Not all acupuncture is the same. TCM acupuncture (also known as syndrome acupuncture) is the leading type of acupuncture practised in China. It is a much broader and more encompassing technique than the smaller modality of Western trigger-point acupuncture and can be used to treat a wider range of problems. Our acupuncture is based on the complete system of theories in Chinese Medicine.
HOW IT WORKS
Essential energy (Qi) flows through your body with your blood and along discreet pathways known as acupuncture meridians. According to Chinese Medicine, if you are ill in any way then this can be caused by or lead to stagnation in the flow of Qi in your body. Acupuncture uses micro fine needles inserted along special points along the meridians in order to clear these blockages and stimulate the flow of Qi. This begins to reverse the pattern of illness and helps the body to cure itself.
Brain scans have shown that acupuncture stimulates a brain response which leads to the release of powerful neurotransmitters to help pain relief and affect mood. This is only a small part of what acupuncture can achieve and more scientific studies are ongoing to try to explain the way acupuncture works from a Western scientific viewpoint.
There are many benefits to receiving acupuncture, for example in the case if arthritis, it can:
HOW WE CAN HELP YOU
Acupuncture is effective for mental, emotional and physical conditions ranging from stress, depression and fatigue to pain and musculoskeletal issues to weight loss and addictions. Acupuncture is recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a treatment for a whole range of conditions including: Hayfever, sinusitis, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, musculoskeletal conditions including arthritis, PMS, irregular or painful periods, menopausal syndrome, fluid retention, skin conditions, sleep disorders, infertility, depression, stress, fibromyalgia and smoking cessation.
TCM acupuncture and shiatsu both look at your body with a wider perspective than conventional medicine, incorporating physical, emotional and psychological factors into one view of the whole body. They also take into account external factors such as your lifestyle and environment. All this information is then combined to understand your individual pattern of illness. Your treatment will be tailored to reverse this pattern and bring you back to a state of good health.
WHAT TO EXPECT
All appointments at Bubbling Spring Acupuncture Clinic in Peterborough and Oundle are with our BAF registered practitioner Helen Trill, and begin with a consultation to discuss any health issues and ask questions. Usually, the acupuncture needles do not hurt when they are inserted, although if a lot of blocked energy has built up at one area of your body, you may feel a pricking and pulling sensation as the Qi begins to flow. Most people find acupuncture incredibly relaxing. We only use sterile single use needles. Sometimes our practitioner will stimulate the needles using an electro-acupuncture device. She may also use cupping therapy, sports massage techniques or more gentle shiatsu bodywork techniques if she thinks these will be helpful. Appointments last 40-55 mins including consultation, diagnosis and treatment. Your practitioner will then suggest a treatment plan to return you to good health. She may also suggest lifestyle or dietary changes based on the theories of Chinese food energetics.
Shiatsu is a Japanese form of physical therapy blending advanced acupressure with energy work. It is used throughout the world and is is largely based on the theories of Chinese and Japanese medicine. It is therefore a great complement to an acupuncture treatment, as well as a stand-alone treatment. Practitioners uses their hands, elbows and knees with Qi projection on specific acupuncture points along the meridians, with stretching and rotations to stimulate wellness and self-regulating functions in the body.
Our shiatsu treatments are particularly favoured by people with health conditions that render them quite sensitive to touch, as shiatsu is very gentle yet still very effective. Many patients report that following a course of treatments they feel significantly more relaxed, sleep better, feel less tense, have less pain and feel more at ease in themselves.
Cupping therapy involves the placing of either glass or plastic cups onto the skin. Suction is then created using an inspirator. Cupping helps to clear the local build-up of waste products and toxins by bringing them to the surface from deeper within the layers or fat, muscle and fascia, and creates a temporary circular bruise-like appearance. The treatment is not painful however, and many people quite like the unusual feeling of it. The marks indicate stagnation that has been transported from deeper tissue layers up to the surface. This allows fresh blood to enter, nourish and heal the underlying areas. For this reason it is increasingly used by professional athletes such as swimmers to aid recovery after training and competitions. The colour of bruise produced depends on the level and type of stagnation, deficiency or injury in the area. The intensity of bruising gradually decreases with subsequent treatments as the tissues are cleared and toxins systemically removed and the blood supply refreshed.
Cupping is also used by people who have chronic back pain, arthritis, musculoskeletal fatigue, asthma, poor circulation and stagnation.