The World Health Organisation recognises the value of Acupuncture. In their recent report into alternative therapies they found that acupuncture can assist recovery from many physical and mental conditions.
Acupuncture is a system of healing that has been practised in China and other eastern countries for thousands of years. Often thought of simply as a means of pain relief, it is in fact a comprehensive health care system used to treat a wide range of conditions with the focus on your overall well-being.
Your health, according to oriental philosophy, is dependant on your body's motivational energy, or Qi, moving in a smooth and harmonious way through a series of channels (Meridians) in your body. Qi consists of equal and opposite qualities of Yin and Yang. When these are out of balance, a lack of well-being - whether physical pain, mental anquish or spiritual emptiness - can result. The flow of Qi can be disturbed by a number of factors. These include physical trauma, infections, poor nutrition, lifestyle (including sports injuries and overwork); and emotional states such as anxiety, stress, grief, anger, fear and interpersonal strife.
'Yes but what about the needles? Do they hurt?'
Acupuncture is a gentle treatment. Although it involves needles they bear little resemblance to ones used for injections or blood tests. They are sterile, used only once, and are much thinner, almost as fine as a hair. The depth of insertion is much less - usually only a few millimetres.
Acupuncture is also practised all over the world in the treatment and management of addictions-alcohol, food, cigarettes or drugs (street and prescription).
The process seeks to recover your equilibrium as a whole - physical, mental and spiritual.
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