About Acupuncture
Traditional acupuncture involves the insertion of fine needles into certain points on the body to achieve a therapeutic effect. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), an understanding of health and illness has been developed over the last 2000 years, with the mind and body being viewed as part of the same human system. In other words, according to the British Acupuncture Council “the physical, emotional and mental aspect of life are seen as interdependent. The mind-body is seen as a system and understanding the relationship between the various parts is central to making a diagnosis and treatment plan.”
Traditional acupuncture theories are based around the concept of Qi, which is essential for life, also described as life force, energy, vitality depending on the context. In TCM, Qi travels around the body via meridians or channels. These channels correlate to different organs, systems and aspects of a human being, so a practitioner may ask about your life and health from different perspectives and the focus is on the whole individual rather than a particular sign or symptom in isolation. In practice this means when treating headache, for example, an acupuncturist may wish to understand whether there are any problems with the digestion. If there are problems, this will change the diagnosis and result in the selection of different acupuncture points.
Generally speaking, acupuncture is not painful, and when needles are inserted, there is little sensation beyond a small scratch. It is normal for patients to feel a tingling, dullness or aching if needles are manipulated by the practitioner, but if there is any discomfort, tell your therapist who will be able to adjust or remove the needle. Most people feel calm and relaxed during the treatments sessions, and as the needles are so fine, many don’t feel anything at all.
Ear acupuncture, or auricular acupuncture, is the insertion of extremely fine needles into specific points on the ears that correspond to different body areas to promote wellbeing and emotional balance. It is one of several ‘microsystems’ in which the whole body is represented by a smaller area such as in reflexology. It is used effectively in the treatment of anxiety and depression, for chronic pain management, improving sleep and reducing stress. With its minimally invasive approach and wide range of benefits, ear acupuncture is a safe and natural way to support your health goals.