Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine that originated in China over 5,000 years ago but it is only over the last three decades that this science and art of healing became widely accepted.  It is now an established profession in Australia and has proved to be safe and effective.

Acupuncture is a form of natural healing that has the following major benefits:

• drug-free pain relief
• assists in the prevention of disease
• treats the cause as well as the symptoms
• holistic approach to illness, linking body, mind and emotions
• effectively treats many common ailments

How Does it Work?

The goal of acupuncture is to establish a healthier state of body function and to increase the capacity to cope with stress. The human body can be likened to a highly complex electrical circuit. Like any electrical circuit, the energy flow must be kept in good working order to function effectively. If the human circuit breaks down, the result is usually illness.

To maintain good health, it is therefore essential for the body's energy, as well as the blood, to circulate in a continuous and unobstructed manner. The pathways through which the energy flows (called Qi - pronounced as Chi) are called meridians and these circulate through the organs and tissues of the body. These meridians were mapped out by the ancient Chinese thousands of years ago. Modern technological methods such as Kirlian photography, electronic and thermal readings, are now being used to detect these meridians, and blood tests have shown an increase in the production of Serotonin (a feel-good hormone) following a treatment with acupuncture.

There are over 5,000 acupuncture points and these lie along the energy pathways (meridians). By stimulating these points with needles, the quality and quantity of energy (Qi) and body fluids can be normalised.

How Can Acupuncture Help You ?

There are three main ways that acupuncture therapy can help.

• The treatment of specific disorders to provide relief of symptoms and reduce complications. Acupuncture is also used to treat the cause of the disorder and reduce the likelihood of its recurrence.
• Maintenance treatment of a long-term problem to provide a more comfortable state of health and reduce the need for medication and surgery.
• Chinese Medicine is an effective form of preventative medicine because of its ability to detect and treat energy imbalances before they lead to disease.

How Many Treatments Do You Need?

The number and frequency of treatments depends on several factors. These include the duration and intensity of your present disorder. Your age, constitution, and individual circumstances, such as your desired health goal, are also taken into account.

Traditional Chinese Medicine recognises you as a complex blend of body, mind and emotions. During your first visit, your practitioner is concerned with all aspects of your health. Details of your medical, surgical and family history and other relevant information such as exercise habits and occupation are collected.

What Will Be Your Response to Treatment?

Often the first response you notice is a change in your general health. Sleep, digestion and energy often improve. Individual variations do occur, with some people responding more quickly while others show a gradual improvement.

What Can You Do to Assist Your Therapy?

Moderation in all things is a good principle.  Some things you can do include:

• setting personal health goals
• regular intake of fresh air and water
• enjoyment of nutritious meals
• undertaking regular balanced physical exercise
• taking up an interesting recreational activity 
• maintaining a positive mental attitude
• ensuring you get adequate rest and relaxation

What Does Acupuncture Treat?

There is a wide range of disorders than can be treated. You are advised to consult your Acupuncturist for an opinion. The WHO (World Health Organisation) in December 1979 recognised a number of disorders that have been successfully treated by acupuncture, including

• Neurological – headaches, migraines, insomnia, nervous tension, neuralgia, tinnitus,
• Cardiovascular – high/low blood pressure, fluid retention, chest pain, cold hands/feet
• Respiratory – bronchial asthma, bronchitis, tonsillitis, rhinitis, sinusitis, hayfever
• Digestive – toothache, post-extraction pain, flatulence, constipation, weight control
• Uro-Genital – cystitis, prostatitis, orchitis, low sexual vitality, nocturnal enuresis
• Gynaecological & Obstetric – PMT, painful/heavy/irregular/absent periods, hormonal disturbances, menopausal disorders, morning sickness, difficulty with conception
• Skin – eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, scar tissue/adhesions, hair loss
• Musculoskeletal – osteoarthritis, sciatica, lumbago, low back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, tenosynovitis, shoulder and neck pain, “frozen shoulder”, “tennis elbow”
• Sporting Injuries – sprained ankles and knees, cartilage problems, corking and tearing of muscles, torn ligaments and bruises
• Psychological – depression, phobias, emotional disturbances, anxiety
• Immune - including the symptoms arising from autoimmune disorders such as asthma, allergies, ulcerative colitis, macula degeneration, multiple sclerosis

Treatment modalities may include:

Chinese Herbs

Herbal medicine is an integral part of Chinese medicine. The majority of the Chinese herbal medicine is from organic plant substances and certain minerals. Herbal formulae rarely elicit side effects, as they have been used safely for centuries across large populations. These formulations, when prescribed by a well-trained practitioner, can be used by adults, children, and the elderly. The combination of Chinese herbs and acupuncture produce a very effective treatment protocol for many ailments. Each herbal formula is customized for the individual to target the symptoms as well as the root cause of a disorder. As the patient improves, the formula will change.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a safe, gentle, effective treatment that works. It involves the insertion of fine needles in specific points along the body that either directly relate to or influence the disorder that your acupuncturist is seeking to balance.

Studies show acupuncture can help a wide variety of pain conditions including back and neck pain, migraines, sciatica, osteoarthritis, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia or trigeminal neuralgia.

However, acupuncture is also effective for the treatment of functional disorders like allergic reactions, digestive disorders, respiratory disorders, fatigue, symptoms of, autoimmune disease, women’s health issues (eg infertility, morning sickness, menstrual problems), anxiety, mood and stress-related disorders, sleep issues and addictive behaviours (including substance abuse and obsessive habits such as nail-biting). It also promotes general health and prevents or limits the progression of disease.

Cupping

This is a treatment technique in which local suction is created on the skin to allow toxins and stagnant blood flow to rise to the surface. Clearing stagnations allows the tissues to heal and enables proper function to be restored. Cupping is powerful in treating respiratory diseases such as asthma, the common cold, pneumonia and bronchitis, as well as being effective for skin complaints, gynaecological disorders and pain conditions.

Moxibustion

A form of heat treatment to stimulate specific acupuncture points. A small cone-shaped amount of mugwort herb is placed either on top of an acupuncture point or on top of an inserted acupuncture needle, or may involve the practitioner lighting one end of a moxa stick then holding it an inch or two away to indirectly bring mild warmth to the area.

Guasha

This is a healing technique which involves palpation and cutaneous stimulation applying pressure in a stroking fashion using a round-edged instrument. As in cupping, the skin may discolour but in doing so is promoting normal circulation and metabolic processes, providing relief from musculoskeletal pain, stiffness, fever, chill, cough, nausea to name but a few.

Ear Acupuncture

Also known as auricular therapy, it is based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine and is regularly incorporated into an acupuncture treatment. It is widely used for treatment of addictions, mood disturbances, obesity and pain.

Constitutional Facial Acupuncture

Also known as ‘Facial Rejuvenation’ this treatment does not just focus on the face as a separate entity but involves the treatment of the entire body to restore glow and vitality. A healthy, glowing face is connected to what oriental medicine terms the Shen or spirit.

Since the face mirrors a person’s physical, emotional and spiritual being, each individual is a walking history of stresses, abuses and joys.

The intention that informs these treatment is not the obliteration of wrinkles in order to produce a tight, immobile ‘mask-like’ effect, but to honor the dignity of an individual’s years and accumulated wisdom, addressing the total person and their constitutional issues, and emphasizing a proper diet and exercise. Treatment may include herbs and tinctures to support the system, and the patient is free to utilize as little or as much of the information provided during the course of their treatment. Each person is encouraged to be responsible for their own process in order to achieve optimum results.

Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture have long promoted longevity, anti-ageing and health by interpreting the Shen or inner reflection seen on the face as an important element of health and vitality. Constitutional Facial Acupuncture is a safe, painless and effective treatment for renewing the face as well as the whole body. Fine lines may be entirely erased, deeper lines reduced, and bags around the neck and eyes firmed.