Alongside its growing acceptance within western medicine, more and more patients are seeking alternative forms of therapies like Acupuncture when either conventional medicine has failed or as a means of complimenting their more traditional forms of treatment.
Chartered Physiotherapists who undertake postgraduate training in Acupuncture are able to offer a unique combination of treatment modalities, incorporating Acupuncture alongside manual and electro-therapy, exercise and injury prevention.
Western or medical Acupuncture is a more recent development that is practiced by Doctors and Physiotherapists. Acupuncture techniques are used alongside the conventional forms of treatment on the basis of a western medical diagnosis. This form of acupuncture still embraces some of the traditional concepts of Chinese medicine in seeking to stimulate the body's own healing mechanisms and restoring balance.
What is Acupuncture?
According to the traditional Chinese philosophy, when the body is in ahealthy
state, Qi (energy, pronounced Chee) flows freely and in a balanced way through a series of 14 meridian channels within the body. Any underlying problems result in an obstruction or blockage of this energy and there are many factors such as injury, stress, poor diet, infections etc which can cause these disturbances.
The body's meridians are believed to be influenced by special points. Using acupuncture needles, these specific points can be stimulated to balance this flow of Qi and stimulate the body's own healing response.
What does the Research Say?
Research has been shown to indicate that through Acupuncture, the brain can be stimulated to produce certain chemicals like endorphins to work as a natural pain killer. There is growing evidence to indicate that Acupuncture may be helpful in a variety of conditions including:
