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History of Chinese medicine

‘Where the qi goes, the blood flows’. 

Acupuncture is a modality of Chinese medicine, an ancient system of health care. The theory and practice of acupuncture offers a unique approach to health and well being and has evolved and changed over time so that it remains highly relevant today. Acupuncture, massage and therapeutic exercise offer simple, but effective solutions to a wide range of both short and long term conditions.

Acupuncture, tuina massage, yoga, qi gong exercises and dietary advice are used individually or in combination to offer an effective alternative or complement to conventional medicine. The art of acupuncture seeks to treat the root of health problems by treating the person as an individual and as a whole physically, energetically and emotionally. Acupuncture looks for connections between the different areas of the body and takes into account all the factors which may be affecting a persons’ health and life, including accidents, illnesses, emotions, tension, work, diet and leisure activities.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years as part of a system of health care. Acupuncture is a versatile form of treatment which can be used to treat a wide range of conditions. Acupuncture originated in China but the tradition of acupuncture and massage spread to other Asian countries and more recently to Europe. Acupuncture is a part of Chinese Medicine and views health to be the result of the smooth movement of Qi (energy) around the body. When it flows correctly we enjoy balanced health, both mentally and physically and are free of pain. Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine needles into specific points around the body to encourage the Qi to flow correctly along the channels that traverse the body. Acupuncture is painless and many people experience a feeling of relaxation during and after the session.

Japanese Acupuncture

Michael practices Japanese acupuncture which he became interested in while he was living in Japan. Japanese Acupuncture and Chinese Acupuncture are based on the same principles but have developed differently in each country. Primarily in China acupuncture is avaiable in hospitals which means it is very cheap and therefore there is no restirction in how often someone can receive acupuncture treatment. In Japan acupuncture has only been offered in the private sector and so a tradition grew of weekly or longer intervals between acupuncture sessions. This is of course how acupuncture is practised in the UK. In Japan acupuncture has for a long time been practiced by blind practitioners. This has meant that the acupuncture practitioner has had to develop an amazing skill at palpating the body and creating changes. In Michaels experience this is unique to Japanese acupuncture and is very well received by patients in the Uk. Japanese acupuncture uses extremely fine needles to make the insertion of an acupuncture needle as subtle as possible. This confirms the theory in Japanese acupuncture that the maximum benefit should be achieved with the minimum of stimulation. Perhaps a good analogy of an explanation between the differences of Japanese and Chinese acupuncture is the analogy of sushi and a stir-fry. In Japan a famous dish is sushi this involves a few delicate ingrediates subtely combined to make the purest dish. In China they enjoy stir-fry which is made of lots of different foods thrown into a wok with a lot of herbs and spices. Personally I prefer the art and mastery that goes into making sushi and I compare this to the art and mastery of Japanese acupuncture.

Tuina Massage

Massage is the oldest form of therapy in the world. Massage has been used by many cultures as a natural, effective method of relaxing the body, easing pain and re-establishing balanced health. In Asia massage is given much more importance as a means of health care than traditionally in the West. ‘Tui’ translates as push and ‘na’ as grab and these are two of the basic techniques incorporated into this massage style. Tuina massage is conducted through light clothing and the massage techniques are used to relax muscles and invigorate or nourish the body. Tuina massage works well in combination with acupuncture or on its own and the effects are deep and long lasting. Tuina massage can help with a wide range of conditions. Tuina massage can and has a long history of helping people with sports injuries and other musculo-skeletal problems such as back pain, neck and shoulder pain. Tuina massage can also be used for interenal conditions such as digestive problems, menstral pain and irregularity and infertility because Tuina massage is based on the principals of Oriental Medicine which is the foundation of acupuncture. Some people consider tuina massage to be like acupuncture without the needles. 

Remedial Massage

Remedial massage is an effective style of massage to relax the body, increase rehabilitation time after injury and maintain good health. Different techniques are used to stimulate the venous circulation. A light cream or oil is used to accomodate the deep tissue massage techniques. Involved in this massage are deep friction, muscle energy tecniques and assisted stretching. A full assesment is taken at the initial massage session and a treatment plan is tailor made for the client. This massage treatment can be combined with acupuncture. Many people who play sports or have sports injuries find this Remedial Massage treatment beneficial. Also people with chronic conditions such as neck and shoulder pain. chronic back ache etc get relief form this style of massage.

Qi Gong

Qi Gong is a system of therapeutic exercises designed to relax and mobilize the body in a safe and relaxing manner. These exercises are often given to complement the treatment and increase flexibility, strength, confidence and energy. Therapeutic exercise is a vital part of any treatment plan whether the client has a sports injury, chronic pain or an internal condition such as digestive problems or suffering with menopausal symptoms. Qi gong or yoga exercises have an effective upon the persons energetics and circulation.This improves and facilitates the body's own ability to heal itself. Clients also through the Qi gong or Yoga exercises start to take an active part in their health and enjoy the improved sense of well being. The exercises could be specific or indeed general such as taking more countryside walks. Whethter your treatments involve acupuncture, massage, tuina massage or a combination, qi gong and yoga exercises become an important part of the treatment.

Dietary Advice

We are what we eat! Oriental Medicine has a common sense attitude to food. Oriental medicine which involves acupuncture and massage has a long tradition. Recently we are bombarded with so much information about what is bad to eat, what is good to eat and indeed what is super to eat. An important word here is balance, everything in moderation. If you come to have treatment with acupuncture or masage then of course what you eat will be discussed and suggestions given. These suggestions may not even look at what you eat but perhaps more importantly how you eat. In my experience people often have a good diet but when you ask about whether they sit down while they eat, do they savour and enjoy their food as they eat, do they chew their food more than 10 times! People often answer no. Acupuncture and massage can be great ways to deal with a condition but it also vitally important to think about how we live our lives too. When you come for treatment for acupuncture or massage these aspects of lifestyle will be discussed and often simple changes can make a huge difference. It can also be liberating when we take control of our health.

Clinic hours

Conditions Treated

There are many conditions that can be treated with acupuncture and massage. Some are listed below but please contact us if you have any questions with regard to treatment:

• Anxiety
• Arthritis
• Back Pain
• Depression
• Digestive conditions such as IBS, Constipation
• Headaches/Migraines
• Facial Paralysis
• Pain
• Infertility
• Health maintenance
• Menstrual problems and other Gynaecological conditions
• Sports injuries
• Stress related conditions

Final Questions

What does acupuncture feel like?

Acupuncture needles look nothing like the needles a nurse or doctor use. They are very fine and the Japanese acupuncture needling techniques used by Michael ensure any sensation is minimal, occasionally a pleasant dull or tingling sensation can be felt. Needles can be left in for as long as 20 minutes and people often feel a deep sense of relaxation or fall asleep!

How will I feel after a session?

This is quite a difficult question to answer as this can depend on the condition and person being treated. However often people feel a sense of relaxation brought on by the relaxing nature of a session and also increased energy. Sleep patterns become more regular and there can be a heightened sense of well-being. Occasionally some symptoms may be initially aggravated but as we are trying to affect a change this is considered a positive step on the road to balance health.

What happens in the first session?

When you come for treatment a full case history will be taken. Questions will be asked about your general life style including your general health, eating habits, sleep, energy, and bowel movements. Other indications of general health are noted including the pulses, the tongue (coating and colour) and the quality of the abdomen. Range of movement tests will also be done where appropriate. This provides the necessary information to determine a treatment plan. The first session lasts an hour and a quarter and following sessions are 45 minutes. Treatment will include acupuncture, Tuina, moxa or cupping or a combination of these techniques.

How often will I need to come?

Each person is considered unique therefore the number of treatments will vary according to the person, the condition and the length of time the problem has existed. Sometimes people can respond within one of two treatments while in other cases treatment can take more sessions.

Do I need to do anything before a session?

It is better not to wear too much jewellery as you will be asked to remove this during the session. Likewise it is better to wear clothing that is loose and comfortable.

As mentioned above often people feel very relaxed after a session so it is a good idea if possible to not have to rush off to work so try to have a few minutes to yourself.