Therapy Introduction
Acupuncture is the traditional medicine of China. It is at
least 400 years old. It is based upon a natural philosophy
of harmonising the body with the elements found in nature.
It also seeks to being into balance the emotional, mental
and spiritual energies contained within man.
By inserting fine acupuncture needles at various sites on
the body, the acupuncturist can alter blocked energy, eliminate
pain and stimulate the body's own immune system, thereby encouraging
self healing and preventing future disease. Primary diagnosis
is by the taking of 12 pulses on the wrist and tongue examination.
Acupuncture treats all conditions by treating the person,
not the disease, the cause not the symptom. It is a natural
form of medicine, which has no side effects or harmful reactions.
It is also relatively pain free.
The Yellow Emperor wondered why it was that people became
unwell and fragile much earlier than in previous generations.
He was told that in ancient times people had lived in harmony
with nature; they ate and drank moderately, rose and retired
at regular times and generally kept body and spirit together.
We now live more years than at that time but our level of
wellbeing often leaves much to be desired. We leam to adapt
to pain and discomfort; push ourselves to cope with the everyday
stresses and strains; until the body cannot adapt any more
and chronic pain and discomfort ensue.
There are ways of helping the body deal with this: acupuncture,
massage, reflexology are examples. None of these are `magic
bullets' but all can be helpful. Acupuncture has a long history
in the Far East; it was used to maintain good health - if
the person fell ill, the therapist did not get paid! Now it
is used to restore the body to harmony as well as to maintain
good health. Fine needles are inserted into the skin to affect
the energy (qr) within. It is when this energy stops flowing
or becomes unbalanced that we feel pain or disease. The acupuncturist
chooses from hundreds of points on the body depending on the
patient's signs and symptoms.
At the first visit, the patient is asked detailed questions
about their symptoms, medical history, lifestyle, diet and
emotions. Chinese medicine recognises the effect of emotions
on physical health - as does ayurvedic medicine. Treatment
may include moxibustion (the burning of the herb mugwort),
electro-acupuneture or massage.
What is appropriate for one person in terms of treatment
will be unique to that person: the number of visits and spacing
of these is also unique and will be discussed at the initial
consultation.
Conditions which have been helped with acupuncture include:
depression, stress, hypertension, migraine, back pain, menstrual
and menopausal problems, infertility, sinusitis, sciatica.
There is only one way to find out whether it can help you
- give it a go!
The British Acupuncture
Council will provide details of qualified practitioners
(MBAcC after the practitioner's name). Members of the British
Acupuncture Council observe a strict Code of Practice and
Ethics and patients of BAcC practitioners remain eligible
to donate blood.
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