 From being a treatment solely practiced in China, its use
has exploded and is now widely recognized in the West. It is
used both in private health care and the NHS to address a
wide variety of symptoms and illnesses including those
linked to HIV.
One reason for its increasing use is the growing body of
evidence supporting its effects. From its discovery in China
over 3,000 years ago, modern clinical trials and studies now
offer firm evidence that acupuncture can be effective in
treating pain, nausea and other symptoms. The World
Health Organization supports its use and it unites both
mainstream and alternative health care practitioners.
Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine needles into
specific points in the body. Those afraid of needles should
not be put off as the needles are very thin and it doesn’t hurt in the same way as an
injection. These points are situated mainly on ‘meridians’: lines linked to various organs
and systems of the body (e.g. lung, spleen, kidney). An acupuncturist who works along
a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) framework will diagnose an imbalance in these
functions through a thorough holistic examination.
Through observation, tongue examination, pulse-taking and a detailed history, the
acupuncturist will build up a picture of any excess or deficiency in the individual. Each
meridian is paired: one yin (cold, passive) and one yang (heat, active). For the
acupuncturist, health depends on the balance of these elements. It can be hard to
imagine these lines and points being more than fantasy, but they can be clearly
detected by a change in skin resistance to electricity.
Pain due to peripheral neuropathy, or any of the musculoskeletal problems, responds
well in the majority of cases in our experience.
It is important that the doctor specifies the reason and source of the problem so that you
get the right kind of technique for inserting and manipulating needles into “energy
points” on the body. According to acupuncture teachings this will restore health and
well-being. Acupuncture treats the human body as a whole that involves several
"systems of function" that are in many cases associated with physical organs.
The US National Institute of Health just completed a study that concluded that
acupuncture is effective in easing the pain and improving movement for people with
arthritis of the kneeThis study, the largest to date, with 570 patients showed that patients treated with
acupuncture showed a 40% decrease in pain and a nearly 40% improvement in joint
(knee) functions.
Since Acupuncture is a discipline of its own the applications are limitless-from pain
control to weight loss. Here are some common conditions acupuncture can help: Conditions commonly treated
with Acupuncture:
Musculoskeletal
Low back pain/sciatica
Neck pain
Joint/limb pain
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Repetitive stress injuries
Sports injuries
Mental/Emotional
Anxiety
Stress
Depression
Insomnia/sleep disturbance
Gynecology Irregular/painful menstruation
PMS
Menopause
Female Infertility
Morning sickness
Malposition of the fetus/
breech presentation
Respiratory
Bronchial asthma
Allergic rhinitis
Bronchitis
Common cold
Cough
Sinusitis
Digestion
Constipation/Diarrhea
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Acid reflux, heartburn & indigestion
Cardiovascular Disorders
Hypertensio |
Endocrine
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Diabetes
Head/Face Disorders
Meniere’s Disease
Headache/migraines
TMJ
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Dental pain
Neurological
Multiple Sclerosis
Shingles
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Post stroke paralysis
Uro-genital
Incontinence
Bed wetting
Bladder dysfunction
Uro-genital
Incontinence
Bed wetting
Bladder dysfunction
Skin conditions
Rosacea
Eczema
Psoriasis
Acne
Other
General well-being
Stop smoking
Weight control
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I first began to suffer from allergies at age 14 and since then I think I have tried one of the widest ranges of treatments: from traditional medicine, including years of allergy shots, to various “ alternative” therapies. I went to see Dr. Monica in desperation, since I had never experienced significant long- term relief, but if I had known acupuncture was going to be part of her treatment, I probably would have walked right out the door.
Luckily I did not because never before have I experience such rapid relief and good success. Acupuncture and chiropractic manipulation are just two aspects of the holistic approach Dr. Monica takes toward medicine. She encourages a lifestyle that allows the individual to take charge of his/her own health and my allergies symptoms have been greatly reduced as a result! 
B. Tinning
