What is Acupuncture? Acupuncture is a treatment derived from ancient Chinese medicine in which fine needles are inserted at certain sites in the body for therapeutic or preventative purposes. More broadly, acupuncture is a family of procedures involving the stimulation of anatomical locations on or in the skin by a variety of techniques. The practitioner may also stimulate the acupuncture points using other methods, including moxibustion, cupping, laser therapy, electro-stimulation, massage and may give chinese medicine dietary advice or herbs in order to re-establish the flow of qi.
Broadly speaking, acupuncture has three primary effects:
It relieves pain.
It reduces inflammation.
It restores homeostasis.
Traditional health care & a modern profession. There are a number of different approaches to diagnosis and treatment at Family Tree Acupuncture that incorporate medical traditions from China and western medical diagnosis. Acupuncture takes a holistic approach to understanding normal function and disease processes and focuses as much on the prevention of illness as on the treatment. Stress, overwork, poor diet, disease pathogens, weather and environmental conditions, and other lifestyle factors and becomes evident to TCM practitioners through observable signs of bodily dysfunction. We look carefully for these signs of health and dysfunction, paying particular attention not only to the presenting signs and symptoms, but also to the medical history, general constitution, and the pulse and tongue.
Findings from basic research have begun to elucidate the mechanisms of action of acupuncture, including the release of opioids and other peptides in the central nervous system and the periphery and changes in neuroendocrine function. Although much needs to be accomplished, the emergence of plausible mechanisms for the therapeutic effects of acupuncture is encouraging.
So what is the difference between Acupuncture & Dry Needling? “The increasing prevalence of the term ‘dry needling’ has created some confusion. Qualified Acupuncturists study for 5 years full time to gain a degree in Acupuncture. A dry needling training program often runs for just two or three days – which is just enough time for people to gain a rudimentary understanding of how to ‘needle the point that hurts’ and perhaps deliver short-term symptom relief.”
For more information from AACMA (Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association) on ‘Dry Needling’ please click here
