Acupuncture

Acupuncture Treatment - What to Expect

Acupuncture is a therapy based on principles of traditional Chinese medicine. Needles are inserted into the body to stimulate the energy of the body, which is known as ‘Qi’ in Chinese Medicine.

Initial acupuncture consultations involve a conversation about your condition, how it started and your overall health. Acupuncture is a holistic therapy, which means that we try to understand your condition as one aspect of your whole body.

We may also do a physical examination, including checking parts of your body, feeling your wrist pulse and looking at your tongue.

A diagnosis will be made according to traditional Chinese Medicine principles. Your acupuncture treatment will be discussed with you before we start.

A regular treatment consists of inserting a set of fine needles into the skin all around the body including limbs, abdomen, back and (sometimes) head. Patients can feel a number of sensations usually described as tingling, numbness, heaviness, or warmth in the area being needled. Some patients feel no sensation at all.

Our practitioners work gently. If you feel any discomfort, we can make adjustments until you feel more comfortable.

Acupuncture is usually performed on patients when they are lying down. Patients tend to stay clothed while having treatment. The needles remain in the skin for approximately 20 minutes.

Depending on your condition, an acupuncture treatment may also include cupping, heat therapy and tuina (massage).

We may also talk to you about some changes to make to your lifestyle – exercise, diet, emotional or behavioural. In some cases, we may recommend herbal supplements.

The initial consultation will last 60 minutes. A follow up appointment will be similar, but with more focus on treatment. It will last 45 minutes.

A course of treatments depends on the severity of the condition, and how long ago it started. We expect significant change in 4-6 weeks.

What its good for

Acupuncture is an effective therapy that complements standard medical care. It is a safe, sustainable and works well on most people.

Over recent years the acceptance and use of acupuncture has risen dramatically. It is recognised and used by an increasing number of GPs and other health professionals.

Research and data also further confirms the efficacy of acupuncture. In 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a review and analysis of controlled clinical trials on acupuncture. The WHO listed 28 conditions for which “acupuncture has been proved - through controlled trials - to be an effective treatment”. They also listed another 63 conditions ‘for which the therapeutic effect of acupuncture has been shown but for which further proof is needed’.

To read more about the WHO review of acupuncture, please click here.

Through practice and experience, we have seen that acupuncture is especially good for:

Pain (chronic and acute in all parts of the body)
Digestive complaints (indigestion, reflux, IBS, constipation)
Stress related disorders (anxiety, depression, insomnia, headache, migraines)
Respiratory and seasonal disorders (cough, hay-fever, asthma, recurring colds and flus)
Women’s health (PMT, period pain, endometriosis, cysts, fertility, pregnancy and post-natal issues, menopausal symptoms)
Children’s health (hyperactivity, anxiety, asthma, weak constitution, bedwetting)
General health (fatigue, recovering from strokes, surgeries and viruses)
Chronic disease management (autoimmune conditions, cancer treatments)
Drug and alcohol issues (withdrawal and management)

If you have any questions as to whether acupuncture could be useful for you, please [email us] with details.

How it works

According the philosophy of Chinese Medicine, acupuncture works by manipulating the natural energy in the body.

Just like a car that has been running for a long time, things get stuck or overheated, grease builds up and we can lose fuel in different places. Acupuncture works like a tune-up, allowing the body to get back to it's best performance.

Currently there isn’t a single scientific theory that can clearly explain all the effects of acupuncture. However, there are a number of theories that describe the different effects that occur during a treatment.

Augmentation of Immunity Theory. Acupuncture has been shown to raise the levels of triglycerides, specific hormones, prostaglandins, white blood counts, gamma globins, opsonins, and overall antibody levels to increase immune function and resistance to disease.
Endorphin Theory. Acupuncture stimulates the release of encephalins (a type of endorphin), which aids in pain relief and conditions of addiction.
Neurotransmitter Theory. Acupuncture can effect the release of neurotransmitters and neurohormones (such as serotonin and noradrenaline) which relieve pain, treat psycho-emotional conditions and promote feelings of general well being.
Circulatory Theory. Acupuncture can constrict or dilate blood vessels by influencing the release of histamine. This helps in controlling inflammation, musculoskeletal pain, as well as hyper/hypotension.
Gate Control Theory. Acupuncture is used as a form of analgesia because it can overwhelm small C fibres in the nervous system. This effectively ‘shuts the gate’ to the part of the nervous system which perceives pain.
Motor Gate Theory. Acupuncture can also ‘open a stuck gate’ in conditions of paralysis by activating spindle cells in the anterior horn. This brings about muscle contraction and can be useful in motor recovery.