The traditional and modern understandings of acupuncture in Orlando come to pass from significantly different world views and from application of different levels of technology. It is hard to directly correlate the two, though one can say that many of the traditional observations and ideas have partial explanations by modern mechanisms. Still, the modern acupuncturists can become aware of and trained in the application of both approaches to acupuncture. A person to be treated can be analyzed from both perspectives and the treatment strategy can be made according to the conclusions derived from each perspective. Certain aspects of the case may be more agreeable to traditional analysis and corresponding treatment, while other aspects are better suited to modern analysis and treatment approach.

A person who is suffering from a chronic pain syndrome might be analyzed in terms of which meridians are blocked: through treatment of appropriate points on the meridian, the pain might be alleviated. The same individual might be analyzed according to which muscle groups are involved in the painful area and might be treated by acupuncture at trigger points that specifically affect those muscles. An individual suffering from an autoimmune disorder might be analyzed according to which of the traditional organ systems are involved, with treatment of the associated meridians.

The same individual might be analyzed in terms of the immune system disturbance and treated by stimulating points that have been recently identified as immune regulators.

Since the traditional acupuncture approach has been shown to be effective in clinical trials conducted in China and elsewhere in the Orient, one can rely on the traditional methods. However, many practitioners in the West, with little or no prior exposure to Oriental philosophy but with experience and training in Western modes of analysis, may feel uncomfortable turning partly or completely to the traditional Chinese view, and will, instead, focus on the modern understanding of this healing technique.

Traditional Chinese medicine is not a motionless system, but an evolving one. Thus, in the Orient and in the West there are many doctors and researchers who are working on an integration of the earlier customary approach and the modern understanding.