MY BACKGROUND
I came to study Acupuncture after watching my Mum coping with cancer for many years. She received amazing treatment from doctors and hospitals, but watching all the treatment, I really wanted to be able to make a difference to people’s quality of life in a Complementary way and started my search for a system of medicine in which I felt I could help the body use it’s own powerful healing resources to prevent illness and maintain health.
Acupuncture ticked all those boxes for me, and I love being able to really make a difference when someone comes to me – often as a last resort – after weeks, months or years of feeling unwell, which then starts to grind them down mentally and emotionally.
ABOUT ACUPUNCTURE
How does acupuncture work?
Acupuncturists insert very fine needles at precisely located points to connect with your body’s qi. They will decide which points are right for you after a detailed consultation covering every aspect of your health and lifestyle. The aim is to direct the flow of qi to trigger your
body’s healing response and to restore physical,emotional and mental equilibrium. Treatment is designed to affect your whole being as well as your symptoms so, as the condition being treated improves, you may notice other health problems resolve and an increased feeling of wellbeing.
During the first appointment, a detailed case history is taken, pulses felt on each wrist – which correspond to the meridians of qi energy in the body, to understand the overall balance of the patient. The Acupuncturist can tell which meridians are under or over active before treatment, and pulses are checked during and after treatment so as to know when the body is becoming more balanced. Tongue diagnosis is also used to gain an ‘inside look’ into the body – tongue coating, colour and cracks are all very useful diagnostic tools for the acupuncturist.
Are there any side effects?
Occasionally a small bruise can appear at a needle site. Sometimes people can feel lightheaded or tired after a treatment but this passes quickly.
What are the benefits of acupuncture?
A growing body of evidence-based clinical research is discovering how the body responds to acupuncture and its benefits for a wide range of common health conditions. Many people have acupuncture to relieve specific aches and pains, such as osteoarthritis of the knee, headaches and low back pain, or for common health problems and sports injuries. Others choose acupuncture when they can feel their bodily functions are out of balance, but have no obvious diagnosis. And many have regular treatments because they find it so beneficial and relaxing.
Conditions commonly treated in the clinic:
Anxiety
Arthritis
Autoimmune disorders
Back pain
Digestive problems
Depression
Eczema
Chronic Fatigue
Frozen shoulder
Fibromyalgia
Hay Fever
Headaches and Migraines
Infertility
Insomnia
Menstruation problems/PMT
Menopausal problems
Musculoskeletal pain
Sports injuries
Tennis elbow
Tinnitus
Treatment for well-being
Where are the acupuncture points?
Acupuncture points are located at precise places along interconnected pathways that map the whole body, including the head, trunk and limbs. The most commonly used acupuncture points are on the lower arms and legs.
Does acupuncture hurt?
Acupuncture needles are so fine that most people don’t feel them being inserted. It is normal to feel a mild tingle or dull ache as the acupuncturist adjusts the needle to direct Qi. While the needles are in place most people feel deeply relaxed which can continue after they are removed.
