TREATMENTS
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a treatment derived from ancient Chinese medicine. Fine needles are inserted through your skin at strategic points on your body for therapeutic or preventative purposes. It is used in many NHS GP practices, as well as in most pain clinics and hospices in the UK. Increasingly, it is being used for overall wellness, including stress management. Acupuncture points are thought to stimulate the central nervous system. This, in turn, releases chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These biochemical changes might stimulate the body's natural healing abilities and promote physical and emotional well-being.
Cupping
Cupping is a technique used throughout Asia and also historically in the Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and European countries to move blood and Qi, and expel pathogens from the body. Cups are placed onto the skin after creating a vacuum within them. They are often used in musculoskeletal conditions. Furthermore it can help with eczema, cough, early symptoms of flu. The patient should not experience pain, just a warm, stretching or pulling sensation on the skin. Normally there will be slight redding or a ring mark after the treatment, which will fade within 10 days.
Moxa
Moxibustion is a type of traditional Chinese medicine. It involves burning moxa, a cone or stick made of ground mugwort leaves, on or near your body’s meridians and acupuncture points. The intention is to warm and invigorate the flow of Qi in the body and dispel pathogens. Moxibustion is maybe best known for being an alternative way to help with breech presentation. It’s usually done around 34 weeks with indirect moxibustion around an acupuncture point called UB 67 (Zhiyin or reaching Yin). This spot lies on the outer part of your pinkie toe. For safety and effectiveness, it’s best to have this done by a professional.
Tui Na
Tui Na is a form of Chinese massage that gets to work on your muscles for major tension relief. Literally translated as 'pinch and pull'. In Tui Na, manipulations are used to stimulate points or other parts of the body surface to correct a physiological imbalance in the body and achieve a healing effect. Tui Na activates the acupuncture channels, promotes blood circulation, and regulates yin and yang. Tuina massage can be used to treat pain and illness or to maintain good health. The technique is effective in encouraging relaxation, reducing stress, and deepening sleep. It's often used for conditions and injuries related to the musculoskeletal and nervous systems
Gua Sha
Gua sha is a traditional Chinese healing method in which a smooth-edged tool is used to stroke your skin. This motion raises small, red, rash-like dots that show under your skin. The benefits of Gua Sha are numerous. It resolves pain and spasms and promotes normal blood circulation to the muscles, tissues, and organs beneath the area that is treated. Research has shown that Gua Sha causes a four-fold increase in microcirculation of surface tissue and can reduce inflammation. The patient experiences instant changes in pain and stiffness with improved mobility.
Electro-Acupuncture
Electroacupuncture uses two needles in each acupuncture point and then connects to a machine that passes a mild electric current between these needles during treatment. Electroacupuncture helps to block your pain by activating bioactive chemicals in your body. This process may decrease your sensitivity to the pain you’re feeling. It’s also been shown to help reduce inflammation in your body. There are some studies that point to electroacupuncture as a useful method of treating a variety of conditions. These include muscle spasms, pain relief, and nausea caused by cancer treatments. When you receive electroacupuncture, it activates your sympathetic nerve fibres. By activating these fibres, your body produces endogenous opioids such as endorphins, which help to reduce inflammation. The activated nerve fibres may also help to reduce feelings of lasting pain. This makes it a good treatment for chronic pain and stress. Studies have also found that electroacupuncture might help your body release mesenchymal stem cells into your bloodstream. MSCs are adult stem cells mostly found in your bone marrow. They help your body create different types of tissues, and also have healing properties.