• Acupuncture
• Tui Na - Chinese Massage
• Moxibustion
• Medical Qigong
• Cupping
• Prepared Herbal Medicine
• KORE Therapy
• Hopi Ear Candling
• Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture
• Anti Wrinkle Injections

The practice of acupuncture and moxibustion is based on the theory of meridians. According to this theory, Qi (vital energy) and blood circulate in the body through a system of channels called meridians, connecting internal organs with the exterior tissue of the body. By stimulating certain points of the body surface reached by meridians through needling or moxibustion, the flow of Qi and blood can be regulated and diseases are thus treated. These stimulation points are called acupuncture points, or acupoints.

Who can benefit from acupuncture treatment?

Acupuncture treats people who complain of a deficiency or breakdown in their health. With equal effect, it can focus on physical, emotional, psychological or spiritual disorders. Every sick person can be helped by acupuncture treatment. Age, sex and condition are irrelevant. The very young or very old can be treated, and pregnant women can be greatly assisted by acupuncture treatment.

What is involved in a typical acupuncture treatment?

Attending a TCM practitioner for a course of acupuncture treatment can be different from visiting a GP. The initial consultation can last up to one hour, and a detailed medical history is taken. Clients on medication should inform their practitioner and furnish a list of medications being taken. The entire proceedings are safeguarded by complete confidentiality. Ideally, practitioners see clients once a week or once a fortnight.

A thorough examination of the tongue and pulse is carried out, and a brief physical examination is conducted where appropriate. The practitioner then selects appropriate acupoints along different meridians based on identified health problems. Then very fine and thin needles are inserted into these acupoints. The needles are made of stainless steel and vary in length, starting at half an inch to 3 inches. The choice of needle is usually determined by the location of the acupoint and the effects being sought. If the point is correctly located and the required depth reached, the patient will usually experience a feeling of heaviness, tingling, numbness or distension. The practitioner will simultaneously feel that the needle is tightened.

The needles are usually left in situ for 20-30 minutes. During this time, the needles may be manipulated to achieve the effect of tonifying the Qi. Needling may also be activated by electrical stimulation, a procedure usually called electro-acupuncture, in which manipulations are attained through varying frequencies and voltages.

How many treatments will you need?

This depends on a number of considerations, including:

• The nature of the complaint itself. Some complaints by their nature are more serious than others, and this will determine the type of treatment prescribed.
• The length of time the complaint has presented itself will also have some bearing. Normally, more recent disorders are more rapidly and easily eliminated than longstanding ones. Acupuncture however, can be equally helpful in both chronic and acute conditions.
• The frequency and type of TCM treatment administered can determine the likely outcome of the therapy.
• The skill and experience of the practitioner cannot be discounted. Nor can the general state of health and wellbeing of the client be disregarded in determining the speed and effectiveness of acupuncture treatment.
• The client’s adherence to instructions from the TCM practitioner between treatments will also influence the speed of recovery, or otherwise.

Treatment protocols, frequency and duration are a matter of professional judgment of the practitioner, in consultation with the patient. A common course of treatment may be initially spaced at weekly intervals, and spread out to fortnightly and monthly later in a programme.