Training | Acupuncture – What is it? Does it help?

Training

In Germany, only alternative practitioners and doctors with the appropriate additional qualification may offer acupuncture. They receive this additional qualification through additional training. It is offered by various educational institutions, such as the German Academy for Acupuncture or the German TCM Association (Traditional Chinese Medicine).

There are different training qualifications – depending on how many hours the training includes. After 140 hours, for example, doctors can reach the basic qualification with which they can settle accounts in the private health insurance sector. In order to be able to settle accounts with the statutory health insurance companies, however, the doctor must have completed at least 200 hours.

Only then may the doctor use the additional title of acupuncture. During the training, the background and scientific principles of traditional Chinese medicine with a focus on acupuncture are taught. This includes medical-historical, physiological and anatomical basics, the course of the individual meridians, indications and contraindications, as well as various treatment concepts. In the practical part of the training, the stab and stimulation techniques are practiced and various practical courses are conducted. The training ends with a qualification examination.

Summary

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese healing method, the use of which has already proven its worth in many clinical pictures, such as migraine. Depending on the symptoms, appropriate acupuncture points are stimulated with needles.The aim of acupuncture is to activate the self-healing powers of the body so that the so-called life energy Qi flows through the body again in a harmonious flow. Despite the effectiveness of acupuncture, the costs of treatment are only covered by statutory health insurance in the case of back pain or knee arthrosis. Practising doctors or alternative practitioners must have an additional qualification.