Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been practised in China for many thousands of years, but has only become known in the West relatively recently. Considered to be both safe and effective, it has become one of the most widely known and popular forms of healing therapies in the Western world over the past couple of decades

How does it work? Qi (or chi) is the vital energy that flows through us, consisting of the opposing forces of yin and yang. It flows through fourteen major channels known as meridians that link every part of the body and all the organs. To maintain a positive state of health, this energy must flow freely and evenly and the yin and yang must be perfectly balanced. If the flow of Qi is blocked or your body experiences stress (either physical or emotional), the meridians can become unbalanced so resulting in illness.

Along the meridians, there are about 500 specific points where Qi is more accessible. An acupuncturist will insert very fine needles into these places, restoring the flow of Qi and stimulating the natural healing processes of the body. As such, traditional acupuncture provides a holistic approach, focusing on healing the whole body and balancing it physically, spiritually and emotionally rather than just treating isolated symptoms.

What happens during a treatment? In acupuncture treatment, every individual is treated uniquely as the exact combination of causes of imbalance within the body will be different for everyone. A number of factors will be taken into consideration, not just your particular symptoms. These will include any treatment that you might have already had and your general medical history, your family's medical history, your diet and your current emotional state. The acupuncturist will perform a special type of pulse reading to determine the flow of energy, and will also check your tongue as its texture and coating will indicate your general state of health.

With all this information, the practitioner will work out which energy channels to work on for your particular complaint and also which ones will boost your overall health.

The needles used are not like those that you will normally be familiar with. They are very thin, almost thread-like, and will be inserted to a depth of up to 25mm depending on the location of the point. They are left in place for anything from a few seconds to 20 minutes, depending on the treatment. The sensation you may feel is often described as a 'tingling', or a very slight ache. Sometimes the needles are twisted around gently for stronger stimulation of the Qi.

As well as needles, an acupuncturist may use other things during the treatment. Moxa herb is sometimes burnt near an acupuncture point to generate heat and so stimulate that point, while sometimes glass cups are placed over the points - these create a vacuum which helps to draw out the Qi.

We have recently started providing Acupuncture treatment, performed by Dr.Simon Che, at £40 for a session of approximately 45 minutes. Please contact us for further information on availability and bookings.