What is Acupuncture?
Balancing Body & Mind
Good health is not just the absence of pain or disease. Traditional acupuncture works to maintain the body’s equilibrium by focusing on all aspects of wellbeing: physical, mental and emotional. According to traditional Chinese philosophy, our health is dependent on the body’s motivating energy moving in a smooth and balanced way through a series of channels beneath the skin. This energy is known as qi.
Think of qi, for a moment, like water,
and the channels or meridians within
the body as the river it flows through.
That river supports all types of life,
and as long as it is free-flowing that
life will flourish.
Think of qi, for a moment, like water, and the channels or meridians within the body as the river it flows through. That river supports all types of life, and as long as it is free-flowing that life will flourish.
The flow of qi can be disturbed by any number of factors. These include emotional states such as anxiety, anger or grief, as well as poor nutrition, hereditary factors, infections and trauma. When the qi is imbalanced or stagnant, pain and illness may result. Through the insertion of extra-fine needles at chosen points along the channels of energy, the aim of acupuncture is to stimulate the body’s own healing response and restore its natural balance.
Acupuncture is a tried and tested system of complementary medicine. The Chinese, and other Eastern cultures, have been using acupuncture to restore, promote and maintain good health for thousands of years. Nowadays, more and more people are finding this long-establised therapy can offer an effective solution to all manner of today’s ills. Treatment is aimed at the root of your condition, as well as your symptoms. This approach can lead to a more permanent resolution of your problems.
Your First Session
Many people come to acupuncture for help with specific symptoms or conditions, and some because they feel generally unwell. Others choose acupuncture to enhance their feeling of wellbeing. Acupuncture is considered suitable for all ages, and can be used alongside conventional medicine.
Your first visit involves an examination that includes asking questions about your lifestyle and history. I will explore your current symptoms, what treatment you have received, your medical history, your diet, digestive system, sleeping patterns and emotional state. This is followed by checking your pulse and examining your tongue and any areas of muscular tension or pain. Based on this information, we will create a treatment plan and proceed to begin your acupuncture.
Frequency and length of treatment depends on your individual condition. Some change is usually felt after five treatments, although occasionally one or two treatments are required. Some patients may need treatment over several months or long-term. I will normally ask to see you once or twice a week at first.