What is Acupuncture?

One of the oldest systems of medicine, acupuncture originated in China around three thousand years ago. It is now widely accepted and used around the world both as a stand-alone therapy and alongside conventional medicine. 

 

The benefits of this gentle but powerful therapy are now recognised by the NHS National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Today acupuncture is used to treat a wide range of acute and chronic health conditions and to improve physical, mental and emotional health. 

​

Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine hair-like needles into specific points (acupuncture points) on the body to stimulate your body’s own natural healing processes.

​

​

What are the benefits of Acupuncture? What can Acupuncture do for me?

Research shows that acupuncture can help restore and promote good health in a number of ways including:

• Providing pain relief, Reducing stress and anxiety, Improving sleep, Aiding digestion, Stimulating circulation, Enhancing immunity, Balancing hormones, Improving energy levels, Reducing the side-effects of medication (eg chemotherapy or IVF medication).

​

How acupuncture can benefit you depends on your individual constitution and health needs?

Traditional acupuncture treats you as a whole person not just your symptoms. Your treatment aims to address the underlying cause(s) of your condition as well as your symptoms.

So every patient’s treatment plan is different. Many acupuncture also patients report:

• Other minor niggling complaints resolve as their main complaint improves

• Experiencing a sense of wellbeing and elation from their acupuncture treatments

Some people choose acupuncture to help with a specific condition or symptom. Others have acupuncture preventatively to help them maintain good health and wellbeing.

​

​

How does Acupuncture work?

According to Chinese Medical Theory, in good health our vital energy or qi flows smoothly around our body. This flow of qi can be disturbed by a number of factors, including emotional stress, physical injury, poor lifestyle or diet, hereditary factors, infections and even weather conditions. When our qi becomes disturbed, depleted or blocked, pain, illness or dis-ease may result. For example, grief from a bereavement or prolonged stress can lead to exhaustion; some arthritis sufferers report that their symptoms are worse in damp or cold weather.

 

The aim of acupuncture is to restore the harmonious flow of qi and blood in our bodies and our natural balance. In so doing, acupuncture addresses the cause (root) of our condition, as well as the symptoms, leading to longer term resolution of problems. Acupuncture works at all levels of our being, harmonising body, mind and spirit. It works to restore our overall wellbeing. Many patients treated for physical problems, such as shoulder pain, report feeling energised and more relaxed following acupuncture treatment. Patients treated for emotional difficulties often report an improvement in their physical symptoms.

 

Acupuncture works by stimulating the body’s own natural healing abilities through the insertion of very fine needles into specific points of the body.

​

​

What does acupuncture feel like? Does Acupuncture hurt?

Acupuncture needles are very much finer than medical needles used for injections and blood tests. Insertion of the acupuncture needles is almost painless. Sometimes you may feel a dull ache or tingling. The treatment is well tolerated, even by children. Some of my clients find their acupuncture treatment so relaxing that they fall asleep and stay asleep even while needles are being inserted!

 

Use of stimulants such as caffeine increases sensitivity to needling, so it’s best to avoid caffeinated tea or coffee on the day of treatment.
If you are very sensitive to pain, we can start the treatment with one or two needles which will help calm you.