What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a complementary treatment derived from ancient Chinese medicine, in which hair-fine needles are inserted into specific sites in the body. The purpose is to stimulate certain points to alleviate pain or help with treatment of various conditions.
Acupuncture
How does acupuncture work?
The traditional view is that when our bodies are healthy, there is plentiful energy and it can flow smoothly in our systems. However if we fall ill, the energy flow is disrupted. Acupuncture helps to restore a balance and thus enables the body to promote its own healing.
Modern acupuncture used in the West and adopted by Physiotherapists as a complementary treatment follows the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) but also uses acupuncture in conjunction with physiotherapy modalities, predominantly as an effective pain relieving technique. The major hypothesis is that the specific points which needles are inserted into are targeting nerves, muscles and connective tissues in order to stimulate them.
It is thought that the stimulation of the needles will increase blood flow sending a message to the brain which results in the body producing natural substances, such as pain-relieving endorphins; increasing the patients pain threshold so that they feel less pain.
Scientific research is ongoing and suggests that acupuncture produces a fascinating variety of effects from sensory nerve stimulation, to production of biomolecules such as endorphins and influencing changes in the fascia, all of which are beginning to piece together a scientific explanation of its health benefits.
What can acupuncture be used for?
- Chronic Headaches/Migraines
- Stress Reduction
- Muscle Tension
- Knee Pain
- Sports Injuries
- Arthritis
- Tennis Elbow
- Back and neck pain/Shoulder pain