Acupuncture Association

28/08/2025

One of the questions we often hear is: “What’s the difference between acupuncture and dry needling?”

Here’s a simple breakdown:

🌿 Acupuncture
Usually rooted in Chinese medicine;

- Works with the flow of energy (Qi) through meridians in the body.
- Aims to restore balance and support overall physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing
- Can target deep health issues caused by internal imbalances or emotional disturbances (and others)

💪 Musculoskeletal Acupuncture (often called Dry Needling) which is studied as part of the main types of Acupuncture;

- A recent approach, frequently practised by physiotherapists and sports therapists.
- Focuses on releasing tight muscles and trigger points.
- Used mainly for pain relief and improving mobility.

Both use fine needles, but their aims and philosophies are quite different: one takes a holistic, whole-body approach, the other is more targeted for musculoskeletal issues.

➡️ Knowing the difference helps you choose the approach that best suits your needs, always check what your Acupuncturist is trained in before booking!

25/08/2025

If you are waiting to book this, we suggest to wait no longer, there is only ONE seat left!!

🗓 Dates: 5th, 6th & 7th September
💷 Cost: £400 (includes 6 months online access to YNSA courses)

This active learning workshop will equip you with essential skills to treat patients with acute or chronic pain and neurological diseases.

🔑 Key Highlights:
- Learn from Dr. Toshikatsu Yamamoto's pioneering methods
- Master YNSA macros stem acupuncture points
- Gain practical experience with demonstrations and practice sessions
- Explore sensory and brain points, tinnitus treatment, and elbow diagnoses
- Understand the connection between fascia tissue and internal organs

At the end of the workshop, you will have a solid understanding of YNSA and how to incorporate it into your therapeutic toolbox!

🔗 Spaces are limited, so secure your spot today! https://totaltherapytraining.org/product/ynsa-2025/

21/08/2025

World Entrepreneurs Day – Celebrating Acupuncture’s Innovators

Today we celebrate entrepreneurs worldwide, and that includes the many dedicated acupuncture practitioners who have built their own clinics, developed new treatment approaches, and brought holistic health to their communities.

Being an acupuncturist isn’t just about understanding meridians and points; it’s about running a business, reaching new patients, adapting to change, and creating lasting wellbeing in the process.

So here’s to the acupuncture entrepreneurs who combine ancient knowledge with modern business skills to make a difference, one needle at a time.

💡 What are you doing in your business today? Let us know below! 👇

18/08/2025

It's hard for us as caring people, to see people suffering on the TV, or in a newspaper, when we know, if we could just get to them, we could help. These wonderful people, do just that.

Did you know that Acupuncturists Without Borders (AWB) is providing trauma-informed acupuncture and holistic care across the globe? They support communities facing natural disasters, conflict, poverty, displacement, even inequality.

What’s happening now:
• In Central Texas, AWB has hosted two trauma relief clinics supporting first responders and community volunteers with the help of valuable training for 50+ local practitioners and $1,000 in supplies donated.
• Globally, AWB has long-standing field programmes in places like Mexico (Tijuana), Haiti, and Central California farmworker communities, as well as currently support for refugees affected by the Ukraine conflict, and practitioner training in Palestine, bringing acupuncture, cupping, Chinese herbs, and community healing to those in need.

Acupuncture Association is helping ARA make a difference to these people, watch the ARA posts next week to find out how. 💕

14/08/2025

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years — but it’s not a relic of the past.

Modern research is constantly helping us understand how and why it works.
🧠 Studies show acupuncture can influence the nervous system, how it affects electron transfer around the body, helps regulate pain signals, stress responses and even hormone levels.
🩸 It can improve blood circulation, reduce inflammation and support immune function, all backed by growing evidence.
🧬 In fact, acupuncture is now being studied in areas like long COVID, fertility, and IBS with results that continue to build trust in its effectiveness.

It’s a brilliant meeting of ancient wisdom and modern science, and it’s helping people every day.

Find a trusted, professional practitioner near you:https://acupunctureassociation.org.uk/clinic-locator/

🧠🩸🧬

11/08/2025

Feeling proud to make a lasting impact on someone's health? You aren't alone, most acupuncturists feel this way.

It's not just about coping with symptoms; it's about uncovering the root cause of illness. Small imbalances can snowball into larger issues if left unchecked, and understanding this is key to true healing. Let's embark on this journey together!

11/08/2025

Leah is an AA member, and we are so pleased that she is happy with what we and ARA do to support members. 🥰

07/08/2025

If you’re a practising acupuncturist in the UK, you deserve a professional home that understands your values and supports your work.

At the Acupuncture Association, we welcome all verifiably qualified acupuncture practitioners from a diversity of traditions and training backgrounds. As a proud member organisation of the Acupuncture Regulatory Authority (ARA), we are part of a national effort to bring clarity, consistency, and unity to the acupuncture profession.

When you join AA, you automatically become a registrant of ARA, gaining access to the benefits of belonging to a self-regulating professional community.

✅ Community over competition – connect with like-minded therapists across the UK
✅ Clarity and integrity – support a profession with shared ethical standards and transparency
✅ A national voice – contribute to shaping the future of acupuncture under the ARA umbrella

Together, we are raising standards and building a stronger future for acupuncture in the UK.

🔗 Find out more and join us: acupunctureregulatoryauthority.org.uk

04/08/2025

Humaa Sultan of Vogue India, has written an article on how acupuncture is a cornerstone of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and is gaining mainstream popularity for its wide-ranging health benefits and which features insights from acupuncture practitioners . It states that, while acupuncture is commonly known for pain relief in India, it is also used to treat anxiety, stress, poor sleep, digestive issues, and even puffiness or dull skin. Facial acupuncture in particular is highlighted in this article for its aesthetic benefits, such as improving skin tone and reducing fine lines by boosting blood flow and collagen production.

The piece also addresses common concerns, such as whether acupuncture is painful and says that most people report only a mild sensation. Sultan concludes by framing acupuncture as a holistic practice that supports both internal balance and outward vitality, making it a compelling option for those seeking alternative or complementary healthcare solutions.

Source: https://www.vogue.in/content/the-many-benefits-of-acupuncture-from-pain-to-puffiness

31/07/2025

We often hear this question from clients: “Will I feel better straight away?”
It’s one of the most common questions, and the answer is: "it depends".

Some feel relief after their first session. For others, it’s more gradual.
But when acupuncture works, it doesn’t just mask symptoms, it helps the body rebalance over time.

Think of it like tending a garden 🌱
Not overnight magic, but real, lasting change.

Want to know what to expect? Speak to a trusted practitioner:
🔗 https://acupunctureassociation.org.uk/clinic-locator/

28/07/2025

Can you afford not to have acupuncture?

Yes, you pay for acupuncture… but what if we told you it often pays you back? 😉

Acupuncture doesn’t just chase symptoms, it targets the *root cause*, helping your body restore balance and heal naturally.

That means fewer of these in the long run:
🧾 Monthly prescriptions
🚕 Trips back and forth to the GP
🛌 Time off work
🧘‍♀️ Missed yoga classes you already paid for
🍕 Comfort takeaways when you’re feeling rough
💊 Endless ‘quick fix’ supplements
😫 Wasted energy explaining your symptoms to *yet another* specialist

And yes, even that forgotten gym membership you’ll go back to *once you feel better*. 💪

Acupuncture is an investment in your long-term health and wellbeing; and in many cases, it ends up costing less than the cycle of managing symptoms alone.

👉 Find a trusted practitioner today at: https://acupunctureassociation.org.uk/clinic-locator/

28/07/2025

Cosmetic, Aesthetic, or just Facial? There is a difference.

Cosmetic, Facial and Aesthetic Acupuncture – What’s the Difference?

Though often used interchangeably, these terms describe distinct approaches within acupuncture when applied to the face.

Facial acupuncture refers to the use of traditional acupuncture techniques applied locally to the face, neck and scalp. It targets specific concerns like puffiness, lines or sagging, using superficial needling to stimulate circulation, muscle tone and local collagen production.

Cosmetic acupuncture is a broader, holistic method. It combines local facial and local body techniques with full-body acupuncture to address internal imbalances in order to improve skin quality, eye brightness, and blood flow, but also reducing fat layers, and treating the root causes as well as the surface area symptoms.

Aesthetic acupuncture, is actually the most targeted and technically refined of the three. It uses specialised aesthetic techniques and protocols designed to influence muscle tone, texture, deep lines and issues under the surface. Treatments often combine needle techniques that can do tiny amounts of muscle locking, or releasing, and can produce visible aesthetic changes in appearance such as lip plumping or eye hood lifting.

Each of these approaches has value, depending on whether the aim is localised skin support, whole-body harmony or a direct aesthetic enhancement.

So if you want to have some acupuncture done to make your appearance more aesthetic, think about whether you just want "facial acupuncture", or whether to seek out someone who can combine all three types.