What is it?

Acupuncture (as practised by members of the British Acupuncture Council [BAcC]) is an holistic approach to health based on over 2,000 years of development and refinement in the Far East. The tradition is as much about the maintenance of health as the management of disease.

According to traditional Chinese philosophy, our health is dependent on the body's motivating energy - known as qi - moving in a smooth and balanced way through a series of meridians (channels) beneath the skin. The flow of qi can be disturbed by many factors: physical, mental and emotional (anxiety, stress, anger, fear or grief), poor nutrition, weather conditions, hereditary factors, infections, poisons and trauma.

By inserting fine needles into the channels of energy, an acupuncturist can stimulate the body's own healing response and help to restore its natural balance.

What can it help with?

Traditional acupuncture is used to treat people with a wide range of illnesses. People often seek out treatment for a specific complaint, which of course can be addressed, but the focus is on improving the overall wellbeing of the patient.

The skill of an acupuncturist lies in their ability to make a traditional diagnosis from what is often a complex pattern of disharmony. The exact pattern and degree of disharmony is unique to each individual and so following diagnosis, the acupuncturist puts together a personalised treatment plan.

For whatever reason acupuncture treatment is sought, people often experience an overall improvement in their general health and a greater sense of well-being. This may result in one coping better with stressful situations, feeling better in oneself, having more energy, greater clarity of thought, sleeping better and having improved digestion.

Examples of specific symptoms that can be treated by acupuncture:

Back Pain	Joint Pain	Aches and Pains
High Blood Pressure	Digestive Problems	Sports Injuries
Migraines	Low Spirits	Menstrual Problems
Lack of Energy	Sleep Problems	Infertility
Sinusitis	Stress	Emotional Issues
Anxiety	IBS	PMT

A wide variety of complaints can be addressed at one time. This is because many different problems can often be seen, from the acupuncturist's view, to be connected. Acupuncture can also benefit those who don't have a labelled condition, but still feel unwell or 'not quite right'.

What happens the first time?

The first consultation will take approximately 90 minutes. The acupuncturist needs to assess your general state of health in order to identify the underlying patterns of disharmony and give you the most effective treatment.

You will be asked about your current symptoms and what treatment you have received so far, your medical history and that of your close family, your diet, digestive system, sleeping patterns and emotional state. Once enough information has been gathered to determine the likely causes of your problems, the acupuncturist can select the most appropriate treatment.

To discover how the energies are flowing in your body, the acupuncturist is likely to feel your pulses on both wrists, noting their quality, rhythm and strength. Pulse taking is very important and occurs often during treatment. The aim is to discover which energy channels need adjusting for your specific complaint to improve, and which require treatment to boost your overall energy and vitality.

What does it feel like?

Acupuncture needles bear little resemblance to the needles used in injections and blood tests. They are much finer and solid, not hollow. When a needle is inserted, the sensation is often described as a tingling or dull ache. Needles may be inserted and immediately removed, or may be left in place for thirty minutes or more, depending on the effect required. During treatment, patients commonly experience a heaviness in the limbs or a pleasant feeling of relaxation.

How will I feel after acupuncture?

You may feel rather relaxed and calm. If the treatment has been particularly strong you could feel quite tired or drowsy for a few hours, and you should take this into account if you are planning to drive or use machinery.

Ken Shifrin, Master of Acupuncture.