Acupuncture means 'to puncture with a needle'. Fine, flexible needles are inserted into points on your body along energy (Qi) channels called meridians. There are 12 main meridians that run the length of your body and each one is associated with a physiological system and internal organ system.

The flow of energy (qi) can be disturbed by many factors, physical, mental and emotional: anxiety, stress, anger, fear, grief, poor nutrition, weather conditions, hereditary factors, infections, and trauma.

Inserting a needle into a point will 'unblock' or stimulate the energy flow and balances your energy 'circuits'. Pain relief occurs when the needles are inserted, as the nerve pathways that send pain messages to the brain are ‘blocked’. Nothing is injected into the body through these needles. Unlike conventional drugs, there are only beneficial side-effects to acupuncture; improved sleep quality, decreased anxiety, more energy as well as a host of other great effects.

Acupunture treatment is painless and insertion of the needles can feel like an insect bite or tiny prick. If you are sensitive you will feel warmth or energy flow and is often described as a 'buzz'. Nobody can predict the changes that will occur. Your body will do what it needs to do to heal itself.

Feedback to the therapist is extremely important, so that your tailor-made treatment plan can be adapted accordingly

Acupuncture can also treat a host of other problems and disorders, and can balance the energy of your entire body. Its focus is on improving the overall wellbeing of the patient, rather than the isolated treatment of specific symptoms.

Some conditions that acupuncture can treat besides pain:

• Respiratory disorders, including asthma
• Hay fever
• Relieve cravings
• Lower blood pressure
• Relieve constipation, decreased IBS symptoms
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Diseases that cause immunosuppression
• Allergies
• Skin disorders
• It can also help to boost your immune system and acts as a performance enhancer

We also run a smoking cessation clinic, which consists of auricular (ear) acupuncture over a course of a few weeks. This programme is run in accordance with the NADA (National Association of Drug Addiction) protocols.

Blood Donation: If you are a blood donor, please ask us for a blood donation certificate which shows that our therapists are affiliated with the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (AACP)