Massage Therapy, Acupressure, or Acupuncture?

By Craig Friesen

With increasing emphasis placed on alternative health methods, being aware of what is available may help you choose a career path or specialty. While acupressure and acupuncture are often separate disciplines, you do not have to choose between them.

Chinese medicine has greatly impacted alternative medicine in the United States. Yet disciplines such as acupressure and acupuncture are often misunderstood. Among other choices you may want to discover these two forms of alternative health as supplemental to a massage therapy career before committing to a school or program.

The Difference Alternative Medicine Can Make
Alternative medicine is becoming increasingly more popular as a holistic treatment approach to common and complex health issues. We are learning, for instanc, that alternative health has much to offer the stressful work environment.

Both acupuncture and acupressure offer treatment possibilities with the biggest difference being the use of needles. Acupressure is a closer companion to massage therapy since both involve just the use of touch, yet many massage therapy clinics also offer acupuncture as an additional alternative medicine option.

Why Not Just Choose Massage Therapy?
One career path possibility worth considering is massage therapy with additional training in acupressure and/or acupuncture. Massage therapy is more widely accepted in the United States and requires the most training.

With a solid foundation of massage therapy you should be able to find employment in an alternative health clinic or you can decide to set up your own business. Either way, the additional skills of acupuncture and acupressure can only increase your options and clientele.

Physicians are more likely to approve a referral to massage therapy and from there the patient can decide whether they are interested in other alternative medicine treatments.

Source

• http://www.chinastudies.com


• http://www.monster.com

About the Author
Craig Friesen is a freelance writer living in rural Saskatchewan, Canada. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies from University of Manitoba and a Master of Divinity degree from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana.