About Acupuncture

About Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a tried and tested system of medicine which has been used to restore, promote and maintain good health for thousands of years. The British Acupuncture Council has produced a series of fact sheets to provide accurate and unbiased general information about how acupuncture may be beneficial for a variety of conditions. The World Health Organisation (WHO) provides a list of conditions for which acupuncture has been tested in controlled clinical trials.

According to traditional Chinese philosophy, our health is dependent on the body’s motivating energy – known as qi – moving in a smooth and balanced way through a series of meridians (channels) beneath the skin. The flow of qi can be disturbed by many factors, physical, mental and emotional: anxiety, stress, anger, fear, grief, poor nutrition, weather conditions, hereditary factors, infections and trauma. By inserting fine needles into the channels of energy, an acupuncturist can stimulate the body’s own healing response and help to restore its natural balance. As acupuncture treats the whole person, often people discover that it is not only their initial condition that improves but many also report an increase in their energy levels and general sense of well being.

Pulse photoThe first appointment involves an initial consultation and treatment. This lasts for about one and a quarter hours during which time Sarah will ask you about your current symptoms, health history, lifestyle and diet together with any other factors that may be relevant. Sarah will then ask you to lie on the treatment couch while she takes your pulses on each wrist and looks at your tongue. She will make a traditional diagnosis from what is often a complex pattern of disharmony. The exact pattern and degree of disharmony is unique to each individual and so following diagnosis, Sarah will put together a personalised treatment plan.

Treatment will involve Sarah inserting fine, sterile needles into points mainly found on your arms and lower legs.  Sarah will insert needles for a few seconds or leave them in place for up to twenty minutes. The needles are much finer than those used for injections and the sensation is often described as a brief dull ache. Patients frequently describe a deep feeling of relaxation during treatment.

Subsequent treatment sessions last about 45 minutes and will initially involve a brief discussion about how you have been feeling since your last treatment and give you an opportunity to talk about any other ongoing issues in your life.

Moxa
Sometimes moxa or cupping may be used to complement acupuncture. Moxa is a herb similar to mugwort which is burned over acupuncture points to warm them during treatment. This can be very relaxing and nourishing to the body. Cupping involves the use of glass cups which create suction over an area of the skin to increase the blood circulation in the area.