Steven uses Chinese Acupuncture as a treatment for a wide range of physical and mental problems. For some problems it can be used on its own, but it frequently works better when combined with Therapeutic Massage (Tuina or Tui Na) and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Chinese practitioners believe that we all have essential life energy (Qi – pronounced Chi) running in channels called meridians. A well person’s Qi flows smoothly around their body, but if this becomes imbalanced we begin to experience symptoms of illness eg pain. This imbalance can be caused by many factors including poor circulation, anger, stress, poor diet etc. The Chinese believe that traditional acupuncture using very fine stainless steel needles carefully inserted into acupuncture points which lie on the meridians can correct this imbalance and achieve a balance of energy.
Many Western doctors explain the benefits of acupuncture as the results of inserting the fine needles into many ‘trigger’ points, which they call acupoints. These sensitive acupoints are often at points in the body where there are many nerves or where nerves leave muscles and tissues.. They believe that if a fine needle is inserted at an acupoint, the nerves and tissues are stimulated and that natural pain relieving chemicals (endorphins) are then released.
The truth is that there are many theories as to why acupuncture works and that some believe it doesn’t, but there can be no doubt than some patients experience a significant improval in their condition following acupuncture. It is interesting to note that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends acupuncture as a treatment option for some problems.
Information on the NHS UK website (http://www.nhs.uk) stated:
There is reasonably good evidence that acupuncture is an effective treatment for:
- chronic back pain
- dental pain
- pain and discomfort during gastrointestinal endoscopy
- headache
- nausea and vomiting after an operation
- pain and discomfort during oocyte retrieval (a procedure used during IVF)
- osteoarthritis of the knee
Scientific trials conducted to investigate the effect of acupuncture on these conditions found that acupuncture had a beneficial effect.
Steven uses very fine, single use, pre-sterilised needles that are disposed of after use so there is no risk of contamination. He never reuses needles!