Have you ever been treated with acupuncture? Perhaps you’ve wondered what it is all about?

Acupuncture is not new. It is one of the oldest forms of medical treatment known and has been practised in China for at least 2000 years, and more recently in the west for the past 300 years. It is a long established form of therapy which has been passed down from generation to generation and has evolved into a very effective form of treatment for such things as headache, back pain, digestive problems, sports injuries, PMT and many other conditions.

Acupuncture is concerned with the flow of energy, known as qi, through the body and balance in this energy flow is important. Where too much rain brings flooding and too little causes drought, similarly and excess or deficiency of energy in areas of our body can cause illness. Qi has a number of functions in the human body. It nourishes our organs, helps in the production of blood and provides protection against invading pathogens. This energy flows along pathways known as meridians and each meridian connects with a specific organ. It is on these pathways that acupuncture points are located. Stimulation of these points adjusts the energy flow to the correct balance which assists the function of the corresponding organ.

Traditional acupuncture involves a comprehensive diagnostic system which takes into account the person’s medical history, their physical appearance, symptoms and the two time tested methods of tongue and pulse diagnosis. It is from this information that imbalances can be recognised and treated. An integral part of Chinese thought which has influenced acupuncture is that of Yin and Yang. These refer to the differing aspects of life and nature such as female and male, night and day, winter and summer, cold and hot, wet and dry. In Chinese medicine there are yin and yang organs and the energy balance between them can be affected by such things as our emotions, the weather, diet, stress, work and lifestyle. Acupuncture restores this balance and in doing so relieves the symptoms.