Acupuncture is the method of treatment in which a therapeutic effect is achieved by inserting fine, sterile single use needles into specific points on the body.
It is a time tested therapy that has been practiced in the Far East for thousands of years and in the last 50 years has gained a lot of attention & respect in Western Countries due to its unique effectiveness & safety. Western Professionals have recognised Acupunctures effectiveness and some have integrated basic concepts of Acupuncture into their practice, their training is specific & limited, it is often referred to as dry needling, trigger point or medical acupuncture with a musculo-skeletal focus.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Acupuncture treatments are based on the patients case history, symptoms, pulse & tongue diagnosis & may include techniques such as cupping, gua sha & moxibustion. Acupuncture provides: A drug-free pain relief from a wide range of acute and chronic ailments. Treats the underlying cause of disease and illness as well as the symptoms. Assists in the prevention of disease and the maintenance of general well-being.
Acupuncture is widely used for pain conditions, but with more robust research there is growing evidence to support its use for a wide variety of conditions such as:
Women’s Health – Menstrual and gynaecological problems including PCOS, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, painful periods, heavy periods, pre-menstrual symptoms
Menopausal symptoms
Musculoskeletal problems – arthritis, back pain, hip pain, sciatica, neck pain, shoulder pain, knee pain, tennis elbow, golfers elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, heel pain, tendonitis
Chronic pain
Neuralgia, Bell’s Palsy, trigeminal neuralgia
Headaches and Migraine
Hypertension
Fertility Issues
Pregnancy care
Digestive conditions - Irritable bowel syndrome, Indigestion, bloating and heartburn
Substance misuse & addiction
Low energy
Anxiety and low mood
Difficulty sleeping, insomnia
Recurrent sinusitis
Hayfever
Cystitis
Fibromyalgia
Post surgery recovery
Supporting cancer patients during treatment.
Cupping
Cupping is an ancient therapy designed to increase circulation, stimulate the release of toxins and relieve muscle tension and tightness. The cup creates a vacuum bringing new blood and qi to the affected area and improving the condition. The cup may be moved over a pre-oiled area or simply left in place. Cupping may leave some circular bruise like areas, although they may look alarming they are not painful and will fade within 3-10 days. Cupping is often used for a variety of aches and pains such as lower back and leg pain, neck and shoulder tension, muscle tightness and also for conditions such as fibromyalgia.
Electro
Electro is used for many musculo-skeletal problems including tension of the shoulder or neck, back pain, tennis or golfers elbow, pain in the knees, wrists and fingers, rheumatoid arthritis and repetitive strain injuries. It is also used for a wide variety of condition including chronic pain, nerve damage and paralysis. After inserting acupuncture needles or using pads, smalls clips connected to the electro machine are attached to the needles and pulses of weak electrical current is sent between the needles. The sensation is often referred to as a tingling or numbness or even that it tickles. The practitioner adjusts the pulse and frequency to a level you are comfortable with.
Moxa
The herb Moxa/Mugwort can be used directly on the skin or with a barrier cream, a slice of ginger or a layer of salt, hand rolled cones of various sizes directly onto acupuncture points, or indirectly by burning cones on the head of the needle or in a moxa box. Alternatively a moxa stick which is burned near the skin. Moxa can influence the Qi of the body through warmth and its ability to move Qi & Blood. It may be used in conjunction with Acupuncture or as a stand alone treatment for a variety of conditions from menstrual cramps to arthritis. Western scientific research has found that moxa can stimulate blood flow in the uterus and pelvic area.
Gua Sha
Gua sha is a healing technique of traditional East Asian medicine. Also known as ‘coining, spooning or scraping’, Gua sha is defined as instrument-assisted unidirectional press-stroking of a lubricated area of the body surface to intentionally create transitory therapeutic petechiae called ‘sha’ representing extravasation of blood in the subcutis.
Raising sha removes blood stagnation considered pathogenic in traditional East Asian medicine. Modern research shows the transitory therapeutic petechiae produce an anti inflammatory and immune protective effect that persists for days following a single Gua sha treatment accounting for the immediate relief that patients feel from pain, stiffness, fever, chill, cough, wheeze, nausea and vomiting etc, and why Gua sha is effective in acute and chronic internal organ disorders.
Tongue
The tongue has many relationships and connections in the body, both to the acupuncture channels and the internal organs. It is therefore a very useful and important during inspection for confirming TCM diagnosis. It can present strong visual indicators of a person’s overall health, its always a good idea to let the practitioner know if you have just had a coffee or eaten something with a strong colour like beetroot. A normal tongue in TCM has a light red or pinkish body with a thin white coat.
Pulse
In TCM the pulse is used to assess not only the heart rate but also to assess the health of all the major organ systems in the body, your practitioner is looking at the qualities such as strength, width and rate, and in different positions which correlate to different parts of the body. There are 28 different qualities and they supply information about the state of the patients health and wellbeing, each pulse quality relates to a Chinese Diagnosis.