Many people come to acupuncture for help with a specific symptom or condition, some because they generally feel unwell, others because they need help to cope with a traumatic or stressful time, and some to re-balance and  re-align their natural energy in a holistic and drug free way.

Treatment is aimed at the root cause of the condition in order to stop the signs and symptoms you are experiencing. It is particularly valuable where a collection of symptoms appear unrelated or when there has been little response to other treatments. Each treatment is very individual and will address your own unique circumstances.

Acupuncture treatment uses very fine, sterile, single use needles which are disposed of immediately after use. You may also be offered other therapies if they are appropriate to your condition such as Moxa, Cupping, Guasha or Infrared/TDP lamp therapy.

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Moxa is prepared from the leaves of the artemesia vulgaris latiflora (a plant similar to mugwort). The veins of the leaves are stripped, then ground and dried.

Moxa is used in many different ways but always involves burning the product in various sizes and shapes. It can be made into small pyramid shapes and placed directly onto the skin, it can be compacted into a cigar shaped stick and the burning end is hovered over the skin, it can be placed on top of a needle already in the skin and burnt, and many more besides.

Again, this treatment is used for specific conditions only but is quite common. Be assured that your practitioner explains the process fully beforehand and remains in close attendance at all times making it much safer than it might sound!

Cups are roundish vessels normally made from either glass or rubber as these make it easier to maintain hygiene standards. The cups are suctioned on to your skin in specific areas related to your complaint, using either a flame or pump to create a vacuum.

Cups may leave a red or purple mark on the skin which is not painful and which disappears within 7 days.

Recently, more and more celebrities have been photographed sporting red cupping marks and I'm sure we all remember the Olympics and Michael Phelps! Having said that, this treatment is only used for specific conditions and might not be suitable for everyone.

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TDP is an acronym for “Teding Diancibo Pu” which loosely translated means specific electromagnetic spectrum. The TDP lamp is a specific electromagnetic lamp that produces far infrared (below visible light) emissions (2–50 micrometer range).

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The TDP lamp is different from other far-infrared (FIR) heating devices. It contains a heated mineral plate made of a proprietary formula of 33 trace elements, which stimulates your body to heal naturally.

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Heat therapy is an important aspect of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The lamp is used to increase micro-circulation, to loosen fascia and muscles, and to accelerate the natural healing processes of the body.

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TDP Lamp Therapy offers a wonderful alternative to burning moxa. Although not a direct substitute, TDP lamps generate a unique heat that like Moxibustion, is penetrating and stimulates deep muscle relaxation, increases circulation and reduces pain and inflammation.

Muscle tightness, inflammation, and pain can be improved with this therapy. The treatment is usually performed on the neck, back and joints to recover faster from trauma. It is also used for lower abdominal cramping or period pain.

This technique dates back around 3000 years. It is commonly used in China as a 'family therapy' as it can easily be applied using any smooth tool - the most common being a porcelain soup spoon!

Today, we use slightly different tools, but the technique is the same. The smooth edge of the tool is scraped over oiled skin in areas specific to your complaint (Gua means 'to scrape' and Sha means 'red spots') and raises areas of redness in a similar way to cupping but this time in lines rather than circles. Again, the redness is painless and will disappear within a week.

The focus of the treatment is to move the Qi through the body's meridians where it might have become stagnant or dispersed by over use, trauma or injury.

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