I practice integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Five Element Acupuncture. This combined holistic approach takes into account both the physical and non-physical aspects of a patient's health.
What is acupuncture
The TCM way of understanding health and illness has been developed over more than 2000 years. Through dedicated practice, careful observation, recording and confirmation of the findings a comprehensive and consistent approach to healthcare was developed. This theoretical knowledge is the basis of the diagnosis and treatment. In Chinese medicine the physical, emotional and mental aspects of a human being are interdependent and they form a unity. Therefore the symptoms of a disease cannot be separated from the person as a whole and so treatment plans and point combinations are tailored to the individual's needs.
The traditional acupuncture theories of health and illness are based on Qi (loosely translated as "life-force"). Qi flows around the body through a network of channels or meridians. Through questioning and observation the acupuncturist assesses the state of the patient's Qi. This assessment can be related to the "organs" - which are defined differently in Chinese Medicine to the biomedical lung, liver etc organs, altough there are some overlaps. In the traditional theory illness can be described in terms of deficiency of Qi, excess of Qi, or blockage of Qi within the meridian and organ system. The acupuncturist seeks to move the Qi within this system to strengthen deficiency, reduce excess and clear blockages and thus restore balance. As a result, your ability to heal yourself is activated. Usually, your symptoms are relieved and you feel a greater sense of wellbeing. How long this takes is often related to how long you have had the problems.
The needles are filiform, single use, sterile, stainless steel needles. They are sometimes inserted only for a few seconds and sometimes they are left in place for a little while before they are removed. They are so fine that most people don't even feel them when they are inserted. There may be some mild tingling or dull sensation when the needles are manipulated. Most people find the treatments very relaxing.
Other techniques such as gua sha (scraping), cupping, tuina massage have also been used alongside acupuncture for tousands of years. Moxibustion is another technique during which a dried herb - mugwort or moxa - is slowly burnt to warm and activate energy channels and acupuncture points. Traditionally practitioners would also give dietary advice and qigong exercises to their patients.
What are the benefits
When you are considering acupuncture for your condition, the best step is to first consult the British Acupuncture Council's Fact Sheets.
Whatever your particular problem, because treatment is designed to affect your whole body and not just your symptoms, you may notice other niggling complaints also get better with a course of treatment. Indeed, some people choose acupuncture when they feel their bodily functions are out of balance, but they have no obvious diagnosis. Once tried, many people have regular or ‘top-up’ treatments because they find it so beneficial and relaxing. For some conditions, such as migraine, acupuncture can be given to prevent flare-ups from occurring. Another benefit of acupuncture is that it can be given alongside other therapies and / or medication, in almost all circumstances.
Here are some examples of evidence:
A robust patient-data meta-analysis by Vickers et al (2018), involving 20,000 patients, supports acupuncture as an effective treatment for chronic pain conditions such as:
- Headache, Migraine
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Lower back pain
- Osteoarthritic pain
The results confirmed a genuine, long-term effect rather than a placebo response, with the benefits holding for at least a year. For more information please see the BAcC Factsheets.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regularly updates its evidence map of acupuncture, with recent findings suggesting that acupuncture offers benefits for various mental health conditions, including:
- Anxiety
- Depression
Please consult the BAcC Fact Sheets for a comprehensive review of this evidence on the topic.
- Fibromyalgia:
is a poorly understood, challenging, chronic pain condition which presents with a wide range of symptoms. A traditional acupuncturist takes into account all those signs and symptoms to develop the best course of treatment that fits that particular patient at that time. NICE Guidelines (2021) recommend considering acupuncture for chronic primary pain conditions, such as fibromyalgia. Supporting this, studies recognized by John Hopkins University in the US suggest that acupuncture can effectively manage fibromyalgia symptoms.
If you are unsure whether acupuncture is right for you, please do get in touch. I will be more than happy to answer your questions without any obligations.
What to expect
At the initial consultation I will take your detailed medical history, feel your pulses, look at your tongue and examine the area of your symptoms. Your individual treatment plan will be based on your state of health and lifestyle.
Normally people have a course of treatments. Weekly sessions are quite usual to start with, for the first 6 sessions, reducing the frequency as your body responds.
The initial consultation includes the first treatment and lasts for about 1.5 hours. Follow-up sessions are about 1 hour long.
For information on pricing and to book please click here.
Photographer: Matthew Kaltenborn
