WellSpring Practice Guides

Acupuncture
Locate an Acupuncture practitioner

What Is Acupuncture?
Traditionally, acupuncture is an holistic approach to the management of disease, as well as the maintenance of health.

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 or channels, beneath the skin. The insertion of fine needles at specifically chosen acupuncture points on the meridians, will restore the balance of energy and promote wellbeing.

It is important for patients to understand the difference in the two styles of acupuncture most commonly on offer today. Traditional acupuncture is based on over 2000 years of developments and refinements in Eastern countries. With traditional acupuncture, a diagnosis is made from what is often a complex pattern of disharmony. The exact degree of disharmony is unique to each individual, and your individuality will be recognised in a personalised treatment plan. Our goal is to treat the root and the branch of the problem, or in other words, the cause and the effect.

Western style, or medical acupuncture is a more recent development. It is practiced predominantly by doctors and physiotherapists, and uses a more limited range of acupuncture techniques, based on a western medical diagnosis.

Who Can Be Helped By Acupuncture?
Although often described as a means of pain relief, acupuncture is in fact used to treat a wide range of ailments, as well as painful conditions. Some people seek acupuncture as a preventative measure, to strengthen the constitution, or because they feel run down or stressed, without necessarily being ‘ill’ in the Western sense.Many people use acupuncture to help with specific health problems. Typically these might include Asthma, Gastrointestinal problems, Headaches, Hay Fever, Menstrual problems, muscle/joint problems or injuries, and many others.

Is Acupuncture safe? 
YES.All needles used are sterile and single-use only. They are disposed of after treatment.This above information was provided by Carole Sleight MBAcC a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Acupuncture

History
Acupuncture needles dating from 4,000 years ago have been found in China. The first needles were made of stone; later, bronze, gold, or silver were used, and, today, needles are usually made of steel. Initially, needles were used only to prick boils and ulcers. Acupuncture was developed in response to the theory that there are special "meridian points" on the body connected to the internal organs, and that "vital energy" flows along the meridian lines. According to this theory, diseases are caused by interrupted energy flow, and inserting and twirling needles restores normal flow.

In 1979, the World Health Organisation listed some 40 diseases that could be successfully treated with acupuncture, including breathing difficulties, digestive problems, disorders of the nervous system and painful menstruation.