In January 2014 – YOU Massage welcome Sharon – BSc (Hons) Lic Ac MBAcC and Member of the British Acupuncture Council – to our Southampton studio!
Here, she introduces this effective and popular Therapy and tells us a little about its History:
Introduction to Acupuncture
Acupuncture was first written down 3,000 years ago, and is believed to have been practiced 1,000s of years before this – no-one really knows how old it is.
At its base is heat (Yang) and cold (Yin). It is the interaction of heat and cold that produces energy (Qi). When the heat and cold interactions fall short for any reason the energy flow is affected, and disease results.
Hot weather affects us (sun burn, heat stroke, prickly heat) as does cold weather (coughs, colds, flue).
Our emotions, when held long term, are also considered to cause ill health as they affect the flow of energy. Lifestyle (burning the candle at both ends) and diet (poor, insufficient, excess) are also injurious to health.
Acupuncturists treat everything that ‘Western’ medicine treats, and both have their strengths and weaknesses. Western medicine is remarkable for the many killer diseases it has all but eradicated and people with quite serious debilitating diseases now go on to lead longer and almost normal lives. Chinese medicine comes into its own with the day to day diseases that are difficult to treat by Western medicine alone. Pain within or without anywhere in the body from any cause, addiction, allergies, anxiety and depression, circulation issues, digestive disorders, gynecological disorders, immune disorders, problems affecting the skin to name a few.
What to expect from your Acupuncture treatment at YOU Massage Southampton
When you visit an acupuncturist, like with a Massage, the first treatment session will include a full case history. This is likely to take 60 – 80 minutes to complete with the first treatment. This will cover your health from birth to date, any operations or other trauma, and any times of stress in your life to do with work or relationships. Subsequent treatments will be 20 to 40 minutes long. You will need a course of treatments as acupuncture accumulates.
Acupuncture needles are as fine as a human hair – it would take approximately 17 of them to fit inside a hypodermic needle. Treatment without needles can be used, depending on the condition treated. Guasha (scraping the skin – this is excellent to expel pathogens), cupping (also used to draw out pathogens) and both are also used for pain relief. Moxa – this is a herb that is used to warm, so if ill-heath results from cold, moxa can be used to great effect. Moxa is used topically and is smoldered close to the skin. Massage (Tui Na, Reflexology) is also used.
Like Western Medicine, acupuncture can also be used for cosmetic purposes. The appearance of deep lines, fine wrinkles, and a general plumping up of the facial skin can be achieved. Results can be quite long lasting if a course of 6-8 treatments is undertaken. A mix of regular and cosmetic acupuncture is used to treat acne.
For more information on how Acupuncture can be tailored for your needs, contact us on 02380 639747
