Acupuncture

Introduction

Acupuncture is an holistic approach to the management of disease as well as the maintenance of health. Its principles and applications are based on over 2000 years of development and refinement in the Far East.
Traditional Acupuncture has its roots in Chinese Medicine and its basic foundation and theory is that our health is dependent on the body’s motivating life energy - known as Qi (pronounced chee) - moving in a smooth and balanced way through a series of meridians (channels) that connect all of our major organs.
By inserting thin sterilized needles into the channels of energy, an acupuncturist can stimulate the body’s own healing response and help restore its natural balance.
Western-style or medical acupuncture is a more recent development practiced predominantly by doctors and physiotherapists which uses a more limited range of acupuncture techniques on the basis of a western medical diagnosis.
Western medicine has different opinions on how acupuncture works but in short, no one is really sure. However trial after trial consistently proves it effectiveness.

In the scope of the Acupuncture methods. I also use specific methods, such as Cupping, Moxibustion, Acupressure, Auricular Therapy, Dietary Therapy and Chinese Patent Herbal Remedies.

How does Acupuncture Work?

Traditional Chinese Medicine theory states that when the flow of qi within the energy pathways is impaired, imbalance and illness occurs. The flow of energy can be disrupted in many ways; emotional upset, physical trauma, poor diet or overwork are all common examples.

Along the pathways of these meridians exist acupuncture points. Acupuncture points are areas of designated electrical sensitivity that have been shown to be effective in the treatment of specific health problems. By examining this underlying cause and how it has affected the body, the most appropriate treatment for the patient can be selected. Treating the patient as an individual is at the core of the acupuncture treatment and it this that helps allow the body to rebalance itself.

With the insertion of fine needles at specific locations on the meridians at acupuncture points, the qi can be moved or redirected to where it is needed most. Acupuncture points can be viewed as individual gateways that allow for the qi to be manipulated in desired ways so that the body's balance can be restored and the illness resolved.

Western Medical Science scholars have different explanations.

It was at one stage thought that inserting needles into specific parts of the body affected nerves and could inhibit their signal transmission. It was this theory that served to explain why acupuncture could treat pain so well, but when doctors mapped the acupuncture points over the known network of nerves in the body they found that there was some correlation, but not nearly enough to explain most of its effects.

Another theory stated that acupuncture stimulates the release of opioids and endorphins in the central nervous system. Although this could explain certain analgesic effects, it could not explain many others.

The most current theory speculates that acupuncture points are actually strategic conductors of electromagnetic signals throughout the body. Stimulating points along the energy pathways, influences neurotransmitter rates and resets the polarity of different parts of the body.

This theory is by far the most comprehensive and most promising explanation for why acupuncture works in Western medical terminology.

How Can Acupuncture benefit you?

Traditionally acupuncture has been used to treat almost the entire spectrum of illnesses; physical and psychological, acute and chronic. The following conditions (using Western medical terminology) are amongst those most commonly seen by acupuncturists in the West.
• Disorders of the circulatory system:
Angina, atherosclerosis, chronic heart failure, high blood pressure, palpitation, poor circulation.
• Diseases of the respiratory system:
Asthma, chronic breathlessness, chronic bronchitis, hay fever.
• Diseases of the digestive system:
Colitis, constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion, stomach ulcers.
• Disorders of the urinary and reproductive systems:
Impotence, incontinence, cystitis, infertility, abnormal menstruation, morning sickness, prostatitis, seminal emission, premature ejaculation.
• Skin disorders:
Acne, eczema, psoriasis.
• Neurological and musculo-skeletal problems:
Arthritis, low back pain, facial palsy, epilepsy, headaches, migraines, multiple sclerosis, neuralgia, rheumatism, sciatica, sports injuries, stiff neck, stroke, tinnitus.
• Infections:
Bronchitis, common cold, hepatitis, influenza, sinusitis, ear infections, eye conjunctivitis.
• Mental-emotional syndromes:
Anxiety, stress, depression, eating disorders, insomnia, etc.
• Giving up smoking, alcohol and drugs, and rehabilitation.

This is not a definitive list. If you have a condition that is not covered by any of the above categories, please contact me and we can discuss if acupuncture can be of benefit to you.

For a more complete list of conditions treatable with acupuncture, backed by research and/or endorsement by the World Health Organisation (WHO), click here.

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