The system of Acupuncture looks at the overall health of a person. The condition or ailment is a symptom of an interruption or block of smooth flowing energy. As the treatment allows the stimulation and freeing up of the energy pathways (called meridians), the symptoms subside and health is restored.
Your acupuncturist will ask a number of questions about your life, also feel your pulses and take a blood pressure reading. The first session will take one and a half hours including your first treatment.
What conditions can it help?
irregular cycles
Not on the list? Contact me. I am very happy to discuss more about acupuncture treatment.
Tel: 07833 771435
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a finely tuned system whereby placing a thin (like a hair) needle on the skin will create a change in the person towards better health. A smooth flow of energy takes place and this force is essential for full health. Sometimes events or accidents in our lives interrupt or block this free flowing state and the result is illness or a pain somewhere.
History of Acupuncture
Ancient Beginning
The ancient system of Oriental Medicine has been finely tuned over the three thousand years since its' first usage in the Far East. An interesting history tells us that the Emperor of the various dynasties had his own acupuncturist to keep him well but if the Emperor became ill then the acupuncturist was beheaded. Quite a motivation for best practice!
Everyone tends to think of needles when we hear of acupuncture but lets go back to its' foundation first. There have been found small bronze statues made in India and China with tiny holes each representing an acupuncture point. The most surprising thing is that all those years ago these models had the holes in the same place. These were practice models for the male apprentices to study blindfolded. The young apprentices would go out with the acupuncturist visiting village after village, usually by foot, sometimes picking up herbs for treatments on the way. The term "barefoot doctor" comes from this way of providing a service to rural villages.
Positioning of the Points
The way that Traditional Acupuncture was devised was by likening our shapes of body contours to a landscape. Many acupuncture points have names of landscapes, for example "Greater Mountain Stream" (a point just behind the ankle) gives us the idea of fast and powerful freshness. It goes like this - with water flowing down hills and through valley there is movement (and energy) and the rivers and streams keep fresh and clean. Where there are rocks in the river beds or bends in the streams there are extra eddying forces and the water is more oxygenated. Slow movement or none leads to stagnation and a lack of the vital force of life.
Changes for Health
At certain places on our bodies it was found, after many years of observation and careful diagnosis, that our bodies have special areas, usually around joints, that would elicit a change of fresh flowing chi. These special areas are like the rocks or bends in the streams giving extra force in those areas and by stimulating these areas a fresh new force would help heal the person's ailments.
The apprentice had to learn to be very observant to know which areas to stimulate and that understanding took years.
We are fortunate in that we now have a system that allows us to work with a person's vital force, sometimes called "chi" to enable that person to be well again.
Needle care
Every needle is individually sterilised and sealed. After use they are disposed of in a Sharp's box and incinerated.
Tel: 07833 771435
