Who can benefit from Acupuncture?

Anyone!  People of all ages can benefit from acupuncture.   Acupuncture can help with a variety of ailments. These include:

• arthritis, joint and soft-tissue problems
• whiplash, golf/tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, sciatica
• asthma and hay-fever
• digestive disorders
• infertility, hormonal and menstrual disorders
• headaches
• skin problems
• post-viral fatigue
• Multiple Sclerosis
• high blood pressure (hypertension)
• the side effects of chemotherapy
• post operative care and pain control
• reducing cravings to aid in weight loss and giving up smoking

Rather than using needles for babies and young children, acupressure techniques are used.  Acupressure is very effective, and parents are encouraged to continue this at home. 

Acupuncture has a powerful role to play in pre-conception, pregnancy and post-natal care, but caution must be exercised at various times during pregnancy as certain pressure points must be avoided.

What can I expect?

There are various styles of acupuncture and often a combination of two or more of these will be appropriate to your individual needs. 

The initial consultation will typically last approximately 1 hour and includes your first treatment. 

Your acupuncturist will take a thorough case history recording current medications, previous accidents, traumas, injuries, operations and the health of your body's basic systems (digestion, sleep patterns, etc).  Often it is helpful to bring with you a list of your current medications and dates of injuries/operations.

Building up an overall picture helps the acupuncturist find patterns and possible underlying causes for your presenting symptoms.

People often ask "Will it hurt?".  Only the finest gauge acupuncture needles are used, and patients often have no idea that the needle has actually gone in.  You will experience a sensation when the needle connects with the acupuncture point - this is generally described as a "dull ache".

Some needles are left in for 5-20 minutes whilst others are taken out as soon as the acupuncture point has been stimulated.

Follow-up treatments typically last 30 minutes.

How often will I need to come?

This depends on your individual case.  However, the aim of your acupuncturist is to work as quickly and effectively as possible.  Usually, you will be asked to attend weekly for between 2-4 sessions.  After this, you and your acupuncturist will assess progress and schedule any future treatments accordingly.  After the initial block of treatment, many people decide to come back for a "top-up" when they need to, in the same way that you might service your car.

Traditional Chinese Acupuncture

This style is favoured when your acupuncturist has a concrete Western diagnosis to work with, but your problem is not mechanical/structural in origin.  Its roots are thousands of years old and come from Chinese medical tradition.  Many of the formulae and syndrome-based treatments were originally herbal prescriptions translated into acupuncture patterns, which is why even today herbs and acupuncture are so closely linked.  After "trigger point" practice, this is the most common style of acupuncture used in this country, and is used to treat the types of complaints for which your doctor would prescribe you medicines.

Trigger Point or Dry Needling

Also known as intramuscular stimulation, this is the type of acupuncture frequently adopted by osteopaths, physiotherapists and chiropracters in its most basic form, because it is so effective at resolving joint and soft tissue problems.  It is used locally and specifically to affected areas to encourage brain/muscle messages to re-establish themselves into a correctly functioning pattern.  This technique is enhanced by adding more traditional "distal" points away from the site of injury.

Facial Acupuncture

Originally this form of acupuncture was used to treat "Bell's Palsy", a condition resulting in weakness / paralysis of the facial muscles.  Nowadays, it is also used by the beauty industry as a form of non-surgical "face-lift".  It tones up the small and delicate muscles around the mouth, cheekbones and eyes to prevent further "southward drift"!  This style of treatment tends to be performed every 1 or 2 months for ongoing results.

Five Element Acupuncture

A more intuitive approach, it is poles apart from more formulaic styles, which look predominantly at the symptoms.  This approach prefers to look more at the person who is experiencing the symptoms.  Its central focus is the individual and their unique response to life and being alive.  Its strength lies in its ability to think outside the box and, rather than try to force the patient's symptoms to fit into a well ordered system, it allows for individual quirkiness.

It is suited for people who know that they aren't well, but when they go for tests, the results always come back clear!  Conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, tension, worry, grief, inability to concentrate, fears & phobias, lack of confidence, unexplained tiredness or lack of motivation can all benefit from this approach.

Acu-Stones

The use of heat has always been a part of acupuncture practice.  This non-needle technique is wonderfully relaxing and highly effective for relieving stress and tension.  Hot stones are used to stimulate the meridians and relevant acupuncture points.  This unique style of bodywork is the first of its kind in the country.  Allow an hour for this treatment and enjoy the power of acupuncture combined with the gentle warmth of hot stones.