Acupuncture is a technique used to treat a wide variety of conditions. The British Medical Acupuncture Society, BMAS, is an organisation of regulated health professionals who practise acupuncture alongside more conventional techniques.  I have introduced acupuncture to my well-established osteopathy practice.

Acupuncture is a treatment which can relieve symptoms of some physical and psychological conditions and may encourage the patient’s body to heal and repair itself, if it is able to do so. It stimulates the nerves in skin and muscle, and can produce a variety of effects. It increases the body’s release of natural painkillers, endorphin and serotonin, in the pain pathways of both the spinal cord and the brain. This modifies the way pain signals are received.

But acupuncture does much more than reduce pain, and has a beneficial effect on health. Patients often notice an improved sense of wellbeing after treatment.

Modern research shows that acupuncture can affect most of the body’s systems – the nervous system, muscle tone, hormone outputs, circulation, antibody production and allergic responses, as well as the respiratory, digestive, urinary and reproductive systems.

• Pain relief for a wide range of painful conditions. It is commonly used to treat musculoskeletal pain, for example – back, shoulder, neck and leg pain
• It has been used successfully to treat headaches, migraines, trapped nerves, chronic muscle strains, sports injuries and various kinds of arthritic and rheumatic pain
• Functional bowel or bladder problems such as irritable bowel syndrome or even mild forms of incontinence
• Menstrual and menopausal symptoms, e.g. period pains and hot flushes
• Allergies such as hay fever, perennial allergic rhinitis, and some types of allergic rashes such as urticaria and prickly heat
• Some other skin problems such as rashes and ulcers, itching, and some forms of dermatitis
• Sinus problems and chronic catarrh
• Dry mouth and eyes
• Help with stopping smoking

For further information on acupuncture please consult www.medical-acupuncture.co.uk