Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient system of medicine developed over thousands of years as part of the traditional medicine of China, Japan and other Eastern countries.

HISTORY

The earliest records of acupuncture date back over 2000 years and today there are over 3 million practitioners worldwide. Although the majority of this number practice in the east, over the last 50 years an increasing number of people in the west have trained to become acupuncturists.

The practice of acupuncture is thought to have begun with the discovery that the stimulation of specific areas on the skin affected the functioning of certain organs of the body. It has evolved into a system of medicine that restores and maintains health by the insertion of fine needles to acupuncture points in very specific locations just beneath the skin. Originally there were 365 such points, corresponding to the days of the year, but the number identified by proponents during the past 2,000 years has increased gradually to about 2,000. These points connect with 12 main and 8 secondary pathways called meridians. These meridians conduct energy or Qi (pronounced "chee") throughout the body. It is believed that free flowing of the Qi keeps a person healthy. If the flow of the Qi is blocked for any reason, illness results.

The aim of acupuncture is to restore the balance between the equal and opposite qualities of Qi, namely the Yin and the Yang. In traditional medicine many things are considered to upset this balance, disturb the flow of Qi and cause ill-health, or disharmony. These include emotional states such as stress, anxiety, anger, fear and grief, poor nutrition, hereditary factors, infections, pollution and trauma.

During the first consultation, by careful questioning and observation, the practitioner aims to determine the nature of the patient’s disharmony. A detailed understanding is required of the patient’s symptoms, medical and family history, lifestyle and diet, general health, sleep patterns and emotional feelings. Diagnosis may also include examination of the tongue for its structure, colour and coating and pulse points may be felt to establish quality, rhythm and strength. Having decided on the cause of the patient’s problem, the points and appropriate method of treatment are selected.

During the treatment, needles are inserted for a second or two or left in place for up to 20 minutes, depending on the effect required. People often report a pleasant sensation of heaviness during treatment and feelings of calm relaxation. This makes acupuncture an ideal therapy for stress related conditions. It is often reported that people notice an improvement in sleep, digestion, and overall energy levels. Since Acupuncture heals the body through natural techniques, side effects are very rare. Acupuncture is safe for people of all ages including children and the elderly, and alternative methods such as acupressure of tapping can be used if someone has a genuine fear of needles.

Although one of the most common uses of Acupuncture is pain relief, it is also extremely effective in a wide variety of conditions through its power to stimulate the body’s own healing response.

These includes migraine, backache, period pain, arthritic and rheumatic pain, post-operative pain, and post-injury pain. In the case of post operative pain, doctors have combined acupuncture and drugs to control surgery-related pain in their patients.

Appointments available at Menai Bridge

Therapist

Carole Davies RGN BAc MBAcC