What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an integral part of Chinese Medicine, and its practice can be traced back for thousands of years. Acupuncture takes a holistic approach to health, resulting from years of observation, practice and development.
Acupuncture treatment is based aound a traditional diagnosis of disharmony, bulit up from various factors including questioning, observation, tongue and pulse diagnosis.
The diagnosis and the practitioner's understanding and knowledge determine which precise locations require needling for optimum results.
Questions
Why have acupuncture?
Acupuncture is part of a coherent and complete medical system. It is safe, and effective and has stood the test of time. It uses patterns of diagnosis
that provide approaches to treatment where there may not be a clear Western medical diagnosis, and for various syndromes. Acupuncture uses a holistic approach,
encompassing physical and energetic imbalances and focuses on restoring balance. Perhaps because of the reasons above, It may help when nothing else has done.
Questions
What can acupuncture treat?
Acupuncture has been used for, and proved effective for a huge range of conditions. The World Health Organisation provides a fairly
comprehensive list
Acupuncture has been tested in numerous clinical trials, and I have personally experienced the difference it can make.
Questions
What will happen on my first visit?
Your first acupuncture session will take slighly longer than following ones as there is an initial consultation. You wil be asked questions relating to what you want treating,
your medical history and questions relating to Chinese Medicine diagnosis. Diagnostic tools include measuring pulse qualities (on both wrists) and examining your tongue.
Your answers are combined with pulse and tongue patterns and general observations in order to determine a pattern consistent with Chinese medicine theory.
The patterns and practitioner knowledge are used to determine optimum points for needling, as well as advice on lifestyle and diet related to your condition.
You may need to remove some clothing to allow needling of eg your back or upper legs. However, the majority of commonly used points are on forearms and legs below the knee.
Typically, 10-20 needles will be used in a treatment, they are sharp and fine, more like thin wire than sewing needles! They will be inserted carefully, aiming to minimise pain, though you may feel a prick as they break the skin surface.
After insertion, they may be gently manipulated until you are aware of their presence. You may experience a dull aching sensation radiating out from the needles, but they should not feel uncomfortable or painful.
Needles are usually left in place for 15 minutes or so, then carefully removed.
Questions
Is acupuncture safe?
Acupuncture from a qualified practitioner is very safe. Members of the British Acupuncture Council have undergone thorough training and abide by strict codes of practice.
A study in the
BMJ states "The conclusion that acupuncture is a very safe intervention in the hands of a competent practitioner seems justified on the evidence available. "
The commonest side effect of acupuncture is slight, localised bruising at needling sites. A review available in
PubMed concludes "Therefore, acupuncture performed by trained practitioners using clean needle techniques is a generally safe procedure.".
Questions
Does acupuncture work?
This is a very broad question, akin to asking "Does medicine work?" Acupuncture may not work for every person and condition on every occasion, but there are thousands of people who will verify that it worked for them.
It is very difficult to scientifically prove that acupuncture works, some clinical trials conclude it may, whillst others find no evidence and early trials have been criticised for a lack of rigour and poor controls.
There will always be arguments between acupuncture believers and sceptics, centred around the subjective nature of acupuncture. Whilst encouraging a healthy scepticism, I have seen sufficient first-hand evidence to be convinced that acupuncture is a valuable and unique therapy,
often succeeding in cases where nothing else has. Interestingly, acupuncture appears to be effective on children and animals, where the patient has no expectation of a positive outcome.
For further information, you may like to read this
NHS patient leaflet
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