ACUPUNCTURE & CHINESE MEDICINE

Acupuncture is an integral component of Chinese Medicine, a holistic system of health care continually practised and developed throughout Asia for many thousands of years.

The principal aim of Chinese medicine and acupuncture is to recover the equilibrium between the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of an individual, by treating the whole person. This establishes a healthier, balanced state of mind/body function and helps to increase the capacity to cope with both internal and external demands and stresses.

According to Chinese medicine, our health is dependant on the body’s motivating energy – known as Qi (pron. ‘chee’) – circulating in a smooth and balanced way through a series of pathways beneath the skin. These pathways are known as meridians and flow through the organs and tissues of the body. Qi is the energetic component of the human organism which drives the physiological functions of the body.

Qi consists of equal and opposite qualities – Yin & Yang – and when these become unbalanced, illness may result.

To correct these energetic imbalances and restore the body to an optimal state of healthy function, Acupuncture is employed to clear away blockages in the meridians and rebalance the system. By inserting very fine needles at specific points along the meridians, an acupuncturist can stimulate the body’s own healing response and help restore and maintain its natural balance.

There are over 500 acupoints distributed over the entire body, of which about 100 are commonly used. Other methods of stimulation may involve;

  • Moxibustion: the gentle warming of acupoints with a smouldering herb.
  • Cupping: the application of suction cups to areas of tight musculature.
  • Gua Sha: rubbing and stimulating the meridians with a smooth Jade implement.
  • Electro-Acupuncture: the stimulation of acupuncture needles with a very mild electrical current.
  • Massage & Acupressure.

All needles used are pre-sterilised, single-use disposable type, and all equipment and procedures conform to the highest health and safety standards.

By matching the reported signs and symptoms of disease with pulse and tongue diagnosis, an acupuncturist is able to determine the underlying causes of an illness or dysfunction. Treatment is then focussed on correcting these underlying imbalances and alleviating the symptoms of disease.

Once balance and good health have been restored to the system, acupuncture plays a major role in a preventative health regimen, helping maintain the smooth flow of qi through the body and allowing the system to function optimally, leading to continued levels of health and wellness.

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