ACUPUNCTURE

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a mainstream branch of Chinese medicine whose roots go back more than 2000 years. Acupuncture is a holistic therapy (that is, it seeks to achieve overall patient wellbeing - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual - rather than just the relief of specific symptoms) which embraces the maintenance of good health as well as the treatment of disease and pain relief. Traditional Chinese philosophy holds that wellbeing depends on the vital energy known as Qi (in other traditions called chi, ki or prana) flowing in a balanced and unhampered manner through the body's energy channels (meridians). Qi is considered to consist of equal and opposite qualities, Yin and Yang, which must also remain in balance for wellbeing. The insertion of fine needles into the meridians by a trained acupuncturist can stimulate the body's own healing energies and also act to restore the balance of Yin and Yang and a healthy flow of Qi (which in turn recovers a healthy balance between the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual within the patient).

What conditions can be treated by Acupuncture?

Acupuncture can be used to treat a very wide range of conditions - indeed, any condition (physical, mental, emotional or spiritual) which involves a disruption or distortion of the body's energies. It is renowned for its ability to bring pain relief (for example, from back and neck ache) but can be equally beneficial for a wide range of emotional conditions (such as anxiety and stress) as well as for complaints such as sleep problems and nausea.

What is an Acupuncture treatment like?

The Initial Consultation will involve taking a detailed case history and during the Initial Consultation a Treatment Plan will be suggested and the likely timescale and cost indicated.

An Acupuncture treatment may involve the removal of some clothing depending on where the needles are to be inserted (and n.b. because the energy channels are the focus for the treatment the points of insertion will not necessarily or even usually correspond to the site of pain - e.g. back ache will not necessarily mean that the needles will be inserted in the back area). You may also be asked to remove watches, spectacles, contact lenses, shoes, belts - anything which may be constricting or interfere with the energy flows.

The patient will lie on a treatment couch or, if unable to do so, sit in a treatment chair and the treatment proceeds by the practitioner inserting superfine sterile acupuncture needles in a number of sites and leaving them in situ for a period of time. The insertion of the needles may be painless or slightly uncomfortable (people vary in their reactions) but is almost never reported to be painful.