Acupuncture

One of the world’s oldest systems of medicine, acupuncture is used widely to treat a range of conditions including Chronic Pain and Infertility.

Acupuncture is a system of medicine practised in China and other Eastern countries for thousands of years. Often described as a means of pain relief, it’s used to treat a wide variety of illnesses. Its focus is primarily on improving your overall well-being, rather than isolated symptoms.

According to Chinese philosophy, our health is dependent on the body’s motivating energy, known as Qi. This energy moves in a smooth, balanced way through channels beneath the skin. By inserting ultra-fine needles into the channels of energy, an acupuncturist unblocks Qi. Removing these blocks activates the body’s natural healing mechanisms.

Some factors disturb the flow of Qi. These include emotional states such as anxiety, stress, grief, anger, poor nutrition, hereditary factors, infections, poison and trauma. the treatments aim to restore the balance between the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of the patient.

Unlike western medicine, which gives similar procedures or prescriptions to different people, each treatment is individual to patients' needs. Over time, as the needs of the patient change, so does the placement of the needles.

There are about two thousand acupoints and twenty pathways ("meridians") across the human body. Each point and meridian contributes to balance a different aspect of your overall health. The many acupoints on the skin conduct the body's energy (electricity) in different ways around our body, which is how acupuncture frees up blocked qi or energy.

Growing acceptance in the 21st century

In more recent times this treatment has moved from being considered 'just' an alternative therapy. The term 'medical acupuncture' is described by the NHS as 'the use of acupuncture following a medical diagnosis', and that stimulating sensory nerves enables the body to produce 'natural substances, such as pain-relieving endorphins'.

Currently, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published a guideline 'Chronic pain: assessment and management', which is out for consultation with the final report due in January 2021.

With greater awareness of the limitations of using pain killers to treat chronic pain, and the resulting effects on the individual suffer, including opiate dependency, courses of acupuncture is near certain to become the standard method of treating long-term, chronic pain.

Success in supporting fertility and IVF

“Acupuncture can increase the chances of getting pregnant for women undergoing fertility treatment by 65%” reported by several news sources in 2008.

In more recent times acupuncture has moved from being considered 'just' an alternative therapy. The term 'medical acupuncture' is described by the NHS as 'the use of acupuncture following a medical diagnosis', and that stimulating sensory nerves enables the body to produce 'natural substances, such as pain-relieving endorphins'.

Currently, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published a guideline 'Chronic pain: assessment and management', which is out for consultation with the final report due in January 2021.

With greater awareness of the limitations of using pain killers to treat chronic pain, and the resulting effects on the individual suffer, including opiate dependency, courses of acupuncture is near certain to become the standard method of treating long-term, chronic pain.

Who can an Acupuncturist help?

Acupuncture may be right for you if you're suffering from ailments, such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraine, knee, shoulder and back pain, sciatica, unexplained infertility and IVF support along with a wide range of gynaecological issues.

What to expect

When you attend an acupuncture session, your therapist will highlight the areas where needles need to be inserted to get the desired result.

They will use ultra-fine needles and will gently insert these into your muscles at the right places. It doesn’t hurt apart from a slight pinch, but it is likely that following treatment you will experience improved mobility and flexibility.

Many insurance companies cover acupuncture treatment

These treatments are so suitable for certain conditions that many major insurance carriers cover all or part of treatments. Read your policy to learn the details.