.uk, indicating which course(s) you are
interested in and what your type of practice is (doctor, osteopath,
chiropractor, podiatrist, nurse ...).
See also course dates and Pre-course reading.
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Please note that these courses are suitable only for people
who are currently members of a recognized statutory regulatory body.
They should also have access to an orthodox medical diagnosis.
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