acupuncture for pain relief

Sometimes we will use acupuncture as part of our treatments.  If you do not like needles then do not worry; we will use something else!

Chartered Physiotherapists are also bound by a strict professional and ethical code.  The Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists [AACP] requires its members to initially undergo a minimum of 80 hours acupuncture training to get accredited and then adhere to an additional strict code of practice.  Members are required to keep up to date with a stated minimum number of training hours per year in order to remain on the register.

Acupuncture is an ancient system of healing developed over thousands of years as part of the traditional medicine of China, Japan, and other Eastern countries.  The earliest records of acupuncture date back over 3,000 years and today there are over 3 million practitioners worldwide.  Perhaps more significantly, research has shown that Acupuncture stimulates the brain to produce natural pain relief by stimulating chemicals known as endorphins.

These chemicals also help the body to heal itself making acupuncture a wholly natural treatment.  Traditional acupuncture is based on the principle that our health depends on the balanced functioning of the body’s energy, known as Qi (pronounced chi).  When we are in perfect health all the energy runs harmoniously throughout our body.  When an illness arises, this flow of energy becomes disturbed and this can manifest itself in a diverse range of symptoms.

Blocked Qi (energy) may relate to areas on the body that are tender to touch, particularly cold or warm, or a different colour. These clues help practitioners decide which points need to be treated in order to bring the body back into balance.  Traditional acupuncturists aim to correct the flow of energy by using specific points around the body, resolving the symptoms.  In treatment, we may use as few as 2 needles but often more.  Treatment always depends on the specific needs of the patient.

There exists considerable research evidence suggesting that acupuncture is effective and beneficial. That is why we use it.