Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese form of medicine which has been used in China for the last 3000 years, Its effectiveness is now accepted in various countries including New Zealand, especially as more people in our society dislike taking medical drugs. Acupuncture aims at treating the person, along with the disease. This means that the acupuncturist looks at the patient as a whole, finds the caus
e of the illness and the imbalance in the body causing it. With its unique system of diagnosis, an acupuncturist will ask not only details of the immediate problem, but also take a case history of past illnesses, familial tendencies, and aim to determine a complete picture of the patient's health. In this way acupuncture has always been used as a preventative medicine, and can bring positive benefits to almost any illness. HOW IT WORKS
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) describes pathways of energy flowing through the body, carrying nourishment and information to all tissues and organs. Disease occurs when some factor
disrupts the normal flow of life force. The role of the acupuncturist is to restore the normal flow of life forces and re-establish health. Rigorous scientific research has also confirmed that acupuncture promotes the production of natural healing substances to relieve pain, regulate nerve transmission, enhance the immune system, regulate hormones and blood flow, release natural anti inflammatories and relax muscle spasm. CONDITIONS TREATED WITH ACUPUNCTURE AND TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE. The following list is an example of conditions treated based on recommendations of the World Health Organisation, available scientific literature in the field and consistent with what is taught in acupuncture colleges. Low back pain, tennis elbow, knee strain, neck/shoulder pain, sciatica, arthritis, joint swelling/pain, thoracic pain, muscle strain, hip pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, wrist strain, sacroiliac pain, sports injuries. RESPIRATORY
Sinusitis, hay fever, common cold, bronchitis, asthma, cough, painful respiration, nosebleed. GASTROINTESTINAL
Constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, diarrhoea, nausea, abdominal pain, gastritis, hemorrhoids. CARDOVASCULAR
Angina, palpitations, high and low blood pressure. WOMEN’S HEALTH
Painful periods, premenstrual syndrome, excessive menstrual bleeding, irregular menstruation, fertility disorders, menopausal syndrome. PREGNANCY
Morning sickness, foetal malposition, insufficient lactation, pregnancy tune-up, assistance with deliveries. NEUROLOGICAL
Headaches, migraine, trigeminal neuralgia, shingles, meniere's disease, tinnitus, ear pain, bell s palsy, hemiplegia, post-stroke syndrome. METABOLIC DISORDERS
Low energy, insomnia, chronic fatigue syndrome, adrenal insufficiency, hormonal irregularities. PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS
Post-traumatic stress, anxiety, smoking/drug addiction, depression, erectile dysfunction. MISCELLANEOUS
Sports performance/enhancement, skin disorders, prostate problems, cystitis.
