Would you like more sleep, less pain, better digestion, to feel more relaxed, to think more clearly and to have more energy? More and more people are turning to acupuncture as experience and research shows that it can effectively and safely treat a wide range of common health problems. Acupuncture is also now recommended by the NHS as a way to manage many chronic primary pain conditions, and can be a very effective way to address issues that are not responding well to medication alone.
We practice TCM acupuncture (also known as syndrome acupuncture) - the leading type of acupuncture practised in China which is based on the complete system of theories in Chinese Medicine including trigger point needling.
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 sessions can promote general well-being as well as addressing specific issues. These may include: stress, insomnia, mood regulation, back pain, neck & shoulder pain, joint pains, as well as menopausal syndrome, and painful or irregular periods. In addition the NHS body NICE now recommends acupuncture as a way to manage many chronic primary pain conditions, including: migraines and headaches, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, irritable bowel syndrome, lower back pain & sciatica, neuropathic pain and also arthritis.
TCM acupuncture and shiatsu incorporate 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 healt
WHAT TO EXPECT
Following an initial verbal consultation our BAF registered acupuncturist Helen Trill will work with you to understand your symptoms of health disharmony. This information is used to form a diagnosis and plan for treatment. The acupuncture point combinations chosen are based upon many centuries of well documented clinical use and refinement and also Helen’s own experience in the practice of acupuncture, and are adjusted as your treatments progress if appropriate. When treatment begins, fine sterile needles are inserted into the carefully selected acupuncture points. Sometimes Helen uses a new generation of electric needle stimulators. Electro-acupuncture is a safe method of providing sustained gentle needle stimulation throughout the course of the treatment. Massage techniques and cupping therapy may also be incorporated into the treatments.
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.
WHAT IS SPORTS MASSAGE?
Sports massage was developed to help athletes prepare their bodies for optimal performance, recover after a big event, and function well during training. Sports can be repetitive, especially for runners, cyclists, racquet sports players and weightlifters. In a sports massage, the therapist generally concentrates on a specific problem area that you present.
We can offer stand alone treatments for maintenance or rehabilitation, and we often use sports massage techniques to compliment acupuncture. Using these techniques also helps us to assess and identify areas that need attention. While sports massage is great for those who play sports, you don’t have to be an athlete to benefit from a sports massage. Sports massage can also be beneficial for anyone with injuries, chronic pain, or restricted range of motion. It focuses on prevention and healing of injuries to the muscles and connective tissues.
THE BENEFITS OF SPORTS MASSAGE
Sports massage therapists use a range of different techniques to promote flexibility, improve endurance, help prevent injuries, increases blood flow, enhance lymphatic drainage, and allow for quicker recovery. Regular sports massage can:
TECHNIQUES USED IN SPORTS MASSAGE
We use a number of different techniques including: effleurage; friction; petrissage; vibration; shaking; compression; broadening strokes; trigger point massage; cross-fiber friction; range of motion; myofascial release, stretching and lymphatic massage.
WHO IS SPORTS MASSAGE FOR?
A sports massage is a good choice if you have a specific problem—a tender knee from running, a frozen shoulder or pulled hamstring, for instance. The therapist generally focuses in on the problem area rather than giving you a full-body massage. Anyone who routinely stretches their physical limits through movement such as running, cycling, hiking, swimming, dancing, tennis and other racquet sports, strength training and aerobics can benefit from a massage.
Some people do strenuous activities in their daily routine that is not normally classified as exercise. Examples are mothers with small children, gardeners, construction workers, and others who use their bodies strenuously in their work.