About Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an holistic approach to the maintenance of health and the treatment of illness. It is based on over 2000 years of developments and refinements.

The skill of an acupuncturist lies in their ability to 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 with traditional acupuncture will be treated as such with a personalised treatment plan.

Acupuncture is a system of healing which has been practised in China and other Eastern countries for thousands of years. Although often described as a means of pain relief, it is in fact used to treat people with a wide range of illnesses. Its focus is on improving the overall well being of the patient, rather than the isolated treatment of specific symptoms.

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 network of channels or meridians.

Qi consists of equal and opposite qualities - Yin and Yang - and when these become unbalanced, illness may result. By inserting fine needles into the channels of energy, an acupuncturist can stimulate the body's own healing response and help restore its natural balance.

The flow of Qi can be disturbed by a number of factors. These include emotional states such as anxiety, stress, anger, fear or grief, poor nutrition, weather conditions, hereditary factors, infections, poisons and trauma.

The principal aim of acupuncture in treating the whole person is to recover the equilibrium between the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of the individual.

There are two main styles of acupuncture. Five Element Acupuncture has a more emotionally/ spiritually orientated approach to diagnosis and treatment while Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a more disease orientated approach to diagnosis and treatment. I have trained in both styles and use an integrated approach in my diagnosis of your needs.

You may also want to be more actively engaged in your healing process by having an understanding of why you are unwell and what changes you can make in your lifestyle to manage your illness and maintain your health.