Acupuncture
Information supplied by BAcC
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a system of healing which has been practised
in China and other
Eastern countries for thousands of years. Although often
described as a means of
pain relief, it is in fact used to treat people with a wide
range of illnesses. Its focus
is on improving the overall well being of the patient, rather
than the isolated
treatment of specific symptoms.
According to traditional Chinese philosophy, our health
is dependent on the
body’s motivating energy – known as Qi, moving
in a smooth and balanced way
through a series of channels beneath the skin.
How can acupuncture help you?
Who has acupuncture?
Many people come to acupuncture for help with specific symptoms
or conditions
These might include anxiety states, arthritis, asthma, back
pain, circulatory
problems, depression, facial paralysis, fibrositis, high
blood pressure,
indeterminate aches and pains, infertility, menstrual problems,
migraines,
rheumatism, sciatica, skin conditions or ulcers.
Acupuncture is a safe treatment for all. It has proved
to be effective
in pregnancy management and for the relief of pain in childbirth.
Acupuncture is also helpful for people trying to overcome
addictions
such as those related to smoking, alcohol, food or drugs.
Some people may have acupuncture as a preventive measure
to strengthen their
constitution, or because they feel unwell in themselves
without being ‘ill’ in the
Western sense. It can also be used alongside conventional
medicine in the
treatment of both acute and chronic disease. As with any
therapy, the response to
acupuncture can vary from one person to another. It consists
of equal and
opposite qualities – Yin and Yang – and when
these become unbalanced, illness
may result. By inserting fine needles into the channels
of energy, an acupuncturist
can stimulate the body’s own healing response and
help restore its natural balance.
The flow of Qi can be disturbed by a number of factors.
These include ideational
states such as anxiety, stress, anger, fear or grief poor
nutrition, weather conditions,
heredititary factors, infections, poisons and trauma.
What does it feel like?
Most people’s experience of needles is of those used
in injections and blood
tests. Acupuncture needles bear little resemblance to these.
They are much finer
and are solid rather than hollow. When the needle is inserted,
the sensation is often
described as a tingling or dull ache.
Needles are inserted either for a second or two, or left
in place for up to 20
minutes, depending on the effect required. During treatment,
patients commonly
experience a heaviness in the limbs or a pleasant feeling
of relaxation.
The benefits of acupuncture frequently include more than
just relief from a
particular condition. Many people find that it can also
lead to increased energy
levels, better appetite and sleep as well as an enhanced
sense of overall well being.
What will happen on my first visit?
Your first consultation may be longer than subsequent sessions.
The acupuncturist
needs to assess your general state of health, in order to
identify the underlying
pattern of disharmony and give you the most effective treatment.
You will be asked about your current symptoms and what
treatment you have
received so far, your medical history and that of your close
family, your diet,
digestive system, sleeping patterns and emotional state.
To discover how the
energies are flowing in your body, the acupuncturist is
likely to feel your pulses on
both wrists, noting their quality, rhythm and strength.
The structure, colour and
coating of your tongue also gives a good guide to your physical
health.
Once enough information has been gathered to determine
the likely causes of your
problems, the acupuncturist can select the most appropriate
treatment. The aim is
to discover which energy channels need adjusting for your
specific complaint to
improve, and which require treatment to boost your overall
energy and vitality.
There are around 500 recognised acupuncture points on the
body, of which about
100 are most commonly used. Stimulation of specific areas
on the skin affects the
functioning of certain organs in the body. However, those
areas may not be close
to the part of the body where the problem is experienced.
For example, although
you may suffer from headaches, needles may be inserted in
your foot or hand.
The acupuncturist may supplement the needle treatment with
moxa, a smouldering
herb which is used to warm acupuncture points to encourage
the body’s energy to
flow smoothly. Other methods of stimulating acupuncture
points include using lasers
or electro-acupuncture. Massage or tapping with a rounded
probe are techniques
particularly suitable for small children or for people with
fear of needles.
How often will I need treatment?
In traditional acupuncture philosophy each person is considered
as unique, and
therefore the number of treatments required depends on the
individual. Some
change is usually felt after five treatments. Normally you
are recommended to visit
your acupuncturist once or twice a week at first, although
some conditions may
need less frequent attention.
Sometimes the effects of the treatment are dramatic, and
only one or two
treatments are required. With other patients, the effects
are more subtle and they
may need treatment over several months.
Should my doctor know?
If you are receiving treatment form your doctor then it
makes sense to tell him or
her about your plans to have acupuncture. The acupuncture
treatment may enable
you to reduce or even stop taking some forms of medication,
but your doctor
should be consulted regarding any change of prescription.
You should always tell your acupuncturist about any medication
you are taking as
this may affect your response to the acupuncture treatment.
Is it safe?
All members of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) must
observe a Code of
Practice, which lays down stringent standards of hygiene
and sterilisation for
needles and other equipment. These procedures have been
approved by the
Department of Health and provide protection against the
transmission of infectious
diseases.
Patients who have been treated by a BAcC member are eligible
to donate blood
through the National Blood Service.
How can I find a qualified acupuncturist?
Members of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) have completed
a
thorough training of at least three years in traditional
acupuncturist and western
medical sciences appropriate to the practice of acupuncture.
They carry the letters
MBAcC after their name. The BAcC maintains common standards
of education,
ethics, discipline and practice to ensure that health and
safety of the public at all
times. Members are covered by Medical Malpractice and Public/Products
Liability
insurance.
The British Acupuncture Council was formed in 1995 by the
amalgamation of five
separate organisations whose membership agreed that a single
body should
represent and govern its professionally qualified acupuncturists.
Information Courtesy of
:
British Acupuncture Council (BAaC)
63 Jeddo Road
London
W12 9HQ
Tel: 020 8735 0400
Fax: 020 8735 0404
Email: info@acupuncture.org.uk
Email for local Practitioner lists: practitioners@acupuncture.org.uk
For Further information visit the website
Website: www.acupuncture.org.uk
The BAcC currently has more than 2,000 members whose details
are published in
an annual Register of Practitioner Members. A copy of the
full Register can be
obtained by sending a cheque for £3.50 to the address
below. Alternatively, a list
of practitioners in your local area can be requested free
of charge. Simply
telephone, email, fax or write to us.
