Acupuncture
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an area of ancient medicine that has been traditionally practised in China and the Far East for millenia. It has in recent years been adopted by the Western world as an ‘alternative’ treatment to medicine.
The body responds to acupuncture and its benefits when it comes to a wide range of common health concerns such as aches and pains caused by osteoarthritis, TMJ pain, headaches, low back pain etc. and also for common health complaints such as an overactive bladder. People turn to acupuncture when they feel their body is out of balance but have no medical diagnosis that could be treated by modern medicine. Some people undergo regular acupuncture because it’s healing to the body and mind.
Acupuncture is popular because it focuses on the patient rather than their illness or condition. Symptoms are seen as part of a deeper issue that needs to be treated rather than focusing on the superficial.
What to expect when you come for treatment
What will happen?
Your initial visit will take up to an hour and a half and consists of a personal and medical consultation covering your family history, lifestyle, systems functions (eg. sleep, appetite) and full details of your current complaint/s and any test or investigations that you have had.
You will also have the opportunity to discuss in complete confidence any concerns or troubles you may currently be dealing with.
After your consultation I will carry out a number of short, non-invasive physical diagnostic tests including blood pressure, temperature distribution and pulse taking. In most cases, aside from the most complex, this is then followed by your first treatment.
Subsequent appointments take up to one hour, and include discussion of your progress and your treatment to date.
What does Acupuncture feel like?
Many patients are concerned that acupuncture will be painful but as the needles are flexible and about as thick as two human hairs there is usually only a very slight sensation as it enters the skin.
Sometimes patients also feel a dull ache on the acupuncture point but this also only lasts for a few seconds and is generally considered to be comfortable.
Many find acupuncture relaxing and feel very calm during and after a treatment you may feel a little sleepy, so if possible try to arrange a relatively restful and quiet day, especially for your first treatment.
Shiatsu is considered safe as a therapy as it is grounded within the same theoretical framework as Acupuncture.
Safe practice
Acupuncture is one of the safest medical treatments currently on offer in the UK, in fact in 2001 a number of studies concluded that the risk of serious adverse reaction to acupuncture is less than 1 in 10,000.
Any minor side effects that do occur, such as dizziness or bruising around needle points, are infrequent, mild and self-correcting.
To see more information regarding the safety of acupuncture, please visit the British Acupuncture Council’s website.
Is Acupuncture safe in pregnancy?
Yes. Adjustments to treatment positions will be made so that you always feel safe and well throughout the treatment. A small number of points are contra-indicated in pregnancy and safe points are added, which support aspects of pregnancy, which are individual to the person attending.
Your questions answered
If you have any questions about what treatment involves, how many sessions you’ll need, what we can treat etc, please contact us and we will be happy to give a personal reply.
