Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been used as a conventional therapy in China for over 2,000 years and is now rapidly becoming recognised by Western medicine. The National Institute of Health in the US has recently acknowledged that "the data in support of acupuncture are as strong as those for many accepted Western medical therapies".

One of the main components of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture regulates the flow of vital energy or qi (pronounced chi), by inserting solid, hair thin needles into key points along the body. Points fall along meridian lines through which the vital energy or qi flows.

Acupuncturists also use needle free techniques with the same results. These include:

ACUPRESSURE
Also called Shiatsu in Japan, the acupuncture points are stimulated with finger pressure.

ELECTROACUPUNCTURE
Stimulating the needle points by applying a light electric current.

CUPPING
By placing a hot cup over the acupuncture point of area of pain, a vacuum is created which sucks or blows out around the qi.

MOXIBUSTION
Burning a powdered herb called mugwort to warm up the needles or burning the herb on or near the acupuncture points to stimulate them.

What can Acupuncture be used to treat? In China, acupuncture is one of the main forms of treatment for a whole range of illnesses. The World Health Organisation cites over 100 different health conditions that acupuncture can be used to treat. The most common clinical applications of acupuncture include the control of pain, migraine, asthma, depression, alcohol and drug addiction. Acupuncture can also be used to relieve pain during and after surgery, and also relieve nausea and vomiting from surgery, chemotherapy or pregnancy. It can also boost standard therapies for many other conditions such as addiction, stroke, rehabilitation, headache, facial, neck and back pain, lower back pain, general muscle pain, sports injuries, menstrual pain and osteoarthritis.

Visiting an Acupuncturist. Your first visit to an acupuncturist will involve a thorough examination on everything from the tone and texture of your skin, your tongue, eyes as well as questions about your lifestyle, personality and eating habits and of course symptoms. If acupuncture is appropriate, treatment may begin immediately. Ask your acupuncturist if a needle free method is available if you don’t like needles, as these methods can be just as effective. (A word about needles- needles used are solid so they are designed to push the skin rather than pierce it and they are hair thin so they are relatively pain free!) Needles are inserted, usually about 10 at a time and left in place (or manipulated) from a few seconds up to an hour depending on treatment. In some cases a needle may be taped and worn in place for a specified period of time.

The number of sessions needed will depend on the illness or symptoms and on the person themselves.

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