CThe classical Chinese explanation is that the body is criss-crossed by channels carrying energy, nutrients, and fluids, like that flow through the body to irrigate and nourish the tissues. Any obstruction to the flow of these channels cause deficiency in some part of the body and excess in another. Acupuncture points are sites at which this imbalance can be corrected. As a result, pathogens and toxins that have accumulated in the body are excreted while nutrients again reach their destinations.
While acupuncture is often associated with pain control, in the hands of a well-trained practitioner it has much broader applications. These can be summed up as:
- promotion of health and well-being,
- prevention of illness,
- treatment of various medical conditions.
Acupuncture can be effective as the only treatment used, or as the support or adjunct to other medial treatment forms in many medical disorders. The World Health Organization recognizes its use in disorders like:
- Depression/anxiety
- Sports injuries
- Pain in the back, and other joints
- Asthma/allergies
- Constipation/diarrhea
- Headaches/dizziness
- Diabetes
- Drug addiction/smoking cessation
- Insomnia
- Skin problems/acne/eczema
- Impotence
- Infertility
- Irregular menses /dysmenorrhea
- Stress/tension
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Blood pressure problems
- Sinus and vision problems
- Paralysis/numbness
- Immune system dysfunction
- Children’s illness
- Sciatica
- Low energy
- Accident injury
- Health maintenance
- . . . and much more!
We will review your medical history and work with you on a plan for improving your health and well-being. To do this we employ the four methods of diagnosis used in Chinese medicine: questioning, listening, inspection, and palpation. Besides asking you about your main and secondary complaints and general health, we will examine your pulse and abdomen, and look at your tongue for color and coating. We will then explain to you the results of our assessment and show you which points on your body need stimulation.
The needles used in acupuncture are very fine, and you should feel only a slight sensation when they are inserted. All needles are used only once and discarded after use. It is possible to do acupuncture without needles by stimulating acupuncture points through pressure or heat.
Be sure to discuss any questions or concerns before you begin your treatment.
The number of treatments needed differs from person to person. For complex or long-standing conditions, one treatment a week for a month, followed by less frequent treatments is the norm. For acute problems fewer visits but at shorter intervals are required. But remember: each case is different. We will therefore discuss your specific needs with you during your first consultation.
Usually not. Many people experience acupuncture as very relaxing or refreshing. Minor symptoms like headache or muscle aches can disappear in the course of the treatment. Occasionally the original symptoms worsen for a few days, or other general changes in appetite, sleep, bowel or urination patterns, or emotional state may be triggered. These should not cause concern, as they are simply indications that the acupuncture is starting to work.
People experience acupuncture needling differently. Most patients feel very little as the needles are inserted; some feel no pain at all. Once the needles are in place they may require stimulation, which can be experienced as soreness. Acupuncture needles are very thin and solid and are made from stainless steel. The point is smooth (not hollow with cutting edges like a hypodermic needle) and insertion through the skin is not as painful as injections or blood sampling. The risk of bruising and skin irritation is less than when using a hollow needle.
We only use disposable needles; therefore there is no risk of infection from the treatment.
Yes. There is growing evidence based on clinical research that acupuncture works, often better than conventional medicine.
Acupuncture treatments can be given at the same time as conventional Western medicine, osteopathic or chiropractic adjustments, and herbal medicine. It is important, however, that you inform us of any other treatment you are receiving so that we can help you get the most benefit.
No. Acupuncture is used successfully on cats, dogs, horses and other animals. These animal patients do not understand or believe in the process that helps them get better. A positive attitude toward wellness may reinforce the effects of the treatment received, just as a negative attitude may hinder the effects of acupuncture or any other treatment. A neutral attitude ("I don't know if I really believe in this.") will not block the treatment results.
Your initial treatment will cost £50 and will last about 1 hour.
Each follow-up treatment will cost £45 and will last about 45 minutes.
Physicians in China, Japan, and other East Asian countries have used acupuncture in the treatment of children’s illnesses for many centuries. In the West, too, paediatric acupuncture is now developing into a speciality of its own. The reason why acupuncture and other forms of Chinese medicine like Tuina and herbal medicine can be so effective in treating children is that they take account of the special characteristics of children’s bodies, which differ in many respects from those of adults.
Children are generally considered to be more yang (active and hot) then yin (passive and cold). Therefore, they develop fever easily; they move about constantly to the point of becoming hyperactive; and they vent their emotions more readily. Children’s qi (their substantive vitality) develops as they grow. It is more adaptable but also more easily excited and disturbed. As a result, children get sick more easily and progress more quickly and severely then adults through the different stages of any disorder. However, they also get better faster.
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine are able to treat acute conditions like colds and fevers, as well as chronic disorders such as eczema, asthma, hay fever, constipation, bed-wetting, ADD, phobias and many kinds of pain. A growing number of studies confirm these claims. A recent survey carried out at a Children's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, found that two-thirds of children and teenagers treated for pain reported that their experience had been a positive experience, while 70% felt that treatment had definitely helped their pain.(Kemper K, Sarah R, Silber-Highfield E, Xiarhos E, Barnes L, Berde C. On pins and needles? Pediatric pain patients experience with acupuncture. Pediatrics April 2000; 105(4):941-947.) A randomized controlled trial carried out in Hong Kong confirms the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.(A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Acupuncture for the Treatment of Childhood Persistent Allergic Rhinitis. Pediatrics November 2004; 114: 1242-1247)
When compared to acupuncture in adults, paediatric practitioners use small, solid needles (36-40 Gauge), fewer needles per session, and an in-and-out technique (vs. keeping needles in place). Non-invasive stimulation techniques such as acupressure, massage and various blunt instruments (brushes, scrapers) may be used as alternatives to needles on the same points. Many techniques can be taught to parents for home use. Herbs and dietary advice may be given to support the acupuncture treatment.
Although many children are initially afraid of needles, they quickly get used to them. A recent study showed that after first session most children (ages 6-18 yrs) described their acupuncture experience as “weird” but not uncomfortable.(Kemper K, et. al. 2000.) Younger children in particular can be actively involved in the treatment, making their journey to the acupuncturist another of life’s exciting adventures.