Acupuncture is one of the treatment modalities of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) most widely used, recognised and taught in the Western world. It presupposes the existence of a vital energy, or "Qi" (pronounced "chi"), that is essential to life and that flows throughout the body. This energy is transported by a system of channels called meridians. These meridians represent indeed a large network of external (surface) and internal pathways that enables a connection between the outer and inner aspects of our bodies.
With a few exceptions, most acupuncture points can be stimulated on the surface, so there is no need to insert the needles deeply. Moreover, there are precise indications as to the needle depth and angle of insertion for each point. These instructions have been passed down to acupuncturists for thousands of years, ensuring they practice their craft safely and effectively.
Many people use acupuncture for help with specific symptoms or conditions. Others choose acupuncture as a preventive measure to strengthen their constitution or because they just feel generally unwell. Acupuncture is considered suitable for all ages including babies, children and the elderly. It can be very effective when integrated with conventional medicine.
Yes. Children and adolescents usually respond very well to acupuncture. Many acupuncturists specialise in paediatric care.
That depends on your individual condition. At first your acupuncturist will normally ask to see you once or twice a week. You may start to feel benefits after the first or second treatment although long-standing and chronic conditions usually need more time to improve. Once your health has stabilised you may need top-up treatments every few weeks. Traditional acupuncture is also very effective when used as preventive healthcare and many people like to go for a 'retuning' session at the change of each season throughout the year.
Most people find acupuncture to be very relaxing. Patients often describe the needle sensation as a tingling or dull ache. This is one of the signs the body's qi, or vital energy, has been stimulated.
Yes. Certain styles like Japanese acupuncture use needles that do not break the skin or are inserted extremely lightly. Acupuncture needles are very much finer than the needles used for injections and blood tests. You may not even feel them penetrate the skin and once in place they are hardly noticeable.
You are likely to feel relaxed and calm. If the treatment has been particularly strong you may feel tired or drowsy and it is worth bearing this in mind if you plan to drive or use any other machinery soon afterwards.
There is no fixed fee as practitioners' overheads vary. If you contact a few acupuncturists in your area you should discover an approximate fee level amongst them.
Yes,it can treat large number of chronic disorders which have no treatment available in other therapies.Visit our previous blog on WHO list of conditions treatable with acupuncture.
It depends completely on chronicity and severity of the disorder.Children and those with good general vitality respond faster as compared to older people and those with depleted qi may expect slower results.