About acupuncture

Acupuncture is a system of healing which has been practised in China and other Eastern countries for thousands of years. It is used to help people with a wide range of illnesses, with the focus on improving the well being of the patient, rather than the isolated treatment of specific symptoms.

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 channels beneath the skin. Qi consists of equal and opposite qualities - Yin and Yang - and when these become unbalanced, illness may result. By inserting fine needles into the channels of energy, an acupuncturist can stimulate the body's own healing response and help restore its natural balance. The flow of Qi can be disturbed by a number of factors. These include emotional states such as anxiety, stress, anger, fear or grief, poor nutrition, weather conditions, hereditary factors, infections, poisons and trauma.

Many people come to acupuncture for help with specific symptoms or conditions, including anxiety, arthritis, migraines, infertility, back pain & menstrual problems. Others may have acupuncture as a preventative treatment, or because they feel unwell in themselves without being 'ill' in the Western sense. It can be used along with conventional medicine in the treatment of many acute & chronic diseases. It is a safe treatment for all.

The principal aim of acupuncture in treating the whole person is to recover the equilibrium between the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of the individual.