What is Acupuncture?
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 series of meridians (channels) beneath the skin.
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, fear, grief, poor nutrition, 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.
What will happen on my first Acupuncture visit?
Your first consultation may be longer than subsequent sessions. The acupuncturist needs to assess your general state of health, in order to identify the underlying pattern of disharmony and give you the most effective treatment.
You will be asked about your current symptoms and what treatment you have received so far, your medical history and that of your close family, your diet, digestive system, sleeping patterns and emotional state. To discover how the energies are flowing in your body, the acupuncturist is likely to feel your pulses on both wrists, noting their quality, rhythm and strength.
The structure, colour and coating of your tongue also gives a good guide to your physical health. Once enough information has been gathered to determine the likely causes of your problems, the acupuncturist can select the most appropriate treatment.
The aim of the consultation is to discover which energy channels need adjusting for your specific complaint to improve, and which require treatment with acupuncture to boost your overall energy and vitality.
During an Acupuncture Treatment
Stimulation of specific areas on or beneath the skin affects the functioning of certain organs in the body. However, those areas may not be close to the part of the body where the problem is experienced. For example, although you may suffer from headaches, needles may be inserted in your foot or hand.
There are around 500 such acupuncture points on the body, and a properly trained and experienced acupuncturist will use a selection of perhaps ten or twelve of these for each treatment. Different points are selected as the patient's condition changes.
The acupuncturist may supplement the needle treatment with moxa, a smouldering herb which is used to warm acupuncture points to encourage the body's energy to flow smoothly. Other methods of stimulating acupuncture points include using lasers or electro-acupuncture. Massage, or tapping with a rounded probe, are techniques particularly suitable for small children or for people with a fear of needles.
Wear loose clothing and be aware that the acupuncturist may need to access points on your torso.
What does Acupuncture feel like?
Needles are inserted either for a second or two, or may be left in place for 30 minutes or more, depending on the effect required. During an acupuncture treatment, patients often experience a sensation of heavy limbs or a feeling of relaxation. The benefits of acupuncture include more than just relief from a particular condition. Increased energy levels, better appetite and sleep are other benefits.
To find an acupuncturist or acupuncture clinic, click on one of the towns above or enter your postcode and search for one in your area.
Source: The British Acupuncture Council acupunture.org.uk
See Acupressure and Meridian Therapies.