Acupuncture restores, promotes and maintains health. It is used to treat both physical and emotional difficulties with the emphasis always on treating the root of the problem.
It is possible with acupuncture to feel more energised and have a greater sense of well-being offering the potential to be well in ways never before experienced or imagined.
Acupuncture is one of the safest medical treatments, both within conventional and complementary medicine. There are very few side effects from acupuncture when practised by a fully qualified acupuncturist who follows a safe code of practice.
Yes. The needles used in acupuncture are very fine, much thinner than those used for injections and blood tests in a western medical environment. You may not even feel them or notice them once penetrated through the skin. Many people who are afraid of needles have successfully had acupuncture but you may want to have an initial chat before having the therapy.
Make sure you do not have a large meal within the hour before your appointment as you may need to lie on your stomach. Ideally avoid alcohol and caffeine for 24 hours before and after your treatment. Most people feel calm and relaxed after their therapy so if possible try to plan treatments when you have time to rest or do something enjoyable afterwards.
The most commonly used acupuncture points are located on the legs and arms; however there are some instances when your practitioner may need to locate points elsewhere on the body. Your practitioner will always ensure you feel comfortable throughout your treatment.
Everyone reacts differently to acupuncture so the amount of treatments you will need will vary from person to person it also depends on your condition. Chronic conditions may take longer to treat as the body is further along in the disease process; acute conditions often require fewer treatments. Early on in treatment, many patients report feeling better in themselves with an improved sleeping pattern and a gradual improvement on their primary condition. Many patients after having an amount of weekly treatments come monthly for ‘maintenance’ or when they feel they need some extra support. The amount of treatments you will need will be discussed in your initial consultation.
No. It is a myth that you need to believe in acupuncture for it to work. Acupuncture is not a belief system.
If you are on medication from the doctor and you are considering having acupuncture you should always let the doctor know. You should also tell your acupuncturist of any medication you are on just in case it affects the acupuncture healing process. Make sure you do not stop taking any medication. The acupuncture treatment may enable you to reduce or even stop taking some forms of medication but you should ALWAYS consult your doctor regarding any change of prescription. Acupuncture compliments western medicine and any reduction in medication should be thoroughly discussed with your GP first.
Most people describe acupuncture as relaxing; some may feel a tingling sensation or dull ache. This is a good sign that the body’s Qi is being stimulated.
The model of the five elements is used to describe the world and everything it consists of. The five element theory was originated by a Chinese philosopher, Tsou Yen a few hundred years before the birth of Christ. The idea is that every person is built up of a unique combination of all the elements, however there will be one specific element in which we have a particular association with, we refer this as being the ‘causative factor’. The five elements are Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, Wood. They elements manifest in nature in a similar way they do in humans, there will always be one element that is dominant at that time. For example in summer all of the elements will be present but Fire will be the dominant type and the season associated with Fire is summer.
