Acupuncture is a holistic health technique that stems from Traditional Chinese Medicine practices in which trained practitioners stimulate specific points on the body by inserting fine needles into the skin. Each point is located on an energy channel called meridians which relates to a specific organ of the body. The insertion of the needles is said to unblock the channels thus allowing energy to move freely. This helps restore balance to the body.
Acupuncture is used to treat a range of conditions including anxiety, back pain, depression, fertility and infertility, migraine, sciatica and stress. Acupuncture is also used extensively in preventative health treatments.
The World Health Organisation categorises acupuncture therapy into 4 categories:
1. Diseases for which acupuncture may be considered mainstream treatment: (Diseases, symptoms or conditions for which acupuncture has been proved through controlled trials-to be an effective treatment).
Adverse reactions to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy
Allergic rhinitis (including hay fever)
Biliary colic
Depression (including depressive neurosis and depression following stroke)
Dysentery, acute bacillary
Dysmenorrhoea, primary
Epigastralgia, acute (in peptic ulcer, acute and chronic gastritis, and gastrospasm)
Pain in dentistry (including dental pain and temporomandibular dysfunction)
Periarthritis of shoulder
Postoperative pain
Renal colic
Rheumatoid arthritis
Sciatica
Sprain
Stroke
Tennis elbow
2. Diseases for which acupuncture is effective, but further proof is needed to include it into mainstream healthcare: (diseases, symptoms or conditions for which the therapeutic effect of acupuncture has been shown but for which further proof is needed).
Abdominal Pain (in acute gastroenteritis or due to gastrointestinal spasm)
Acne vulgaris
Alcohol dependence and detoxification
Bell's palsy
Bronchial asthma (most effective in children and in patients without complicating diseases)
Cancer pain
Cardiac neurosis
Cholecystitis, chronic, with acute exacerbation
Cholelithiasis
Competition stress syndrome
Craniocerebral injury, closed
Diabetes mellitus, non-insulin-dependent
Earache
Epidemic haemorrhagic fever
Epistaxis, simple (without generalized or local disease)
3. Diseases for which acupuncture is worth trying, because the treatment by western medicine is difficult: (Diseases, symptoms or conditions for which there are only individual controlled trials reporting some therapeutic effects, but for which acupuncture is worth trying because treatment by conventional and other therapies is difficult).
Chloasma
Choroidopathy, central serous
Colour blindness
Deafness
Hypophrenia
Irritable colon syndrome
Neuropathic bladder in spinal cord injury
Pulmonary heart disease, chronic
Small airway obstruction
4. Diseases, symptoms or conditions for which acupuncture may be tried provided the practitioner has special modern medical knowledge and adequate monitoring equipment:
Breathlessness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Coma
Convulsions in infants
Coronary heart disease (angina pectoris)
Diarrhoea in infants and young children
Encephalitis, viral, in children, late stage
Paralysis, progressive bulbar and pseudobulbar
References:
World Health Organisation: Acupuncture: Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Clinical Trials 2002
As with all first visits to a medical practitioner or health care service provider there are some things we are going to need to know before we can begin to support you.
We will ask about your medical history, current medications and any problems or illnesses you are currently experiencing.
This is followed by a pulse and tongue diagnosis. There is a reason why we ask you to stick out your tongue. Your tongue gives us a good insight into what is currently happening in your body.
Once we have this information we will be able to provide a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan designed specifically for you.
Treatment we may recommend includes acupuncture, traditional chinese herbal medicine, preventative health care, life style changes and suggestions for beneficial foods and exercise.
Expect to spend around 30 minutes with us during this phase of getting to know you.
Your course of treatment is discussed during your initial consultation and is designed to restore the natural balance of energy inside your body. In addition to acupuncture, your course of treatment may use complementary practices such as:
Chinese Herbal Medicine – is prepared specifically for you and your course of treatment. As your treatment progresses, herbal remedies will be adjusted to meet your body’s changing needs. Our clinical herbal medicine is pills or powder, there is no preparation required (you are not given the natural raw hers to boil for instance).
Tuina or Tui Na remedial massage – Tui na is a hands-on body treatment that uses Chinese taoist principles in an effort to bring the 8 principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) into balance.
Gua Sha – this traditional chinese medical treatment “scrapes away fever” and is designed to release unhealthy elements from treatment areas which in turn stimulates blood flow and healing.
Cupping - suction is designed to bring blood to the acupuncture point which speeds healing.
Moxibustion – Used in conjuction with acupuncture to warm regions and specific meridian points which stimulates circulation producing a smoother flow of blood and qi.
As your treatment progresses your practitioner will discuss your progress and may suggest lifestyle choices to retain your body’s natural balance.
Dianella