CONDITIONS TREATED

Acupuncture is a natural, safe and effective form of treatment for a number of different ailments. At my clinic I treat many conditions, some of which are listed below. Please contact me regarding your specific needs which I will be more than happy to discuss.

Pain is our body’s way of telling us that there is an imbalance the causes of which can be numerous i.e. emotional problems, overwork/exercise, degeneration (osteoarthritis), trauma, poor diet, internal issues etc. Additionally not all pain is the same, it can be severe/mild, throbbing/aching etc. Therefore, identifying the root of the pain is primary in treating effectively. Pain is experienced by everyone at some stage in their lives, whether it is acute, such as a mild headache, muscle strain; or chronic, arthritis, back pain etc. Depending on the type and nature of the pain experienced, you may also suffer from ailments such as insomnia, lack of appetite, depression, all of which can have a huge impact on the quality of your life.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) it is believed that pain is due to stagnation of qi (vital energy)/blood, the cause (root) of which needs to be investigated. Acupuncture is said to stimulate the production of endorphins (natural painkillers) in the body naturally without the risk of abuse or addiction. Many of the disorders treated at the clinic relate to pain, some of which are:

Musculoskeletal Disorders

Back Pain

Back pain generally refers to upper (thoracic) or lower (lumber) regions. More and more people suffer with back, shoulder and neck pain which can be indicative of current life styles; posture, heavy lifting, sitting at desks or working on computers for long periods of time. Pain here can be symptomatic of a number of things such as referred pain from another area, localised muscle tension, degeneration, disc problems etc.

Repetitive Strain Injuries - RSI

Often related to a person’s repetitive working activities causing injury to muscles, tendons and nerves. Common injuries include tennis or golf elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome etc. Symptoms can include loss in strength, pain, throbbing sensation etc. 

Sciatica

Sciatica is where the sciatic nerve is being pinched, causing pain to radiate from the base of the back (lumber region) down the leg where the sciatic nerve runs. The pain experienced can be quite intense and incapacitating. 

Shoulder/Neck Pain

The neck (cervical vertebra) and shoulder areas are areas where there is a huge amount of flexibility, which is in constant use throughout the day.  

The neck has the additional strain of holding the weight of the head (approximately one tenth the weight of the body). Pain in the neck can relate to referred pain from the head, shoulders, upper back, as well as muscle spasm. 

The shoulder has a huge amount of flexibility and is surrounded by a lot of soft tissue, which can be easily damaged. Pain here is generally experienced with restricted movement. The causes can range from degeneration to posture to trauma etc.  

Sports Injuries

Sports injuries is an umbrella term for a lot of pain related conditions commonly associated with the musculoskeletal system. In general they relate to sprains, strains associated with ligaments and tendons which can be minor or severe in nature.

Auto-immune Disorders

An auto-immune disorder is where your body’s immune system which would normally protect your body from infections, sees your own healthy tissue as dangerous and therefore attacks it. It includes disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. 

Although these are conditions that can’t be cured, they can be treated with acupuncture to help you manage the symptoms and give you a better quality of life. 

Gynaecological Disorders

Infertility

Infertility both male and female can be an extremely stressful and distressing time in a person’s life. It is defined as an inability to become pregnant over a period of 2 years, after trying to conceive at the appropriate times each month. In order to initially conceive and maintain the pregnancy for the duration it is important that your body is in balance. There are numerous reasons why a couple may be experiencing difficulty and therefore it is important to ensure diligent investigation into the potential causes.

Painful Menstruation

Although a natural occurrence, a women’s menstruation can cause severe pain either before or during menstruation, with additional symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, headaches, constipation/diarrhoea etc. Every women is different with some women experiencing little or no pain, while for others pain can be quite severe and debilitating. As the lining of the womb is shedding the muscles of the womb contract and can lead to pain in the lower abdomen, back and groin areas. Additionally there can be other causes such as endometriosis, fibroids etc. 

Other gynaecological disorders treated include, morning sickness, Menopause etc. 

Digestive Disorders

Acid Reflex

Acid reflex is where stomach acid travels upwards into the oesophagus causing pain in the lower chest. It can also lead to other symptoms such as tooth decay, bad breath, burping, nausea etc. The pain experienced often becomes worse when you lie down. There are a number of areas that need to be considered diet, life style changes, stress reduction etc.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

IBS affects the large intestine causing pain, constipation and diarrhoea, bloating, flatulence etc. There can be a number of contributing factors that may need to be addressed such as diet, stress levels etc.

Additional Treatments Available

Fatigue

Everyone feels tired and a bit run down from time to time, but when it affects your quality of life and the way in which you lead your life you need to look at ways of resolving it. To-days lifestyles are extremely demanding, putting a lot of pressure on everyone to succeed both at home and in work. The causes could relate to a long term illness, childbirth, overwork or even diet. TCM can help you to re-balance your body naturally and give you increased energy levels to improve your life. 

Headaches/Migraine

Headaches are an extremely common form of pain which can be hugely debilitating and painful, with the person often also experiencing nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light/noise. The range of triggers are endless stress/anxiety, sinusitis, menstruation, lack of sleep, exercise, specific foods etc.

Insomnia

Insomnia relates to a person’s inability to obtain sufficient sleep. This varies for each individual but generally it is estimated between 7 to 9 hours per night is recommended*. Insomnia can present itself in a number of ways:

• The inability to go to sleep initially.
• Waking up during the night.
• Dream disturbed sleep etc.

The knock on effects of which can cause significant disruption to a person’s life such as irritability, lack of alertness, muscle stiffness etc.

Sinusitis

There are four sinus areas (air filled sacs), frontal, ethmoidal, sphenoid and maxillary. Sinusitis is caused when they become inflamed. This can lead to a heavy feeling in the head, facial tenderness, headaches, mucus, vomiting etc.

Smoking Cessation

As we all know smoking as well as being expensive is also a life threatening habit, with risks such as heart disease and stroke. Giving up smoking can be a challenge, even for the best of us, however the benefits of doing so are priceless, improving your health enormously. An important element for success is a person’s true desire to quit! Acupuncture can help you achieve your goal of being free!!!

There are many other conditions treated by acupuncture such as, stress, anxiety, stroke, deafness, tinnitus, dizziness etc. Please call for a consultation to discuss your specific ailment.

*National Sleep Foundation