Acupuncture is a complete medical system that has been used across East Asia for over 2500 years to promote, restore and maintain good health as well as treating a wide range of health problems.

The earliest known texts describing acupuncture go back to 198BC. The first known medical text book called ‘The Yellow Emperors Classic of Internal Medicine’ dates from around 300 BC. This text book is still in use today.

From an Eastern perspective, acupuncture treatment is believed to work by regulating the flow of energy around the body. Acupuncture points (acupoints) are located all over the body and each acupoint is connected to another by a channel called a meridian. Very fine sterile needles are inserted into specific acupoints and along meridians with the aim of activating the energy Qi (pronounced chee), to restore balance and good health.

From a Western perspective, acupuncture points stimulate the central nervous system, which in turn releases natural chemicals into the body. The biochemical changes stimulate the bodies natural healing ability, promotes physical and emotional wellbeing and evidence based research indicates that it also has a benefit on the immune system.

In Western countries, acupuncture is fast becoming an alternative or adjunct treatment option for a variety of health complaints. It has a very low risk profile with a 1:10,000 adverse event ratio which is significantly less than traditional Western Medicine.

Aurasana use a combined approach utilising Traditional Chinese Medicine, Western perspectives, Korean hand acupuncture and Auricular acupuncture.

Acupuncture is used to optimise health preventatively but also to treat both symptoms and cause of illness. The Cochrane Collaboration has extensively studied the effects of acupuncture across a broad range of conditions. It is a globally respected scientific research organisation, renowned for its rigorous analysis of unbiased, high-quality studies. They review and collate research from multiple sources before drawing any conclusions.

Cochrane and The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommend acupuncture for the following issues, symptoms or conditions as acupuncture in these cases has been proven through controlled trials to have a therapeutic effect:

• Addiction and Drug rehabilitation – alcohol, tobacco, heroin, opium, cocaine dependency.
• Autoimmune conditions – rheumatoid arthritis, sjrogens, allergic conditions, immune system disorders, diabetes.
• Cancer care – adverse reactions to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, pain, integrative cancer care.
• Digestive and bowel health – colitis, gastritis, gastroenteritis, gastroparesis, IBS, ulcers, reflux, constipation.
• ENT – ear ache, tinnitus, eye pain, menieres disease, tonsillitis, rhinitis, hay fever.
• Headaches and Migraine.
• Heart and Circulatory health – heart disease, stroke, hypertension, hypotension, vascular dementia.
• Kidney and bladder health – recurrent lower urinary tract infections, urine retention, neuropathic bladder, overactive bladder syndrome.
• Mens health – male sexual health and sexual dysfunction, prostatitis.
• Mental and emotional health – Depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia/sleep difficulties, exhaustion, and other emotional problems.
• Musculoskeletal and rheumatological conditions – carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, sprains, tennis elbow sciatica, plantar fasciitis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, pelvic girdle pain, sports injuries, repetitive strain injuries, shoulder, back and knee pain, post operative pain and convalescence, TMJ, chronic fatigue syndrome.
• Neuro-developmental conditions – ASD, ADHD.
• Neurological conditions – neuropathy, Bell’s palsy, Parkinson’s disease, MS, shingles.
• Pain – acute and chronic pain anywhere in the body.
• Pregnancy related – infertility, recurrent miscarriage, pelvic girdle pain, morning sickness/nausea, labour pain, labour induction, breech presentation, postnatal pain, lactation deficiency and more.
• Respiratory – asthma
• Skin health – acne, neuralgia, pruritus
• Women’s Health – period pain, PMS, PCOS, endometriosis, vulvodynia, vestibulovulvodynia, urethral syndrome, cystitis, menopausal symptoms and others.
• Please note, this is not an exhaustive list.

A comprehensive history will be taken to determine how I can help you. This will include information about your current symptoms, medical history and general health.

Many acupuncture points are located on the arms and legs so can be accessed easily by adjusting clothing. Other points require a degree of undressing, in which case modesty will be preserved as far as possible.

This depends on the severity and longevity of the complaint. On average 4-8 sessions are recommended, ideally bi-weekly or weekly to achieve best results.

The needles are extremely fine, much finer than needles used for injections.Most people report feeling minimal pain to none at all as the needle is inserted.

A growing body of evidence based clinical research indicates that acupuncture safely treats a wide range of common health complaints. However, if after a few sessions there has not been a noticeable improvement, we will discuss potential options and advise accordingly.