Traditional Acupuncture is a form of therapy that originates in the Far East and dates back more than 2500 years. Although acupuncture is an ancient form of treatment it is up to date now more than ever before. It looks at the patient as a whole and treats the person, not the disease. This is particularly useful in our modern society where stress, emotional problems and lifestyle often seem to overtake our health and wellbeing.
Being healthy in the context of holistic medicine means to be free from pain, to feel balanced physically, mentally and emotionally and to be able to live everyday life to its full potential. This can be achieved through regular acupuncture treatments and changes in diet and lifestyle, tailored to the individual patient.
Health is a multifactorial state that needs constant regulation. Multifactorial, in that it is affected and determined by a large number of factors (inheritance or genetics, environment-climate, lifestyle factors such as diet, sleep, overwork, exercise, feelings and emotions, old or recent trauma, etc) that interfere and combine with each other to produce a subjective perception of wellbeing. It can be accompanied by a set of physical and psychological symptoms. In holistic medicine there is no divide between physical and psychological, no separation between body and emotions. They constantly interact and influence each other, even though some times it appears as though a physical imbalance is more prominent than an emotional imbalance and vice versa, or that one may be the cause for the other.
Chinese Medicine looks at the “big picture” and helps the organism find homeostasis, that is the tendency of the body to maintain a relatively stable equilibrium within its internal environment. This is done by enhancing circulation, eliminating stagnation, focusing on the important life functions rather than small details. For example, it is inevitable that we all sometimes experience situations that are unpleasant, unavoidable or cause deep or superficial suffering. Since it is often not possible to eliminate the cause of the suffering, finding balance helps the person to deal with the problems in a more efficient way by enhancing the level of wellbeing and feeling of fulfillment and satisfaction on a daily basis.
Acupuncture, practiced by a knowledgeable and experienced practitioner, is totally safe and effective for a huge range of conditions. It can be used for the whole family and throughout all stages of life: babies, children, adolescents, pregnant women, menopausal women and elderly people. If you would like to discuss your particular circumstances, please give me a call so we can advise you on how acupuncture can be helpful for you.