Acupuncture
An Introduction to Traditional Acupuncture
The theory of Traditional Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a tried and trusted system of medicine. The Chinese and other Eastern cultures have been using acupuncture to restore, promote and maintain good health for thousands of years, and in the West since the 1970s. It is a highly sophisticated, gentle system of natural medicine based on the premise that a state of well being is achieved and maintained through the balancing of energy systems within the body and of the body’s motivating energy known as Qi. This flows throughout the body, but is concentrated in channels beneath the skin, known as meridians.
The aim of treatment is to restore the balance between the equal and opposite qualities of Qi, namely the Yin and the Yang. In Traditional Acupuncture many factors are considered to upset this balance, disturb the flow of Qi and cause ill health, or imbalance. These include emotional states such as anxiety, anger, fear, grief and sadness. Other factors include lifestyle, nutrition, the weather, hereditary factors, repeated infections, poisons, accidents and trauma.
Acupuncture treats holistically and considers both physical and emotional factors in treatment. The style of acupuncture I practice is particularly useful with chronic illness and especially with hard to diagnose illnesses or a sense of feeling unwell.
Modern research has found that acupuncture can affect most of the body’s systems. These include the nervous system, muscle tone, hormone outputs, circulation, allergic responses, as well as the respiratory, digestive, urinary and reproductive systems. Increasingly acupuncture is being used alongside conventional medicine and not only in the field of pain management. Its use in the NHS corresponds with a greater degree of acceptance of its benefits by conventional doctors.
Is acupuncture safe?
The British Acupuncture Council (BAcC)
is the UK's largest regulatory body for practitioners of Traditional Acupuncture.
The BAcC as a founder member of the Professional Standards Authority register scheme, the BAcC guarantees that its members have high standards of training, safe practice and professional conduct. This includes full insurance cover and ensures continuing Continual Professional Development
Does acupuncture hurt?
Acupuncture is broadly used across the medical spectrum and by many different medical practitioners, not just acupuncturists, in the treatment of pain management.
As a Traditional Acupuncturist I generally find that the practice itself produces minimal discomfort for the patient. Generally a treatment may involve the use of between 3 to 12 needles and can be left in situ for up to 20 minutes. This varies according to each patients needs.
I use individually packaged, sterile, disposable needles. The needles are as thin as a strand of hair and insertion is generally painless. Sometimes patients experience a tingling, warmth or a feeling of the Qi moving up or down meridian channels.
Many patients find Traditional Acupuncture extremely relaxing, even during the treatment - so much so they may need a gentle "stir" after dozing off
A personal relationship with acupuncture excellence
In the early 1990s, I embarked on a new career and began a 3-year course (Lic.Ac) at the College of Traditional Acupuncture (C.T.A) in Leamington Spa. During this time, I heard many inspiring and uplifting stories of lives being transformed with acupuncture, both from practitioners and patients. Many often remarked on an improvement in their well being, alongside changes in their physical and mental health. Here was a system of natural medicine that could help maintain good health and effectively treat ill health.
Since qualifying and becoming a member of the British Acupuncture Council, I have continued to add to my knowledge and specialise in Five Element Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Fertility & Pregnancy Acupuncture and Women's Health & Cosmetic Acupuncture.
I enjoyed teaching undergraduate students for 10 years, have appeared on television promoting Acupuncture and have been involved in regional peer group meetings for the BAcC.
In practice I have worked with patients with Drug & Alcohol dependency issues, HIV & Aids and also Cancer & terminal care. I've successfully treated a wide and sometimes unusual range of conditions along with those more frequently associated with acupuncture.
If you would like more information about how Classical/Traditional Acupuncture can be able to help you or a specific condition or illness, or how it may improve your general health and well being, please contact me here at Zadi Hasan Barnet Acupuncture.
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