Acupuncture
A safe and effective form of treatmentAcupuncture can be used to treat a wide variety of conditions. It is one of the pillars of traditional Chinese medicine and is used to manage and reduce symptoms, promote a return to better health and enable the body to restore balance and heal. It is another way to help, without side effects, conditions and symptoms and can complement Western medicine treatment.
People also look to have acupuncture if they feel that Western medicine offers insufficient explanation or resolution of their symptoms or condition. It can be done as a stand alone therapy or in tandem with Western medicine or other treatments.
I use acupuncture in combination with other treatment tools such as massage, Chinese cupping , heat lamp or moxa depending on the presenting condition.
What is Acupuncture?
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What exactly is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is the insertion of very fine sterile, single use needles into specific points on the body which are chosen according to the current needs and diagnosis of the patient. These points are usually on the lower legs and and lower arms and the back. Most treatments involve the very quick insertion of 12- 16 very fine needles which are left in place for up to 20 minutes. Acupuncture originated and has been used in China for over 4000 years. It is currently used in many of the main hospitals in China alongside Western medicine in dedicated acupuncture ward settings for medical conditions such as acute stroke rehabilitation, chronic pain, gynaecology and treatment of the side effects of chemotherapy.
How can Acupuncture help?
The needles when they are inserted, stimulate a local and whole body response which helps the body and mind to self regulate physical and emotional imbalance, injury and inflammation. From a biomedical viewpoint acupuncture stimulates blood flow and uses trigger points to relax muscles. From a Chinese medicine perspective, it stimulates the flow of energy ( Qi ) along a network of channels that connect the body surface to the inner organs. Acupuncture seeks to address the root causes as well as treat the presenting symptoms with its individualised point prescription based on the diagnosis that has been made from the initial consultation and any subsequent consultation thereafter.
What does Acupuncture feel like?
Acupuncture needles are much finer than needles used by Drs so usually it is either pain free or you may feel a temporary sense of heaviness or tingling. Patients generally find acupuncture to be relaxing and therapeutic in its effect and look forward to their next treatment.
How many Acupuncture sessions will I need?
This depends on your condition and response to treatment. Often treatments can initially be every 1 – 2 weeks with some shift in the condition or symptoms felt within 5- 6 treatments at which point a review will be done. Sometimes only 1 or 2 treatments are sufficient. People can come requiring help for a specific condition or symptom or choose to have treatment to maintain health, improve life quality and prevent ill health from arising. In ancient China doctors in Chinese medicine were only paid if their patients stayed healthy!
What conditions can Acupuncture help?
Because traditional acupuncture aims to treat the whole person rather than specific symptoms in isolation, it can be effective for a range of conditions.
Headaches
Migraines, sinusitis, rhinitis ( hayfever), labrynthitis , dental pain , TMJ ( temporomandibular joint disorder), TGN ( trigeminal neuralgia ) Bell’s palsy .Musculoskeletal pain
Such as acute and chronic back pain, neck, shoulder, hip and knee pain, osteoarthritis, post op pain, RSI (repetitive strain injury ), tendonitis and to promote recovery from physical trauma.Digestive issues
Such as heartburn, constipation, loose stools, bloating, IBS, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, weight gain, small intestine bacterial overgrowth ( SIBO ) .Hormonal conditions
such as menopause and peri - menopause, polycystic ovarian syndrome ( PCOS) , premature ovarian failure ( POF), period problems, adrenal fatigue.Fertility issues
Unexplained infertility, immune infertility and immune recurrent miscarriage, repeated miscarriage, repeated IVF failure, endometriosis, PCOS , POF, diminished ovarian reserve, ovarian cysts and fibroids . Also for support through IVF treatment.Chronic health conditions
Including post viral fatigue, ME, Lyme disease, MS, stroke rehabilitation , chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, recurrent chest Infections, Upper respiratory tract infections, asthma and chronic cough, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic tiredness, repeated infections. Post COVID -19 recovery.Chronic stress
Burnout, anxiety, depression, PTSD, insomnia.Chemotherapy
Side effects of nausea and vomiting / supporting the body through cancer care.The research base of acupuncture is growing all the time. In 2017, researchers John McDonald PhD, MSc, FAACMA and Stephen Janz RN, BN, BAc, GCCHM, MPH, MAACMA reviewed all the evidence to date. In their summary, they said:
Our study found evidence for the effectiveness of acupuncture for 117 conditions, with stronger evidence for acupuncture’s effectiveness for some conditions than others. Acupuncture is considered safe in the hands of a well-trained practitioner and has been found to be cost-effective for some conditions. The quality and quantity of research into acupuncture’s effectiveness is increasing.