Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Acupuncture is a procedure that comes out of a system of medicine first developed in China some 5000 years ago. It is a natural means of restoring health and preventing illness by taking a holistic, or whole body, approach to health. Though it may seem strange and mysterious to many, TCM Acupuncture has been time tested over thousands of years and continues to be validated today.

 

The perspective from which an acupuncturist views health and sickness hinges on concepts of “vital energy,” “energetic balance” and “energetic imbalance.” Just as the Western medical doctor monitors the blood flowing through blood vessels and the messages travelling via the nervous system, the acupuncturist assesses the flow and distribution of this “vital energy” or “Qi” (pronounced “chee”) within its pathways know as “meridians and channels.”

 

The acupuncturist is able to influence health and sickness by stimulating certain areas along these “meridians.” These areas or “acupoints” are stimulated by fine, slender needles as well as herbs, electricity, magnets and lasers. This is done to adjust the “vital energy” so the proper amount reaches the proper place at the proper time and therefore helps your body heal itself.

Major medical research institutions such as the Mayo Clinic and the World Health Organization have proven the effectiveness of acupuncture and continue research on this ancient and time tested method of self-healing and wellness. The initial consultation is the foundation upon which treatments are based. Many things are taken into account such as: medical and family history, lifestyle, the state of various systems (i.e. sleep, appetite) and the presenting complaints. Observations are also made of facial colour, voice, pulse, tongue, emotional state, pain and the nature of the symptoms. All this is essential in determining the necessary treatment required to reestablish correct energy flow so that the body may heal itself.

 

Acupuncture is a therapy that may be used to treat a variety of health related problems:

 

• DIGESTIVE: Abdominal pain; Constipation; Diarrhoea; Indigestion

• EMOTIONAL: Anxiety; Depression; Insomnia; Nervousness; Neurosis

• EYE-EAR-NOSE-THROAT: Cataracts; Poor vision; Toothache; Gingivitis; Tinnitus

• GYNECOLOGICAL: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS); Menopausal symptoms; Infertility

• MUSCULO-SKELETAL: Arthritis; Back Pain; Neck Pain; Muscle Pain; Muscle Weakness; Muscle Cramping; Sciatica

• NEUROLOGICAL: Headaches; Migraines; Neurological bladder dysfunction; Parkinson’s disease; Post-operative pain; Stroke

• RESPIRATORY: Asthma; Bronchitis; Common Cold; Sinusitis; Smoking Cessation; Tonsillitis

• MISCELLANEOUS: Addiction control; Athletic Performance; Blood pressure regulation; Chronic fatigue; immune system toning; stress reduction.