Acupuncture

What it’s good for? Acupuncture is best known for it’s effectiveness in managing pain and speeding up recovery time of injuries and increasing mobility for people with chronic pain conditions such as arthritis. In my clinic I use it mainly for painful conditions such as back, shoulder and neck pain, pain in joints, such as hips elbows and knees and for allergies and stress.

History Acupuncture is a system of medicine with a very long history. It was developed in China about 3000 years ago and is part of a broader framework of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The system observes that all living beings have channels of energy or ‘Qi’ which regulate health in the body.

Theory In ill health points along these channels become blocked hence disturbing the balance within the body and creating disease. By treating points along the channels an acupuncturist is able to redress imbalance in the body hence bring about cure of disease.

Clinical research has been done into the efficacy of acupuncture and it is recognised as a valuable mode of treatment by the World Health Organisation.

Will it hurt? An acupuncture needle is not like hypodermic needles used in hospitals and Doctors surgeries. An acupuncture needle is much, much thinner, as thin as a human strand of hair in fact so the chances are you won’t even feel the needle pierce your skin. To most people the sensation of the needle is barely perceptible and what people feel is a gentle, pleasurable, radiating, tingling sensation when the needle goes in.

You may be surprised to hear that most people report feeling a sense of calm during an acupuncture treatment and find the experience deeply relaxing.

Is it Safe? The needles used are high quality, sterile and single use needles. They are safely disposed of after each use so there is no risk of infection.

Acupressure can be used instead of acupuncture, although acupuncture is generally considered a more effective course of treatment.

Examples of ailments people seek acupuncture treatment for:
asthma - arthritis - ailments from grief and stress - cancer – eczema –psoriasis – acne - colds – depression - digestive disorders – fertility issues - hay fever - pre operative and post operative care - sleeplessness - sore throats - sports injuries -tennis elbow, sprains and strains, fractures and broken bones – sciatica - migraine - general poor immunity - pain relief - chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting - addictions (such as alcoholism), – bronchitis - carpal tunnel syndrome – constipation – diarrhea - facial tics – fibromyalgia – headaches - irregular periods - lower back pain - menopausal symptoms - menstrual cramps – osteoarthritis – sinusitis - irritable bowel syndrome - stroke rehabilitation – tendonitis - urinary problems such as incontinence.

Combining Acupuncture with Homeopathy Homoeopathy and acupuncture work very well together as a form of treatment. Therefore I often offer homeopathic remedies alongside acupuncture treatments to enhance therapeutic effects.