How is acupuncture performed?

A session of acupuncture focuses on having very thin, ultra fine metal needles inserted into certain points along the body, the points at which the needles are inserted are chosen very carefully. In the UK there are roughly 3,000 practitioners of acupuncture; these include Doctors, physiotherapists and dentists.

During the first consultation with a therapist you will be given a full medical examination, you will be asked about your lifestyle in general, your diet, sleeping habits and the symptoms that you are experiencing. While all these are pretty standard assessments, the practitioner will then go onto more unusual methods of diagnosis.

One of the methods will be asking to look at the colour and texture of your tongue; they will also take hold of your wrists and begin to feel your pulse in different areas on the wrist. The acupuncturist is able to tell a lot from the feel of the pulse in your wrist, they are able to gain information about the internal organs and the state they are in.

The acupuncturist will have studied for many years on this form of diagnosis alone; along with this the acupuncturist may feel for pulses on different parts of your body in order to make a full diagnosis of your problem.

Following the thorough examination and diagnosis the acupuncturist will then go on to inform you of what to expect from the treatment they will perform. Depending on the area which is to be treated, you could be asked to undress and lie down or sit up on a table; the acupuncturist will then begin to insert the small needles along the points needed.

Needles can vary in length and thickness and they can be of different sizes, while the needles are being inserted you shouldn’t feel any pain although you might feel a little soreness or tingling in the area.

Different types of acupuncture

The majority of acupuncturists use the traditional method of performing the treatment; however some will also use electrical methods to stimulate the needles once in place. Laser acupuncture and acupressure can also be used.

Are there any side effects to acupuncture treatment?

When performed by a qualified acupuncturist, acupuncture is considered to be relatively safe; however there can be a little soreness or drowsiness during the actual treatment although this is often described as a pleasant feeling rather than a painful one.

Very occasionally there might be a little bruising in the area where the needles were inserted; there could also be a very small amount of bleeding where the needles were placed into the skin, especially if they were near small blood vessels.

Chinese medicine has helped a wide variety of illnesses and ailments for thousands of years; it also offers a boost to the immune system brings a sense of well being and offers recuperative powers.

The main basis behind the philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medicine is that everything has an opposite and equal. This is seen in day and night, light and dark, sun and moon and happy and sad, all have an effect and are linked to the other. This is called “yin and yang” and we can only be truly fit, healthy and happy when our body is in totally harmony, this means both the physical and mental health.

All organs in the body are indirectly linked according to Chinese medicine and pain felt in one part could mean that there is a problem in another part of the body and not necessarily in the immediate area where the pain is felt. The human body is made up of many constituents, which is called Chi, this substance is what allows a person to think, feel and work.

Chi is made up of blood and moisture, the moisture protects nurtures and lubricates the tissues in the body while the blood is the foundation for skin, bones, nerves and muscles. Further still the body is divided again into five functional systems which are known as the organ networks. These are wood, earth, fire, water and metal.

The principles of diagnosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine

As Chinese medicine believes in treating the person as a whole the actual consultation in order to make a diagnosis is a complete one. It will take into account the symptoms of the patient along with their presence of mind, thoughts and feelings and lifestyle and diet.

The most well know therapies of Chinese medicine include acupuncture, massage, qi-gong and herbal remedies. The most widely used of all the therapies has to be acupuncture and the many and diverse herbal remedies.

Herbal remedies can either be prescribed after a through consultation with an herbalist, which is the recommended way of taking them or they can be bought freely at many health food stores and chemists. While all the remedies contain only natural ingredients, herbal remedies can have side effects. Although the side effects are usually nowhere near as plentiful as those which are associated with traditional medicines.

As with any form of medication, if you are currently taking medicine prescribed by a Doctor then it is essential that you work with your Doctor, by telling them you are looking into Chinese medicine. Most traditional Doctors and health care workers are now recognising the fact that although not proven scientifically, Chinese medicine does seem to work for a great many people.