acupuncture

Acupuncture

The ancient traditional Chinese acupuncture method involves inserting needles along specific meridian lines. The aim is to restore the flow of our ‘Qi’ life force energy to help promote health and overall balance. This is why your physio may place some needles around the painful area, as well as use distal/ complimentary points, such as the ones in your hands to help relieve pain and promote energy flow.

In recent years, many new studies to highlights the benefits of acupuncture have been published, *and acupuncture is now also approved by the NICE clinical guidelines. People often ask us how acupuncture works from an Eastern and Western stand-point. In basic terms,

Western medicine acupuncture principles tend to be more evidence based and attributes the effects of the acupuncture needles to a stimulation of the body’s natural ‘healing response”. This includes:

  • A release of your natural local painkillers and endorphins in the area
  • An increase in local blood circulation
  • A change in muscle activity to relax active tight ‘trigger points’ A cortical response in the brain to block incoming pain signals.
acupuncture