Acupuncture

 

 

Acupuncture has been used as a form of treatment in China for several thousand years, and its' origins date back as far as 500BC. It has been increasingly accepted into Western medicine since the early 1970's and can be applied using the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and/or using a Western/anatomical approach.

 

There is much debate about what the acupuncture points actually represent. Chinese medicine believes that a flow of energy (qi) exists within the body, circulating through invisible channels called 'meridians'. There are 14 meridians in total: 6 paired in the upper limb, 6 paired in the lower limb, and 2 midline meridians (one lying at the front of the body, and the other at the back). Each meridian is associated with a particular organ or organ system, and is linked to either yin or yang energy.

 

Research indicates that acupuncture works by mediating a chemical (endorphin) in the bloodstream. Endorphins are located in several areas of the nervous system, where they are released into the bloodstream under the influence of the neurological (nervous) system. They are natural morphines (pain relievers) which travel within the body to the appropriate (painful) area, and produce an inhibitory effect on the transmission of pain. As acupuncture has been shown to release endorphins, it can be used to great effect for pain relief. From an anatomical viewpoint, the sites of stimulation can be located within:

• Skin

• Muscle (muscle belly, trigger points, tendon and fascia)

• Joint (capsule and ligament)

 

What can acupuncture be used for?

 

The application of acupuncture follows a detailed assessment, but can be used to help with:

• Musculoskeletal Pain (Low back pain, sciatica, whiplash, arthritis, facial pain, postural pain, acute injury, joint pains, pregnancy-related pain)

• Reducing inflammation

• Promoting healing

• Headaches (Migraine, tension, cluster, cervicogenic (neck-related), trigeminal neuralgia, sinusitis)

 

What should I expect?

 

To establish whether acupuncture is an appropriate management choice, the treating therapist must first carry out a detailed assessment, including a full history of the complaint/condition and a physical examination. It is important that you understand the process of acupuncture and that it may not have an instantaneous effect, particularly if your pain/condition is chronic in nature. We would usually carry out 3-4 sessions of acupuncture in an attempt to alleviate your symptoms and at that point, a decision will be made concerning further/ ongoing treatment. If you are responding after the 'trial' period, the sessions can be continued. 

 

Having established that no contraindications/areas for caution exist, consent will obtained. However, if at any point during the acupuncture session, you wish to discontinue treatment, simply inform your therapist and the needles can be removed immediately.

 

Treatment may be performed with the client in lying or supported sitting, depending upon the body area to be needled. An initial session may only involve 10-15 minutes of acupuncture but, following that, treatment time will be increased to upward of 20-25 minutes (depending upon the length of the session). Whilst in situ, the needles will be manually stimulated to increase the treatment effect. At the end of the treatment, the needles are carefully removed and disposed of immediately into a clinical waste sharps bin. Ideally, you would rest for a short while following acupuncture treatment, to optimise the effects of the endorphin release. It can be quite common to feel sleepy after treatment, and many clients report a sense of relaxation following acupuncture.

 

Response to treatment can be varied. Every client is different and should be re-evaluated at each return visit to establish their response to the acupuncture. Sometimes, no effect may be felt until several sessions have been completed. This is common with chronic problems, where the brain (pituitary gland) has become so depleted of endorphins over time, it takes a while for this level to re-build and to be released into the bloodstream. However, many clients report much quicker results and, on rare occasions, 'miracles' can occur (though unfortunately these are much less common that we would like!).

 

Will it hurt?

 

Again, individual responses to acupuncture vary greatly between clients, but the general consensus of opinion seems to be that "it doesn't feel like you think it's going to" and "it's very different from having an injection". A very brief pricking sensation may be felt as the needle pierces the skin, and then clients describe the remainder of the process as a "dull ache"/ "mild scratching sensation"/ "feeling of heaviness"/ "pins and needles feeling"/ "mild spasm" etc. The sensation is rarely sharp and symptoms may be felt well away from where the needle has been inserted (particularly common with muscular trigger point release techniques).