Acupuncture

WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE?

Acupuncture is a gentle, natural treatment modality that has been used for thousands of years to support the body’s ability to heal, regulate, and rebalance itself.

It involves the insertion of fine, sterile needles into specific points on the body, chosen carefully based on your individual symptoms, health history, and overall wellbeing.

Rather than treating just one symptom, this approach looks at the whole person — body, mind, hormones, digestion, sleep, emotions, and stress levels — and how these systems interact.

Because every individual is unique, acupuncture treatment is always personalised. Your first session includes a thorough consultation and assessment, allowing your practitioner to understand your overall health, underlying patterns, and specific symptom presentation before beginning treatment.

HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE WORK?

In Western societies, acupuncture’s effect is explained through concepts of neuroscience where Acupuncture points are seen as places where nerves, muscles and connective tissue can be stimulated. Findings from basic research have begun to elucidate the mechanisms of action of acupuncture, including the release of opioids and other peptides in the central nervous system and the periphery and changes in neuro-endocrine function. 

The body is constantly trying to stay in balance — regulating hormones, digestion, mood, immunity, circulation, and the nervous system. Stress, illness, trauma, poor lifestyle and sleep and hormonal changes can disrupt this balance.

Acupuncture works by sending gentle signals to the nervous system, helping the body shift out of “fight-or-flight” mode and into a state of rest, repair, and regulation.

From a modern medical perspective, acupuncture has been shown to:

* Regulate the nervous system: reduces cortisol and anxiety, improves sleep.

* Improves blood flow and circulation, while reducing inflammation and pain.

* Regulates hormone and neurotransmitter release: menstrual regulation, supports ovulation, improved pelvic blood flow.

* Nausea & digestive: morning sickness, chemo-induced and post-operative nasea

* Immune support: modulates immune markers (cytokines), reduces inflammation, improves micro circulation.

WHICH CONDITIONS CAN BE TREATED WITH ACUPUNCTURE?

NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS such as headaches, migraines, difficulty sleeping, nervous tension, stroke, facial and inter-costal neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, peripheral neuropathy, tinnitus, dizziness, and Meniere’s disease.

CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS such as high or low blood pressure, fluid retention, chest pain, angina pectoris, poor circulation, cold hands and feet, and muscle cramps.

RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS such as bronchial asthma, acute and chronic bronchitis, acute tonsillitis, rhinitis, sinusitis, hay fever, chronic cough, laryngitis, sore throat, influenza and the common cold.

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM DISORDERS such as toothache, mouth ulcers, spasms of the oesophagus, gastric and duodenal ulcers, gastric hyperacidity, gastritis, heartburn, hiatus hernia syndrome, flatulence, colitis, diarrhoea, constipation, haemorrhoids, liver and gall bladder disorders, and weight control.

UROGENITAL DISORDERS such as cystitis, prostatitis, low sexual vitality, urinary retention, kidney disorders, nocturnal enuresis, and neurogenic bladder dysfunction.

HORMONAL AND REPRODUCTIVE DISORDERS such as infertility or difficulty conceiving, premenstrual tension, painful, heavy, irregular, or absent periods, abnormal uterine bleeding or discharge, hormonal disturbances, disorders and symptoms associated with menopause, and morning sickness.

SKIN CONDITIONS such as eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, nerve rash, herpes zoster, acne, scar tissue and resultant adhesions, hair loss and dandruff.

PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS such as depression, anxiety, phobias, emotional disturbances, nervousness and addictions such as smoking.

MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS such as osteoarthritis, sciatica, low back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, shoulder and neck pain, ‘frozen shoulder’, and ‘tennis elbow’.