How
does Acupuncture work?
What can Acupuncture treat?
What happens during an Acupuncture
treatment?
How many treatments are needed?
Self help
Where to buy books on Chinese medicine?
What's the origin of your herbs?
Acupuncture originated in China over 2000 years ago
and is a healing system that has been used and developed
since then in many parts of the world. It is currently
used in hospitals throughout China and is practised
alongside Western medicine, both contributing equally
to the provision of health care. The effectiveness of
acupuncture has been recognised by the World
Health Organisation for its success in the treatment
of over 40 different diseases.
How
does Acupuncture work?
Fundamental to Chinese Medicine is the concept of Qi,
(Chi), something that has no Western equivalent but
can be defined as vital energy or life force. The quality
and amount of Qi determines ones health and vitality.
It provides the source of movement in the body, keeps
the blood circulating, fights disease and warms the
body. Qi is distributed around the body through a network
of interconnecting channels which go deep to the organs
and pass through different levels to just below the
skin where it can be contacted with acupuncture needles.
In
the body Qi is dispersed through twelve main interconnecting
pathways. Illness occurs primarily when there is an
excess, deficiency or stagnation of Qi either within
a specific organ or channel. For example, a strained
back may be due to blocked Qi in the Bladder channel
which runs down either side of the spine. Similarly
if the balance of Qi in the Stomach organ is disturbed
either of the following may occur: vomiting will result
if there is an excess of Qi, while deficiency of Qi
over a long time may predispose to a stomach ulcer.
The aim of acupuncture is to correct imbalances of
Qi through the insertion of needles into specific points
along the channels and so assist the body's own recuperative
powers.
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What
can Acupuncture treat?
Acupuncture is effective in treating most ailments
presented at a GP's surgery. It is especially valuable
in chronic diseases that orthodox medicine can only
alleviate with drugs. For example, asthma, hay fever,
sinusitis; hypertension; depression; painful conditions
anywhere in the body such as headache, migraine, arthritis,
back pain; stiffness of joints or muscles.
Many acute complaints can be treated including strains
and sprains, shingles, cystitis, menstrual disorders,
diarrhea and vomiting, cough, colds and sore throats.
Acupuncture also recognises and treats many disharmonies
that have no medical diagnosis, a non specific 'not
quite right' feeling characterized by any of the following:
tiredness, lethargy, vague aches and pains, digestive
problems, difficulty in sleeping, anxiety, tension,
palpitations or dizziness.
People with addictions to smoking, drugs or alcohol
may be helped by acupuncture to reduce their dependencies.
In addition to the above many other disorders have
been treated with success and it is always worth enquiring
about any particular problem you might have. Please
go to our Services
page for more information.
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What
happens during an Acupuncture treatment?
In order to make a diagnosis and plan treatments your
practitioner will need to take a detailed case history,
asking about present and past health problems, lifestyle,
and general health. You may discuss anything that you
feel has an effect on your health. In Chinese Medicine
it is helpful to have as much information as possible
to give a picture of the disharmony.
Careful
examination of the pulse and tongue are also made. The
rhythm and quality of the pulse is felt at the wrist
which indicates the balance of energy and state of disease.
The tongue, through its shape, colour, movement and
coating indicates progression and degree of illness.
According to the diagnosis very fine needles are inserted
into the acupuncture points. The initial sensation is
often described as 'tingling', 'slightly heavy', 'dull',
or 'numb'. The needles are usually left in place for
about twenty minutes, and the whole treatment last about
an hour. (Stainless steel disposable needles are used).
After the treatment a feeling of relaxation or well-being
is often noticed. It is not advisable to rush around
doing anything too strenuous following treatment and
sometimes tiredness may be felt for a couple of days
afterwards while the energy adjusts. There may be an
immediate improvement in the condition or sometimes
an aggravation occurs before symptoms are alleviated.
Usually a gradual improvement is noticed over a series
of treatments.
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How
many treatments are needed?
Since acupuncture treats people not diseases the number
of treatments necessary depends on a whole host of factors
relating to the specific individual. For example, the
duration of the illness, general state of energy, constitution,
life style, are all taken into consideration. Generally
speaking the more acute the disease the sooner it will
respond, although there are instances where acupuncture
has brought quick relief to many chronic problems.
The initial treatments will usually be once a week
and their frequency will be decreased as the person
progresses, to once a fortnight, once a month etc, until
there is only a need for an occasional preventative
check-up.
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Self
help
As
the cause of ill health can stem from our ways of living
often some change in lifestyle may be needed to help
the treatment to be effective. Your practitioner will
help in giving an understanding of what may be contributing
to illness in your particular circumstances.
The areas which influence health include: constitution,
diet, exercise, type of work, relaxation, sleep, emotional
states, weather conditions, drugs. etc.
There may be one or more of these aspects that needs
special attention to prevent a recurrence of the particular
disharmony.
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