About Acupuncture

What is Acupuncture?

Traditional acupuncture is a healthcare system based on ancient principles which go back almost two thousand years. It has a very positive model of good health and function and looks at pain and illness as signs that the body is out of balance. The overall aim of acupuncture treatment, then, is to restore the body's equilibrium. What makes this system so uniquely suited to modern life is that physical, emotional and mental health are seen as interdependent, and reflect what many people perceive as the connection between the different aspects of their lives. The treatment is based on the principle that when the body is healthy, energy flows freely, promoting health and resisting disease. If, however, this energy becomes weakened or blocked, it results in pain or illness. Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine, single-use needles into points along specific channels or meridians on the body, to strengthen or un-block the body’s energy.

What is the difference between Five Element Acupuncture and other types of Acupuncture?

Acupuncture originated in China but has since spread to Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Europe and America. Different styles of have developed over the centuries, based on different opinions as to theory and technique. Five element acupuncture came out of the Taoist tradition, which was based on how the Chinese related to nature, how they understood the link between what was happening in the outside world and the interior one. They were also interested in the uniqueness of the individual; the idea that if you are fulfilling your destiny, being true to who you are, you will stay well. How does the five element approach differ? Gerad Kite, Director of the Kite Clinic, London explains: 'We note a patient’s symptoms, but they don’t support our diagnosis, or determine how we set out to help. They are simply alarm bells of distress. Instead, we are interested in how the person presents, in how they are – how they look physically, how they smell, how they sound, their emotional state. It is like the medieval idea of the “humours”. It is about sensing how a person is out of balance.’ The five elements - earth, fire, water, wood and metal - are not just the foundation of this wonderful system of medicine; they are the foundation and spirit of all Nature around us. Each element represents what Gerad Kite calls 'a distinct energetic movement within the body, just as there are seasons in nature’.

Is there any evidence to prove that Acupuncture works?

An increasing weight of evidence from Western scientific research is now demonstrating the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating a wide variety of conditions. From a biomedical viewpoint, acupuncture is believed to stimulate the nervous system, influencing the production of the body’s communication substances - hormones and neurotransmitters. The resulting biochemical changes activate the body's self-regulating homeostatic systems, stimulating its natural healing abilities and promoting physical and emotional wellbeing.

What can Acupuncture help?

Some people turn to acupuncture for help with a specific symptom or condition. Others choose to have treatment to help maintain good health, as a preventative measure, or simply to improve their general sense of wellbeing. Because Five Element acupuncture aims to treat the whole person rather than specific symptoms in isolation, it can be effective for a range of conditions.

There are over 40 factsheets published by the British Acupuncture Council, which provide accurate and unbiased information on the use of acupuncture in the treatment of a variety of conditions (see link below):

http://www.acupuncture.org.uk/research-fact-sheets.html

However, there is evidence to prove that Acupuncture can be an effective treatment for:

• Knee pain from Osteoarthritis or Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Back Pain
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Dental Pain
• Tension-type headaches
• Migraines

Acupuncture and Fertility

Increasingly, acupuncture is being used in the field of reproductive medicine, both for natural fertility and those undergoing assisted conception.

Research has established plausible mechanisms of action which explain how acupuncture may benefit fertility, including regulating fertility hormones, increasing blood flow to the uterus, or improving the thickness of endometrial lining. Some evidence also suggests that acupuncture administered close to embryo transfer during in vitro fertilisation treatment may improve the rates of pregnancy and live birth.

Acupuncture is effective in the treatment of pain, and may help to relieve post-operative pain following gynaecological procedures. The insertion of needles at specific acupuncture points leads to the release of endorphins and other chemical messengers. This affects areas of the brain known to reduce sensitivity to pain and stress, as well as promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety.

When partners who are struggling to conceive both opt to have acupuncture, it can have a very positive effect, uniting them as a couple and helping to create a calmer, more relaxed state of mind. In addition, couples that undergo acupuncture treatment for a three to six month period may well find that they are able to conceive naturally, negating the need for IVF treatment. If couples do chose to undergo IVF, however, acupuncture complements it very effectively and can increase the success rates.

Maggie Bavington, acupuncturist and member of the British Acupuncture Council, says: ‘In my experience and that of my patients, acupuncture has a lot to offer couples trying for a baby, whatever their diagnosis. Dealing with infertility can be extremely stressful and both parties can become tense and anxious. This can result in poor sleep or low libido, and a reluctance to keep trying because previous attempts have failed with every passing month, bringing more pressure on both people. Male patients often benefit from the relaxation acupuncture brings and are overjoyed when tests show their sperm has improved. Getting pregnant is not the end of the story and I often treat women through the whole pregnancy. Of course, the most rewarding part for me is when I get to meet the long-awaited baby in person and see the joy of the new parents.’

Again, there are factsheets available for you to read explaining the benefits of undergoing acupuncture treatment for fertility problems:

http://www.acupuncture.org.uk/research-fact-sheets.html

Is Acupuncture safe?

The results of two independent surveys published in the British Medical Journal in 2001 (MacPherson et al, White et al, both BMJ, September 2001) concluded that the risk of serious adverse reaction to acupuncture is less than 1 in 10,000. The needles I use are single-use, sterile, and disposable. Responses to treatment can sometimes include tiredness or mild dizziness, and very occasionally minor bruising may occur. However, all such reactions are short-lived.

What does it feel like? Does the needles hurt?

Acupuncture needles are much finer than needles used for injections and blood tests, so it is unlikely that you will be in a lot of discomfort. When the needle is inserted through the skin, you may feel a tingling sensation or dull ache. Some points are more uncomfortable than others. My general needle technique is quick and it is rarely necessary to leave the needles in situ in the body for long periods of time.

Should my doctor know I am having Acupuncture?

If you have been prescribed medication, I recommend that you tell your doctor that you are planning to have acupuncture. Do not stop taking your medication. You should always tell me about any medication and supplements you are taking, as this may affect your response to the acupuncture treatment. I am trained to recognise potentially serious underlying health conditions and may refer you to your GP, if I consider it appropriate.

How do I find out more about how acupuncture can help me?

Please contact me by telephone or email to organise a free initial telephone consultation.