Acupuncture
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that involves inserting very fine needles at key points (acupuncture points) in the body. There are over 500 acupuncture points and these are thought to affect the way your organs and tissues function. Acupuncture encourages the body to release natural pain-killing substances (endorphins) and stimulates the flow of Qi (pronounced chee) to treat underlying causes of disease.
One of the first known books on acupuncture - TheYellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine - dates from 300BC and is still used today. Over 2000 years later, acupuncture remains a major system of healing in hospitals throughout China and the Far East alongside conventional Western medicine.
How does it work?
Qi is the body's vital energy; it should flow smoothly and strongly around the body in specific channels or meridians. The principle of acupuncture is that illness and pain occur when Qi cannot flow freely. This can happen for any reason: emotional and physical stress, your immediate environment, poor nutrition, infection, injury etc.
It is the acupuncturist's job to modify and improve the flow of Qi by placing needles at specific points on the body.
What can acupuncture treat?
Acupuncture is used to treat many common illnesses and conditions such as: aches and pains, asthma, anxiety, back pain, breech presentation, depression, digestive problems,emotional issues, high blood pressure, IBS, infertility, lack of energy menstrual problems, migraine, sinusitis, sleep problems, sports,injuries and stress.
Over the past 30 years there has been increasing interest in the health benefits of acupuncture by conventional Western medicine. There is now robust scientific evidence for its safety and effectiveness in relieving a range of symptoms - including migraine and knee pain from osteoarthritis - and it is increasingly used to treat infertility and to help women undergoing IVF.
Safety and quality standards.
Our practitioner is registered with the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC), the leading self-regulatory body for the practice of traditional acupuncture in the UK. The British Acupuncture Council requires its members to follow an ethical code of practice and to undertake continuing professional development. Ellen has full professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Only certified sterile disposable stainless steel needles are used. A new package is opened for each needle insertion and safely disposed of after the treatment.
Acupuncture needles are very fine - about the thickness of a human hair - and very sharp. They are barely felt as they are put in. Our practitioner's gentle style means that your treatment should be relaxing and comfortable. She has worked successfully with people who have needle phobias.