Chinese Theory And Balancing The Body and Mind

Chinese medicine is based on knowledge gained over the last 3000 years. Although its’ secrets were originally closely guarded, over time the rest of the world have become privileged to have access to this powerful information.

Traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM theories are always being tweaked, in the same way that Western medicine is evolving. The basis has always remained the same, to balance Yin and Yang. That is to say, the entire constitution of our body is based on the theory that Yin and Yang need to be balanced. We can explain this further in your consultation.
Mind, and body are essentially one entity, and it is our speciality to bring these back in balance.

We are always happy to explain our theories on your ailment. We won’t confuse you with science; just explain in whichever way you prefer. Always in plain English language. We believe, that understanding your own particular ailment is an important part of the recovery process.

In Eastern terms, acupuncture points are mostly placed along energy pathways, called meridians. Each meridian has a particular purpose within the body. Treating these points, according to the classis texts, helps move energy, or Qi around the body. The Chinese believe, if any stagnation of Qi (pronounced chi) exists within the body, pain will follow.

Here’s why
We only use top quality, sterilised “one use, disposable” needles. We operate a strict health and safety regime, laid down by our vigorous training, and is part of our commitment to our insurance company, the FHT (Federation of Holistic Therapists).

Acupuncture needles are just a quarter of the size of 'normal' needles. Acupuncture needle sizes vary in size, from .18 to .30 of a millimetre. Our most commonly used, being the 0.2mm, which is slightly wider than coarse human hair. Hypodermic needles on the other hand, vary from 4.5mm, down to. 18mm. For taking blood samples, the most common size is 0.8mm, that’s 4 times wider than our most commonly used 0.20 needle.

Acupuncture shouldn’t hurt. You will likely feel a sensation of “De qi”. This Chinese expression describes the sensation felt when an acupuncturist finds “Qi” within the body. Qi is the energy, and life-force that the ancient Chinese believe flows inside, and everywhere around us. When “De qi”, is felt, the experience will be different for everyone.

It may temporarily feel like tingling, pulsing, or a “dull” sensation in the area of the acupoint being addressed. This feeling can often radiate to other parts of the body. This is because the sensation can follow energy pathways, or meridians, which lay on the same pathway, as the acupuncture point.

This is a good sign, as it means the Qi, or energy is moving, rather than being stuck in one area, which is often the cause of pain and discomfort Once the sensation is felt, but not always necessary, we may leave the needles in place, for approximately 15-20 minutes, in which time, the sensation will fade.