Point To Acupuncture

 

What Can Acupuncture Do For Me?

Acupuncture is widely considered to be beneficial for a range of illnesses and symptoms including:

? Fertility problems
? Menstrual & gynaecological problems
? Anxiety, stress & depression
? Back pain, sciatica & other musculo-skeletal problems
? Insomnia
? Headaches & migraine
? IBS, bowel & digestive problems

To find out more what acupuncture can do for you please contact me.

How Does It Work?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) acupuncture believes that energy (or qi) flows through a system of channels in the body. The channels connect the internal organs together. The flow of qi can be disturbed by any number of factors, e.g. emotional states such as anxiety, anger or grief, poor nutrition, hereditary factors, infections and trauma. When qi becomes blocked, excessive or deficient, pain or illness can occur. Acupuncture aims to unblock and rebalance this energy, encouraging the body to heal itself.

What Happens When I Go For Treatment?
You will be asked abut your current symptoms, what treatment you have received, your medical history, your diet, digestive system, sleeping patterns and emotional state. Your pulses will be felt on both wrists and I will 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. Needles are inserted and left in for 20-30 minutes.
Sometimes additional techniques are used either alongside or instead of the needles. Moxibustion is a technique where a herb (moxa) is used either directly on the skin or above certain acupuncture points or channels. The moxa is lit and as it smoulders, heat permeates into the body and effects the flow of qi and blood in the area being treated. Moxa is usually used when the patient is diagnosed as having a “cold” condition.

Cupping is another ancient technique that can be used. It involves creating a vacuum inside round glass or bamboo cups that are then placed on the body and left there for about 20 minutes.

 

Cupping is most often used to treat colds/flu by shifting congestion on the chest or to treat muscular pain. It is not painful but can leave red patches on the skin, like circular bruises. These patches indicate that there has been movement in the blood under and around the cups and will fade away. Not all treatments cause redness, it depends on the condition being treated.

Electro-acupuncture is when small electrodes are attached to 2 or more needles and a small electrical current is passed between them. It is used to make a treatment stronger e.g. when inducing labour or in acute sciatic pain.

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Advice from Point To Acupuncture

Before having any treatment it is best to have a light meal and it is strongly advised that alcohol is avoided before and immediately after acupuncture. After treatment it is common that you may feel tired and some conditions may feel intensified for a few days afterwards, this is part of the healing process and will lead to stronger improvement.