Acupuncture is definitely not one for me (I have an adverse reaction for some reason), but many people swear by it.   According to traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is based on the belief that energy flows through the body through channels called meridians.  This energy – or life force – is called Qi (pronounced ‘chee’) and it’s thought that if this energy is blocked and can’t flow freely throughout the body then illness can occur as a result of this imbalance.  The flow of Qi can be disturbed by many different factors including emotional trauma, stress, anxiety, grief, poor nutrition, physical trauma and hereditary factors.

 

Acupuncture is thought to be effective in unblocking the channels and allowing the Qi to flow, which stimulates the body’s own healing responses and helps it to restore a natural balance.

 

There are 12 meridians which are linked to different organs in the body (such as the heart, kidneys or lungs).  When these meridians get blocked then the energy can’t flow and you can suffer side effects, depending on which meridian it is.  Yoga, acupressure and Bowen Therapy can also help stimulate these meridians and clear blockages too.

 

There are around 500 acupuncture points in the body and an acupuncturist will use a very small selection for each treatment.  The needles shouldn’t hurt upon insertion, although a small amount of discomfort can be felt.  Once the needle reaches the right depth you may feel a deep aching sensation and the needles stay in the skin for 10-20 minutes.

 

Acupuncture has very few side effects and can be considered as an alternative to taking pain medication, or if pain medications have been unsuccessful in giving relief.