ACUPUNCTURE

holistic medical wisdom for the modern world

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture (針灸) is a 2,000-year-old branch of Chinese Medicine used widely across the world to encourage optimal health, vitality and resilience. 

Using a logical framework for understanding the functions of the human body, Chinese Medicine views symptoms of discomfort not as isolated issues, but as the manifestation of an imbalance within different physiological and energetic systems.

Comprehensive traditional diagnostic tools - including a thorough consultation, physical examination, and pulse and tongue diagnosis - allow a full, personalised picture of your health to be established. Within the holistic framework, treatment aims to address your primary areas of concern alongside any accompanying imbalances, while supporting your overall vitality and sense of wellbeing.

An integration of acupuncture and traditional adjunctive therapies (such as gua sha, cupping or moxibustion) are used to support the body on physical, mental and emotional levels. This holistic care can be safely used alongside conventional medical treatment and during pregnancy.

Today, an ever-increasing body of scientific and clinical research continues to explore and confirm the beneficial results of this time-tested, integrated approach to healthcare.

How does it work?

Whether or not we notice it consciously, our bodies are in a state of constant, intelligent activity. Blood, lymph, interstitial fluids, electrical nerve impulses, muscles, fascia and our organs all work together in a continuous bid to maintain homeostasis (balance) and support our daily physical demands during work, exercise and rest.

Sometimes, due to injury, stress, or lifestyle pressures, these systems can become overworked or out of kilter. In Chinese Medicine, all bodily systems are understood to interact in an interdependent, regulated cycle. When this cycle is disrupted, it can lead to areas of tension, deficiency, or physical and emotional exhaustion.

Modern research suggests that acupuncture works primarily by stimulating the nervous system. By inserting hair-fine needles at specific points, we encourage the body to release its own natural biochemicals, such as endorphins and neurotransmitters.¹ This process helps to:

  • Regulate the nervous system, shifting the body out of a ‘fight-or-flight’ stress response and into a deeply restorative state.²

  • Modulate sensory perception thresholds, which helps down-regulate pain signals and soothe physical discomfort.³

  • Encourage local circulation and tissue recovery, prompting the body’s innate ability to recalibrate and restore its own natural flow and function.⁴

What does treatment involve?

Your initial consultation involves a comprehensive holistic assessment (including details of your primary concerns, general health, and lifestyle) followed by your first acupuncture treatment. Follow-up appointments include a brief review of your progress and your continuing treatment. The number and frequency of sessions required varies depending on the duration and nature of your specific condition; this will always be discussed transparently during your consultation and ongoing sessions.

During treatment, single-use, pre-sterilised, disposable needles - as fine as a strand of hair - are gently inserted. Following needle insertion, you may feel a brief dull ache, warmth, or a mild tingling sensation; this is a completely normal sign that the body's natural regulatory response has been stimulated, and it normally subsides very quickly.

Many clients who are initially nervous about needles are pleasantly surprised by how gentle the process is, often reporting that they feel almost nothing upon insertion and leave the session feeling deeply comfortable, grounded, and relaxed.

Still have questions?

Please visit the frequently asked questions page. If you still can't find your answer, please feel free to get in touch for a private, individual conversation about your individual case - there is no charge for this 15 minute chat.

References & Clinical Evidence:

  1. Nervous System Regulation & Endorphins:

    Han, J. S. (2004). Acupuncture: neuropeptide release produced by electrical stimulation of different frequencies. Trends in Neurosciences, 26(1), 17-22.

  2. Manage the body's chronic stress and pain responses - ‘fight or flight’:

    National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). (2021). Chronic pain (primary and secondary) in over 16s: assessment and management of chronic primary pain. NICE Guideline [NG193]. London: NICE.

  3. Pain Modulation & Sensory Thresholds:

    Vickers, A. J., et al. (2018). Acupuncture for Chronic Pain: Update of an Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis. The Journal of Pain, 19(5), 455-474.

  4. Local Circulation & Tissue Recovery:

    Sandberg, M., et al. (2003). Effects of acupuncture on skin and muscle blood flow in healthy subjects. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 90(1-2), 114–119.