About Acupuncture:
Acupuncture originated over 2,000 years ago in China where it is still used to restore, promote, and maintain good health. According to traditional Chinese philosophy, our health is dependent on the body’s motivating energy moving in a smooth and balanced way through a series of channels beneath the skin. This energy is known as qi (pronounced chee).
The flow of qi can be disturbed by any number of factors, e.g. emotional states such as stress, anger, anxiety, and grief, as well as poor nutrition, hereditary factors, infections, and trauma. When the qi is unbalanced, illness may result. The acupuncturist inserts ultra fine needles at chosen points along the channels of energy. The aim is to stimulate the body’s own healing response and restore natural balance.
How can Acupuncture help you?
Acupuncture is widely considered to be beneficial for a range of illnesses and symptoms:
- headaches
- neck ache
- back, arthritic and dental pain
- general feelings of ill health such as nausea and low energy
Conditions commonly treated fall into the following categories of disorder:
- musculo-skeletal
- ear, eye, nose and throat
- gastrointestinal
- gynaecological, genito-urinary
- immune
- neurological
- respiratory
- emotional and psychological
- addictions
Pregnancy and childbirth:
Acupuncture can help control nausea and other common pregnancy-related complaints. Many women choose to have acupuncture throughout pregnancy and childbirth. In addition it is increasingly used by couples dealing with fertility problems.
Weight loss:
Acupuncture can be very helpful as part of a weight loss plan by working holistically on underlying imbalances as well as helping reduce food cravings. Rosalie
will recommend dietary changes, exercises and lifestyle changes from a Chinese medicine perspective that are effective both for weight-loss and for generally improved well-being -indivilly tailored to your constitution.
Is Acupuncture safe?
Acupuncture has a very sound track record.The needles used are single-use, sterile, and disposable.
Acupuncture is considered suitable for all ages and can be used alongside conventional medicine.
What happens in a treatment?
Rosalie will take a detailed medical history and ask about your current symptoms, medication, diet, digestive system, sleeping patterns and emotional state. She will then take your pulses at both wrists, examine your tongue and palpate any tight/sore muscles.
Each patient receives an individual presciption of needles according to their constitution and signs and symptoms. Fine needles are inserted through the skin at acu-points on energy pathways of the body and are left in for 15-20 minutes. Most patients find this time surprisingly relaxing and calming and often fall asleep or enter a deep meditative state.
Rosalie may also use moxibustion, a very pleasant herbal stick that is lit to deeply warm the acupoint and its surrounding area. She may also use cupping if there is an area where the energy has stagnated such as with very tight muscles. The suction cups are applied to the skin and enable qi and blood to come to the surface to disperse stagnation and reduce pain and muscle spasm.
Depending on the condition, Chinese massage techniques (Tui Na) may also be used.
Treatment is aimed at the root of your condition as well as your symptoms. This approach can lead to a more permanent resolution of your problem. People often notice an improved sense of well-being after treatment.
How many sessions will I need?
Frequency and length of treatment depend on your individual condition. Some change is usually felt after five treatments, although occasionally only one or two treatments are required. Your acupuncturist will normally ask to see you once or twice a week at first. Some patients will need long-term treatment.
Call (020 8452 7010) to discuss any further questions you may have about having Acupuncture treatment or to arrange a free 15 minute consultation.
