Acupuncture is part of a complete system of medicine (TCM) which has been practised in China for many thousands of years. It has stood the test of time and is continuously growing in popularity and being perfected to modern day living. Fine, sterile needles are inserted into the skin. It is a relatively painless form of holistic treatment and many patients report a deep sense of relaxation and well being at the end of each session.
Your acupuncturist will design an individual treatment plan. Formulating a diagnosis is based on questions, observation and an examination of the pulse and tongue which are highly diagnostic.
It works on the energy of the body and by inserting extremely fine needles into key points. This balances the overall energy, relieves pain, disperses blockages and increases the function of specific organs.
Acupuncture has become the largest drug-free healthcare system in the world and is recognised and approved by the World Health Organisation. It is holistic and takes into account the whole person and not just specific parts, so each diagnosis and subsequent treatment is designed specifically for that person.
Health in Chinese Medicine is seen as a state of total harmony between the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of a person. Illness or ‘dis-ease’ expresses a disharmony or the energies of the body. Acupuncture points along the meridians are the connecting points between the internal organs and the exterior. Insertion of needles into selected points can alter the flow of energy and correct the imbalance. It forms an integral part in the NWMC as part of the multi disciplinary approach in indentifying organ malfunction and gently directing the body back to a state of healthier overall levels.
To give some examples: If a person craves chocolate and sugars, quite commonly the spleen meridian is out of synch. The spleen meridian in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is very important for good immune digestive function. Conversely if a person has years of poor eating it will inadvertently affect the spleen function also. On another level if someone has stress and anxiety which compels the person to eat, acupuncture can address the emotional issues and help break this coping strategy.
From a Western medical point of view, acupuncture works along nerve pathways and had been scientifically proven to release endorphins, which relieve stress and stimulate the body’s own healing ability.
