Acupuncture

What is acupuncture? “Needle” and “moxa”

Acupuncture is one of the core therapies of Chinese medicine. The term combines two methods:

• Needling: inserting very fine metal needles into acupoints to stimulate specific points and regulate the body’s functions.
• Moxibustion (moxa): using the heat of burning mugwort to warm acupoints, promoting the flow of qi and blood and dispelling cold and damp.

According to TCM theory, imbalance of qi and blood and blockage of the meridians lead to illness; acupuncture aims to “unblock the meridians, harmonise qi and blood, and support the body’s healthy energy.”

Conditions acupuncture may help

Recognised by the WHO and many health systems, acupuncture has a wide range of applications, regulating qi, blood and the balance of yin and yang by stimulating specific points.

1. Pain conditions (a particular strength)

• Musculoskeletal pain: neck and shoulder pain (cervical spondylosis, stiff neck, frozen shoulder), low back pain (disc herniation, lumbar strain, acute sprain), arthritis (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid, gout), tennis/golfer’s elbow, tendinitis, fibromyalgia, post-operative pain.
• Neuropathic pain: headaches (migraine, tension-type, cluster), trigeminal neuralgia, sciatica, post-herpetic neuralgia.

2. Neurological conditions

Stroke sequelae (motor, sensory, speech, swallowing), facial palsy, peripheral neuropathy, dizziness, tinnitus, insomnia, and adjunctive support for anxiety and low mood.

3. Digestive conditions

Functional dyspepsia, hiccups, reflux (adjunctive), irritable bowel syndrome, nausea and vomiting, chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer (adjunctive).

4. Gynaecological conditions

Painful periods, irregular menstruation, menopausal symptoms (hot flushes, night sweats, insomnia, mood swings), and adjunctive support for assisted reproduction (e.g. IVF).

5. Other systems

• Respiratory: allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, colds, asthma (adjunctive), chronic cough.
• Urogenital: stress incontinence, neurogenic bladder, chronic prostatitis, childhood bed-wetting.
• Skin: acne, urticaria, eczema (adjunctive itch relief), neurodermatitis, shingles.
• Sub-health: chronic fatigue, low immunity, constitutional conditioning.

Acupuncture is especially valuable for pain management, neurological recovery, regulating internal functions and improving sub-health states — an important complement to modern medicine.

During treatment

Effects vary with the duration of the condition and individual constitution. During a course of treatment, keep a calm mood and avoid strain; eat mild, light food and avoid cold or irritating food; ensure adequate sleep. The number of sessions varies between individuals — please follow your practitioner’s assessment.