Acupuncture at Vale Healthcare

Acupuncture is a treatment that can relieve symptoms of some physical and psychological conditions and may encourage the patient's body to heal and repair itself.

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of medicine which originated in China over 3000 years ago. It is one of the most researched forms of complementary medicine and thousands of studies have been carried out worldwide and have shown it to be effective for a wide range of health problems.

Today the World Health Organisation now recognises over 100 conditions that can be helped by acupuncture. Recent scientific research shows that acupuncture stimulates the brain to produce endorphins. These chemicals affect various body systems, reduce pain and make you feel good.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine the view is that the body’s vital energy or Qi flows around the body in channels or meridians. When Qi flows feely, the body is in a healthy state. However if there is a problem the energy becomes unbalanced and stagnates. Emotional disturbances such as anxiety, anger, grief, poor diet, overwork, stress and injury may influence the flow of Qi in the body. By inserting fine, sterile needles into specific points along these channels, this will free the stagnation of Qi and stimulate the body’s own healing mechanisms.

Recent research is now supporting the effectiveness of acupuncture, especially in the management of pain, suggesting that it is effective in the treatment of low back pain, neck pain and osteoarthritis of the knee. Acupuncture combined with physiotherapy is now widely accepted within the NHS and private practice. Other conditions that may be helped with acupuncture include a wide range of women’s health issues, migraine, whiplash and sports injuries.

How does it work?

Acupuncture stimulates the nerves in the skin and muscle and can provide a variety of effects. We know that it can increase the body's release of natural painkillers – endorphins and serotonin – in the pain pathways of both the spinal cord and the brain. 

However Acupuncture does much more than reduce pain. It has beneficial effects on health and patients often notice an improved sense of well being after treatment.

Modern research shows that Acupuncture can effect most of the body's systems – the nervous system, muscle tone, hormone outputs, circulation, antibody production and allergic responses as well as respiratory, digestive, urinary and reproductive systems. 

Each patient's case will be assessed and treatment will be tailored to the individual.

Does it hurt?

Typically, fine needles are inserted through the skin and left in position briefly, sometimes with manual or electrical stimulation. Most people do not feel the needles at all!! 

Success rate of Acupuncture

Acupuncture does not work for all conditions or patients, but research shows that pain relief is achieved by 70% of patients treated when conventional medicine has not worked. Response rates vary from person to person. It should be noted that sometimes the condition may become worse to start with and that this is generally felt to be a positive sign.  

What conditions respond to Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is effective in a wide range of painful conditions and is commonly used to treat Musculo-skeletal pain and joint pains such as lower back, shoulder, neck and leg. Acupuncture is also a well-known treatment for many women's issues.

What does treatment involve?

At the initial consultation, we take a full history and diagnose both the underlying problem(s) and the likelihood of acupuncture to alleviate the symptoms. Each patient's case will be assessed by the practitioner and treatment will be tailored to the individual; so it is impossible to give more than a general idea of what treatment might involve. Treatment might be once a week to begin with, then at longer intervals as the condition responds.

The length of a course of treatment will vary with the nature and duration of the problem, individual constitution and response to acupuncture. A typical course of acupuncture may involve 5-8 treatments, after which a review is conducted. Longstanding conditions may take longer to improve, while more recent conditions tend to respond more quickly.

Professional standards and safety

Our physiotherapists using acupuncture are fully trained via the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapist (AACP) or the British Medical Acupuncture Society. All needles used are pre-sterilised and single use.

• Make an appointment for Acupuncture at the Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation and Treatment Centre
• Find out more about leading Acupuncture Practitioner - Jackie Brown