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WHAT ARE CHINESE MEDICINE AND ACUPUNCTURE?
WHAT ARE CHINESE MEDICINE AND ACUPUNCTURE?
Acupuncture is a branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), an ancient system of healing, which has evolved over the last 3,000 years.
TCM is based on the Chinese philosophy and perspective of the world around us, including how the body and the processes of disease are perceived. The aim of an acupuncture treatment is to bring the person back into balance and thereby activate the body's self-healing abilities.
TCM 's view of the world and the human being are holistic, meaning the individual as well as the disease can be understood only in the context and as part of the whole. Thus, in order to improve the patient's condition, TCM aims to rebalance the whole, and not just to relieve the symptoms of the particular disease. This is done by optimising the circulation of Qi, the life energy, balancing Yin and Yang are very essential, taking into account the relationship of the five elements (or processes) and the condition of the internal Zang Fu organs.
Acupuncture is based on the concepts of Qi and the meridian, the energy channels, through which the Qi flows, thus supporting and controlling the essential processes in the body. An acupuncture treatment uses extremely thin needles in order to access the acupuncture points located along the energy channels, thus regulating the energy flowing through the body. The reactions that are triggered in the body then reduce pain, and cause biochemical changes that allow for speedier improvement of a person's health and general well-being.
CONDITIONS I COMMONLY TREAT:
CONDITIONS I COMMONLY TREAT:
Stress, emotional wellbeing & trauma-related patterns:
Stress, burnout and exhaustion
Anxiety, depression and emotional imbalance
Sleep problems and insomnia
Addiction support
I work in a trauma-informed way and integrate gentle mind-body techniques during treatment to support regulation, relaxation, nervous system balance build long term resilience.
Musculoskeletal pain & injury:
Back, neck and shoulder pain, knee pain, wrist and finger pain, and general muscular tension
Arthritis, joint pain, stiffness and reduced mobility
TMJ and jaw-related pain
Head, nerve & neurological conditions:
Headaches and migraines
Tinnitus and hearing-related complaints
Bell’s Palsy
Herpes Zoster (shingles) and after-effects
Hormonal & women’s health:
PMS and menstrual complaints, including painful and heavy menstruation
Peri-menopause and menopause-related symptoms
Internal & systemic conditions:
Blood pressure regulation (high and low)
Digestive and general systemic imbalances
Allergy support, includig hay fever
Long Covid recovery support
Skin & other conditions:
Eczema, acne and other dermatological conditions
Post-cancer and chemotherapy recovery support
Does acupuncture hurt? Chinese acupuncture is not completely painless, but isn't very painful either. For example, it is much less painful than vaccinations or blood tests, as the needles are much thinner. Patients usually experience a mild short pricking sensation when the needles are inserted, but this sensation disappears within a few seconds, and is very often replaced by a sensation of deep relaxation and wellbeing.
Western medical and phycological treatments can certainly be combined with acupuncture, which can enhance and compliment any Western medical strategies and medications.
Chinese medicine has been recognised by the WHO (the World Heath Organisation), which has stated that:
“Acupuncture remains the most common form of traditional medicine practice, with its use acknowledged by 113 Member States in the WHO global report on traditional and complementary medicine 2019. In 1999, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the Guidelines on basic training and safety in acupuncture.”
“... traditional medicine has always had a role in this collective endeavour. The Declaration of Astana, renewed from the Declaration of Alma-Ata towards universal health coverage and the SDGs, reaffirms the role of traditional medicine in strengthening primary health care, a cornerstone of health systems, in pursuit of health for all… Taking note of the growing importance of traditional medicine in the provision of health care nationally and globally, WHO and its Member States have strived to explore ways to integrate, as appropriate, safe and evidence-based traditional and complementary medicine services within national or subnational health systems…”
ELECTRO-ACUPUNCTURE
ELECTRO-ACUPUNCTURE
Electro-acupuncture is a modern tool used by acupuncturists, where an electric device sends small electric currents to electrodes attached to needles inserted in acupuncture points or trigger points, and stimulates them. The effect of electro-acupuncture is parallel to the one traditional acupuncture can produce by constantly stimulating the acupuncture needles, but has the benefit of being able to do so on a few needles simultaneously and be very accurate in the amount of stimulation performed. This enhances the treatment and grants your therapist an additional tool in order to alleviate certain symptoms.
Electro acupuncture is beneficial for musculo-skeletal injuries, stiffness and pain, including chronic pain, neurological diseases, muscle spasms, paralysis and more.
YAMAMOTO NEW SCALP ACUPUNCTURE (YNSA)
Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture (YNSA) is a form of acupuncture developed by Dr. Toshikatsu Yamamoto in the 20th century. It's a relatively modern technique focusing on stimulating and needling specific points on the scalp.
YNSA is used for a wide range of conditions and is extremely efficient for pain management and musculoskeletal problems. YNSA can be used alongside other acupuncture techniques or conventional medical treatments, depending on the individual's needs.
CUPPING THERAPY
CUPPING THERAPY
Cupping is an ancient therapeutic method, in which cups made of glass, bamboo or plastic are applied to the skin.
By briefly heating the cup or sucking out the air under the cup vacuum is created, with the goal of improving the local circulation, expelling pathogens, eliminating blood stagnation and relieving pain.
This method is very effective for improving and relieving shoulder, neck and back ache complaints as well as clearing viruses (like the common cold).
Cupping may be applied as a treatment on its own or may be combined with an acupuncture treatment.
MOXA THERAPY
MOXA THERAPY
Moxa or Moxibustion is a form of therapy which consists of burning dried mugwort (artemisia) leaves on particular points on the body. It plays an important role in Traditional Chinese Medicine and may often accompany an acupuncture treatment.
The dried compounded leaves of Moxa are shaped into sticks, cigars, cones or used loose in a Moxa box, and are placed on specific locations on the body and lighted. Moxa may also be placed on the acupuncture needles in order to warm them and amplify their working.
The warmth generated by the Moxa penetrates the channels of acupuncture, the meridians, thus regulating Qi, dispelling cold, improving digestive issues, warming the Yang Qi and promoting overall wellbeing and immunity, as well as fighting fatigue and pain.
Moxa is even used in the last sates of pregnancy to turn a breech baby and eventually to stimulate the process of labor.
How many treatments will I need?
The number of treatments varies from person to person, depending on the nature and duration of the complaint and your overall health.
As a general guideline, most people benefit from an initial series of around 8 to 12 treatments, usually on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. After this, progress is reassessed and the treatment frequency is adjusted accordingly.
Acupuncture works in a holistic way, supporting both specific symptoms and the underlying patterns that contribute to imbalance, with the aim of improving overall wellbeing as well as the presenting complaint.
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