Services

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient, comprehensive system of medicine which originated in China over two thousand years ago. It has been developed over the centuries as a method of healing which can bring about profound changes in well-being on mental, physical and emotional levels.

Acupuncture has been proven to be effective for a very wide range of health problems, as well as improving quality of life and well-being.

The theory of acupuncture rests on the idea that Qi flows through the 14 channels or meridians of the body. These meridians are anatomically located and the acupuncture points are to be found in specific locations along these lines. Various factors such as stress, illness and trauma can upset the flow of Qi and consequently illness results.

What Can It Help?

Acupuncture has been proven to help a wide range of disorders including the following:
Painful and musculo-skeletal disorders including back pain, sciatica, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, osteo-arthritis, sprains and injuries to soft tissue and their after effects etc.
Neurological disorders including headache & migraine, after effects of stroke, facial paralysis (bells palsy)
Menstrual, gynaecological and obstetric disorders including premenstrual syndrome (PMT), painful periods, morning sickness, malposition of the foetus, delayed labour, insufficiency of breast milk
Male and female infertility
Anxiety states, panic, depression and insomnia
Digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion, haemorrhoids, and obesity
Urinary tract diseases such as recurrent cystitis and urethritis
Circulatory diseases such as Raynauds disease, intermittent claudication, and recurrent cramping
Addiction disorders including tobacco, drug and alcohol addiction

Diagnosis

Your diagnosis is made by not only looking at the symptoms themselves, but what may be their underlying cause. This includes questions about medical history, lifestyle, diet, digestion and sleep etc. It also involves looking at your tongue and feeling your pulse on your wrist to determine the balance of Qi in your body.

Treatment

Acupuncture needles are very fine and are barely felt when they penetrate the skin. When the needles are at the correct point and depth you may experience a tingling or tugging sensation or a dull ache which lasts a short while.

Needles may be removed immediately or left in place for about 20 minutes. You may be treated with moxibustion to warm your energy. Moxibustion involves the application of a dried herbal preparation close to the skin and does not hurt.

Acupuncture is holistic in approach and works by treating you as a whole person rather than simply treating your symptoms. Acupuncture has an excellent safety record.

Frequency and Duration of Treatment

The frequency and duration of your treatment varies from person to person. It usually takes more than one treatment to deal with any particular problem. We will discuss the course of treatments in the first session. Depending on your problem you may need to come for a few weekly sessions first then gradually spread out the intervals between treatments.

Needles

Only sterilized disposable "one use only" needles are used.

British Acupuncture Council

Members of the British Acupuncture Council have completed a thorough training in traditional acupuncture and are entitled to use the letters MBAcC after their name. UK members are covered by a professional indemnity and public liability insurance scheme and are bound by the Council's Codes of Ethics and Practice. Please visit the British Acupuncture Council website for further information.