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What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient, holistic system of healing that has been practised in China and other Eastern countries for over 2,500 years. During treatment fine needles are used at specific points on the body and these help regulate the flow of energy, or ‘qi’. As the energy becomes more balanced, so health improves.
Acupuncture helps the body heal itself. It is a gentle, tried and tested system for restoring and maintaining health and is increasingly recognised as beneficial for an extensive range of illnesses and symptoms.
Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for a wide range of conditions such as menstrual problems, cystitis, digestive disorders, dizziness, migraines, insomnia, skin problems, fatigue and anxiety. It can also help people who want to give up smoking or other dependencies. It is increasingly being used by couples aiming to increase their fertility and by women in pregnancy and childbirth.
Additionally, the World Health Organisation (WHO)* lists many conditions that acupuncture has been shown (through research trials) to treat effectively. These include rheumatoid arthritis, stroke, hypertension, depression, headaches, many different types of pain, nausea and vomiting, problems in pregnancy, sciatica, tennis elbow, adverse reactions to radiotherapy or chemotherapy and many more.
Acupuncture does not just treat symptoms, however. Its focus is on the individual and on strengthening their constitution. Consequently people having acupuncture often report feeling better ‘in themselves’, for example in terms of increased energy and improved sleep. People often have acupuncture for one condition, only to find that another condition also improves. Acupuncture aims to balance all aspects of a person; not just the physical, but the mental and emotional aspects too.
Acupuncture is considered to be suitable for people of all ages, including children and babies.
*WHO. Acupuncture review and analysis of reports on controlled clinical trials. 2003, pp9-10.
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