TREATMENT PHILOSOPHY – committed to helping you on the road to recovery

The most common question I’m asked is “How does Acupuncture work?”, but a better question would be “How do you use needles to promote healing?” because the needles are only a tool in the hands of the acupuncturist, and only as effective as the skill and experience of the therapist. Acupuncture is central to traditional oriental medicine and as a method of treatment has been used for thousands of years. According to traditional oriental medical theory, vital energy or “ki” (qi or chi in Chinese), flows around the body along broadly defined channels called meridians. Each meridian is related to an internal organ or physiological system, and any disturbance in it will manifest along the meridian, usually as pain, numbness or stiffness.

Over thousands of years, practitioners have mapped out specific points or “tsubo” on the body where needles are inserted to stimulate and adjust the flow of energy. Shiatsu (literally ‘finger pressure’) follows the same principles and aims to promote healing and health by restoring balance where health is an expression of inner balance and illness is the result of imbalance. The primary goal of Oriental Medicine is to locate the root cause of an imbalance, and to treat the disorder by stimulating the body’s vital functions and immune system.

Traditional Oriental Medicine is based on a holistic understanding of the body and involves multiple techniques of natural healing. These may include Acupuncture, Shiatsu, Acupressure and Manipulation, Cupping and Moxibustion as well as advice on diet, stretching and general lifestyle.

My practice has evolved to incorporate all the above approaches, tailored to the needs of each individual patient. Everyone comes with their own unique life experiences, which may involve a history of illness or trauma as well as emotional, spiritual or physical stress. Through careful observation and manual diagnosis I assess each patient’s condition and then work to release tension and promote balance and well-being. The application of pressure using hands and elbows stimulates healing as does the insertion of fine needles at specific points. Cupping and moxibustion are also used to improve circulation.

It is important to remember that the restoration of health and the alleviation of pain can never be fully achieved without the commitment and cooperation of the patient. This is something well understood in the East, but all too often I find in the West that people think they can come along for a “quick fix” without paying any attention to the factors in their lifestyle that may be contributing to their problems. I will always give patients advice on how to accelerate the healing process, often by making adjustments to their diet or doing regular stretching exercises.