What is Western Medical Acupuncture?

Acupuncture involves the use of fine needles inserted through the skin and left in position briefly to stimulate the nerves in the skin, muscle, and other tissues. It increases the release of the body’s natural painkillers in the pathways of the spinal cord and brain, thus modifying the way pain signals are received. Sometimes manual or low voltage electrical stimulation is used to assist this process.

Acupuncture does not only reduce pain, it may also have a beneficial effect on your health and well-being; for instance, the nervous system, muscle tone, hormone production, circulation and allergic responses as well as respiratory, digestive, urinary and reproductive systems.

What may it treat?

• Musculoskeletal pain
• Chronic low back and neck pain
• Osteoarthritis pain
• Migraine and tension-type headache
• Temporomandibular (jaw joint) disorders (TMD)
• Period pain (dysmenorrhoea)
• Nausea symptoms (in pregnancy, post-operatively and in cancer patients)

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine explains acupuncture as a technique for balancing the flow of energy or life force — known as chi or qi (chee) — believed to flow through pathways (meridians) in your body. By inserting needles into specific points along these meridians, acupuncture practitioners believe that your energy flow will re-balance.