about acupuncture
Acupuncture has been used in China and other Far Eastern countries for over 2,000 years, and is used both as a stand-alone therapy and in combination with conventional western medicine. Its aim is to help maintain the body’s equilibrium and promote physical and emotional well-being. It is a therapy which relies on a thorough diagnostic process and precise clinical skills. It works by insertion of very thin needles into points, which are situated along specific energy pathways (meridians) all over the body. The meridians are linked to each other and to the vital organs. Points are stimulated to remove energetic blocks and balance the vital energy (Qi) in the meridians and their connected organ systems. Although it originated in the Far East, acupuncture is now widely used all over the world.
Acupuncture is effective because it aims to treat both the symptoms and the causes underneath them. In other words, it will treat the cause of the migraine, rather than just providing pain relief. Treatment aims to cure the underlying problem, therefore preventing future problems, rather than merely suppressing the symptoms. All treatments also aim to help bring balance to the body; boosting the immune system and increasing feelings of energy and well-being.
Traditional chinese medicine / five element Acupuncture
Ironically, despite its name, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is not actually the oldest form of acupuncture. The art and science of Chinese Medicine would historically have been passed down from master to student, which resulted in many different styles of practice emerging. At the time of the Chinese Cultural Revolution, a decision was made to standardize the practice of Chinese Medicine. This was carried out by examining the various family lineages, extracting what they seemed to have in common, and eliminating anything that the Communist Government considered to be too overtly spiritual. The resulting collection of standardized knowledge and techniques was given the name: “Traditional Chinese Medicine” (TCM).
One advantage of this standardization was that the most commonly agreed-upon techniques became clear, but a disadvantage was that, for the most part, it separated the medicine from its spiritual roots.
Generally speaking, TCM tends to be more concerned with physical symptoms, and treatment will be designed to eliminate these. Five Element is a more spiritual practice, with roots based in Daoism, and tends to be more focused on the emotional and spiritual aspects of the imbalance, with treatment aimed at the root cause of the disharmony.
I practice an integrated style, combining both techniques in order to achieve optimal results. For locations please see here, or to book a session please click here.
