What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an ancient system of healing, where fine needles are inserted just under the skin to stimulate the body’s own healing system.

Acupuncture began in China over two thousand years ago, when it was discovered that stimulation of specific areas of the skin affected body function and symptoms of disease. Since then, acupuncture has developed into a comprehensive system of medicine with its own diagnostic methods and understanding of disease.

How does it work?

Traditionally, acupuncture is based on ancient Chinese theories of the flow of Qi (energy) and Xue (blood) through discrete channels or meridians which transverse the body, similar but not identical to the nervous and blood circulatory system. According to this theory, acupuncture regulates this flow of Qi , moving it to those areas where it is deficient and draining it from where it is excessive. Thus, acupuncture regulates and restores the harmonious and energetic balance of the body, returning the body to health and vitality.

What happens at the acupuncturist?

Most people visit the acupuncturist for one or two specific symptoms. With acupuncture, a single symptom is not treated in isolation. To gain understanding of the symptoms relationship with other bodily signs and symptom’s, the acupuncturist will ask questions concerning medical history, appetite, thirst, bowels, urine, pain, sleep and menstruation. Palpation of the pulse and observation of the tongue’s shape and colour also play a major role in diagnosis. All this information is used to form a holistic treatment, tailored for each individual patient. The needles are then inserted usually between 0.25 to 1 centimeters deep and left for 20 minutes. After the treatment, there may be immediate, total or partial relief of symptoms. This relief may last, or some of the systems may return in a few days. After a course of treatments, long term relief from the initial complaint is usually achieved..

Often, the most dramatic results are experienced after the first treatment. It is quite common to feel slightly euphoric or light headed after treatment, which is an effect of the Qi (energy) moving and the re-balancing of the body. Future treatments and management of the symptoms can be discussed before leaving the clinic, which is also an ideal time to ask any questions.

How many treatments?

This depends on the severity and duration of the individuals complaint. Generally, three to fifteen treatments are required for the majority of chronic ailments, while some acute symptoms are resolved after a single treatment. It is realistic to expect some major changes after four or five treatments, though some conditions respond more slowly. Treatment is usually given once a week, unless the condition is very severe.

Does it hurt?

Some people would like to try acupuncture but may not, because they assume it will be painful. It is not. At most, only a slight twinge will be felt as the needle enters the skin, followed by a slight heaviness. Most people like this mild stimulation, as they can feel the benefits of the treatment immediately.

If there is any discomfort, it is usually mild and for one or two seconds. During the treatment, relax, and if you experience any unease, tell the acupuncturist so they can make your comfortable again.

Symptom relief or cure?

An acupuncture treatment is designed to treat the cause, as well as the symptoms. This is Known in China as treating the “Ben and Biao” (Cause and Symptom) and produces long term resolution of many types of disease. That is acupuncture, does more than produce a short term relief from systems. It addresses the reasons and corrects the internal imbalance to produce long term resolution of many health disorders.

Are the needles clean?

Only single-use, pre-sterilised, individually packed disposable needles are used. This absolutely assures that there is no risk of transmission of communicable diseases.

Acupuncture and other treatments

Acupuncture works well in conjunction with other therapies and is often helpful in resolving pain that has not responded to other forms of treatments. The acupuncturist respects other treatment or therapies and works with your current Doctor or health professionals.

The treatment of pain with acupuncture.

Pain is the body’s mechanism for letting us know something is wrong. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) there are many types of pain with different causes.

Acupuncture has been used in china to treat pain for thousand of years. Recently more and more people in the west are using Acupuncture as an effective treatment for their pain, be it acute or chronic. This widespread use of acupuncture led the National Health and Medical Research Council to report “ Acupuncture is a technique which can be useful in relieving some forms of pain”.

The mechanism of pain, in the view of acupuncture, is best illustrated by this old saying: “When their is pain, the movement of Qi is obstructed. When the Qi moves freely, there is no pain.”

We have all experienced knots in our muscles and this congestion of muscle fibres is a good example of the congestion of Qi.

Because of their religious beliefs, the Chinese did not dissect bodies to develop their system of medicine. Rather they observed external signs and systems over thousands of years to develop a comprehensive understanding of bodily function. They determined that the interplay of factors such as , emotion, climate, diet, work, traumas, epidemics and hereditary give insight on the cause of ill health and disease.

Therefore when understanding the underlying causes of pain or why the movement of Qi is obstruct3ed, TCM used a different model to understand and treat pain that is used in the west.

A physical trauma or accident will block the movement of Qi in the area, producing symptoms like bruising, tenderness, restricted movement and pain.

Environmental factors like Cold, Wind, heat and Dampness penetrate through the skin , blocking Qi, producing distinct types of pain.

Cold penetrating the muscles will produce an intense, sharp pain with sudden onset, which sometimes severely restricts movement. Cold in the joints produces a strong arthritic pain which is worse in cold weather.

Wind produces a type of pain that moves about the body.

Heat produces pain with localised redness and swelling.

Damp produces a dull pain and in the case of headaches, the head feels like it is full of cotton-wool or there is a tight band around the head.

Overuse or Excessive work consumes the Qi in the area, which then stagnates (similar to the stagnant ponds in an almost dry river bed) The area is then unable to be nourished, which will be caused a dull pain, worsened with exercise.

Emotions in excess cause the Qi to flow in the wrong direction. Excessive anger causes the Qi to rise , creating a red face and headache. The aim of an Acupuncture treatment is to stimulate the flow of Qi , and address the cause of Qi obstruction. Environmental factors are dispersed and cleared from the body, weak areas strengthened and emotional excesses are levelled.