What Can Acupuncture Help With?
Many people come to acupuncture for help with a specific symptom or
condition. For example; anxiety states, arthritis, asthma, back pain,
circulatory problems, depression, facial paralysis, fibrositis, high blood
pressure, indeterminate aches and pains, infertility, menstrual problems,
migraines, rheumatism, sciatica, skin conditions or ulcers. Extensive
practice and Chinese research has shown acupuncture's effectiveness in
helping these and many other conditions.The effect of good acupuncture,
however, is to do more than simply cure the symptom. Acupuncture directed at
restoring the overall energy balance will deal with the condition and also
help the patient feel better in a general way. Hence the frequent comment,
'I'm feeling better in myself', which refers to such things as increased
energy and vitality, greater enjoyment of life, greater confidence, better
sleep or more normal appetite.
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What is Traditional acupuncture?
This approach, where the whole person as
well as the symptom is taken into consideration, is referred to as
traditional acupuncture. It is contrasted with the symptomatic approach
which uses treatment formulae for specific conditions and where no heed is
paid to the
overall energy balance. Diagnosing and treating the person - rather than the
disease, will give a lasting healing affect as it deals with the underlying
cause of all the person's presenting symptons. This approach is also
particularly appropriate in two cases. There are some people who feel quite
unwell in
themselves but do not have a sufficiently serious or "physical" complaint to
present
themselves as "sick". With the use of Traditional acupuncture, we can
diagnose the
imbalance and restore well-being without the person having a named
condition. Many
patients also seek acupuncture for preventive treatment. An experienced
traditional
acupuncturist can again normally detect and treat an energy imbalance before
the patient
is aware of any symptoms. The aim here is to maintain health rather than
overcome a
specific condition.
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What Happens When I Come For Treatment?
For your initial visit I will allow enough time to gather information on:
Your symptoms and the history and treatment to date, Your medical and family
history, The behaviour of your various systems, for example, how you sleep
and whether your digestion is good and Your physical condition, for example,
distribution of body heat and the condition of your skin. A brief and non
intrusive physical examination is carried out and I will generally also
choose to carry out the first treatment within this first visit. Most people
will need to come for treatment weekly to begin with and then, as they
improve, less frequently. The speed of improvement varies more according to
the person rather than the label of the complaint. Some people are much
improved after the first visit; others require more extensive treatment. I
always aim to give each person the time and attention they need for their
individual requirement within the general framework of allowing 11/2 hours
for the initial consultation and 45 minutes for each follow up treatment.
Does It Hurt?
Some people would like to try acupuncture, but may not because they assume
it will be painful. The needles we use are solid and much finer than those
used for injections or withdrawing blood. A well qualified traditional
acupuncturist will use sterile, hair-fine needles which when inserted
correctly, will slip in through the pores of the skin, and so the actual
puncturing of the skin is felt only as a very faint sensation and in some
cases not at all. There is a slightly sharp secondary sensation when the
needle connects with the energy in the acupuncture point to bring about the
treatment. This sensation literally only lasts for a second, whether the
needle is left in or removed straight away, and is certainly much less
painful than the pain and suffering many people put up with for years, to
avoid trying acupuncture. Most patients are really surprised when they
receive their first treatment, at how the sensation does not match their
expectations and wish they had come much sooner. Different acupuncture
practitioners will use different needle techniques depending on their
personal preference. The technique I prefer to use is very light and
involves 90% of the time removing the needle in the same movement as
inserting it.
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What About My Doctor?
If you have been seeing your doctor, you may want to tell him or her that
you are coming for acupuncture. Most acupuncturists prefer that you do. For
example, if you are on medication (other than drugs which cannot be
replaced), then we would hope to reduce or eliminate your drug intake and
your doctor may need to be involved in any change of medication.
What About Needle Sterilisation?
All members of the British Acupuncture Council are bound by the
Council's Code of Practice which includes stringent standards of hygiene and
sterilisation for equipment and needles. These standards were formulated
with the guidance of the Department of Health's Public Laboratory Service
and provide complete safety against all forms of infectious diseases.
What Are Your Professional Standards?
The British Acupuncture Council requires all its members, before
joining, to have achieved a comprehensive understanding of the theory of
acupuncture and to have demonstrated clinical competence. Members must also
have passed examinations in Western medical sciences. The B.Ac. C also
provides Professional Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance for all its
U.K. members. All members are bound by the Council's Code of Ethics which
covers relations with patients, fellow practitioners and the general public.
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A copy of the Code of Ethics is
available from: The British Acupuncture Council, 63 Jeddo Road, London. W12
9HQ Tel. 0208 7350400
