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Acupuncture

Acupuncture

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 established therapy can offer an effective solution to all manner of today’s ills. Acupuncture is now widely used and accepted all over the world and in the UK there are currently over 2800 qualified acupuncturists registered with the British Acupuncture Council.

 

Who has acupuncture?

Many people come to acupuncture for help with specific symptoms or conditions, and some because they simply feel generally unwell. Others choose acupuncture to enhance their feeling of wellbeing. Acupuncture is considered suitable for all ages, including babies and children. It can also be used alongside conventional medicine.

 

What conditions can be treated?

Acupuncturists see many people with a wide range of conditions. To check if your concerns may be helped it is best to discuss them with the acupuncturists.
To arrange a call-back please call us on 01228 4090903.

The British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) is the leading self-regulatory body for the practice of traditional acupuncture in the UK. BAcc is a member-led organisation, governed by an elected executive committee and driven by a specialist staff team. To find out more about BAcC advice try the Research section on the BAcC web site

What happens when I go for therapy?

You will be asked about your current symptoms, what treatment you have received, your medical history, your diet, digestive system, sleeping patterns and emotional state. The acupuncturist is also likely to feel your pulses on both wrists, and may ask to look at your tongue. The acupuncture points used are not always close to the part of the body where you experience the problem. For example, although you might suffer from headaches, needles may be inserted in your foot or hand.

 

How many sessions will I need?

Frequency and length of therapy depends on your individual condition. Some change is usually felt after five sessions, although occasionally only one or two sessions are required. Some patients may need therapy over several months or long-term. Your acupuncturist will normally ask to see you once or twice a week at first.

 

Should my doctor know?

If you have been prescribed medication it makes sense to tell your doctor that you are planning to have acupuncture. You should always tell your acupuncturist about any medication you are taking as this may affect your response to the acupuncture therapy.

 

Is it safe?

Acupuncture has a very sound track record. The needles used are single-use, sterile and disposable. Responses to therapy can sometimes include tiredness or mild dizziness, and on occasion minor bruising may occur. However, all such reactions are short-lived.

 

What does it feel like?

Acupuncture needles are much finer than needles used for injections and blood tests. When the needle is inserted, the sensation is often described as a tingling or dull ache.

 

What can acupuncture do for me?

You can get more information about which conditions acupuncture has been used for by visiting The BAcC website: www.acupuncture.org.uk. And to find out just what acupuncture can do for you, please speak to your local BAcC acupuncturist or contact the British Acupuncture Council.

 

The point of acupuncture

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, 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. 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 unbalanced, illness may result. The acupuncturist inserts ultra fine needles at chosen points along the channels of energy. The aim is to stimulate the body’s own healing response and restore its natural balance. Therapy 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.

 

The British Acupuncture Council

The British Acupuncture Council is the registering body for professional acupuncturists.

The BAcC publishes a Register of Practitioner Members annually.

Copies can be obtained from them (click logo to go to their web site). Alternatively, a list of practitioners in your local area can be requested free of charge.

 

 

What about my conventional medical treatment?

All our therapies are designed to be complementary to conventional treatment. If you have a new condition your doctor does not know of you will be advised to have his or her diagnosis first. Many people seek therapy for long standing conditions and would like to rely less on drugs such as painkillers and anti-inflammatories. Often it is possible to rely less on drugs when it is safe to do so on the advice of your GP.