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ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture Is one of the best known forms of Chinese Medicine in the West. During the treatment fine needles (actually specially designed pins) are inserted into points which lie along the channels where the vital energy (called Qi) and the blood flow. This stimulates the body’s own healing response and helps restore its natural balance.

Penny Upchurch Lic.Ac, MBAcC
Call 07799 583767
@ Belmore: 01296 612361
@ Cobblestones: 01296 399923

The Benefits of Acupuncture
More people are turning to acupuncture as a natural way to heal without the side effects of drugs traditionally prescribed in the West. Studies show acupuncture stimulates Endorphins (the bodies own natural painkillers), Cortisol (which has an anti-inflammatory effect on the body) and Serotonin (a mood enhancer).

Acuncture is effective for a wide variety of health problems including:

- sleep disorders,
- anxiety,
- depression,
- migraines,
- backache,
- digestive complaints,
- arthritis,
- gynaecological disorders
- stopping smoking
and many more...

"In general, acupuncture is believed to stimulate the nervous system, causing the release of neurochemical messenger molecules. The resulting biochemical changes influence the body's homeostatic mechanisms, promoting physical and emotional well-being. Stimulation of certain acupuncture points has been shown to affect areas of the brain that are known to reduce sensitivity to pain and stress."

Acupuncture may help relieve symptoms of - for example, colds and flu, by:

- enhancing natural killer cell activities and modulating the number and ratio of immune cell types;
- reducing pain through the stimulation of nerves located in muscles and other tissues, which leads to release of endorphins and other neurohumoral factors;
- reducing inflammation through the release of vascular and immunomodulatory factors;
- increasing local microcirculation which aids dispersal of swelling"

Penny has also attended a course with Zita West on Acupuncture for assisting IVF treatment. For some useful reading on this vital area, see the excellent Acupuncture IVF Support Clinic website for more information on research and results of treatments.

By the selection of a specific prescription of acupuncture points for their condition, each individual will have a unique treatment to encourage the restoration of energetic harmony within the channels of the body.

Treatment takes place whilst patient lies on a massage table. The essentially painless, minimally invasive technique employs the insertion of fine, sterilized, disposable needles using guide tubes into specific points along the meridians.

Patients may experience a warm, heavy or tingling sensation, all of which are normal. Together, the patient and practitioner discuss the goals for treatment and how many visits may be necessary.

Electro-acupuncture may be used if the patient presents with pain. In Electro-acupuncture the acupuncture needles are attached to a device that generates continuous gentle electric pulses, generating a small electric current that flows between pairs of needles.