The ancient Chinese believed that the body was first and foremost a system of energy, what they called Chi, or Qi.They mapped out grids along the body, what they considered pathways of energy, which they called meridians.It was through these meridians that they felt the Qi flowed. The acupuncture points are along these meridians. It was thought that by putting acupuncture needles into these points, the Qi would be stimulated to flow better, and the person’s health would improve. Thousands of years of clinical work have shown that the Chinese were right!
Initially we will spend up to 30 minutes asking about your complaint, such as how long you’ve had the problem, your current symptoms, your health history, your diet, your sleeping habits and bowel movements and other information that may seem irrelevant to you – just remember that TCM is an holistic medical system that recognizes the link between body, mind and emotions. Your physical ailment may well have an emotional component too.
Depending on your problem you will lie on the treatment table face down, or on your back, or on one side. Usually from 4-12 acupuncture points are selected. The most common points are on your arms below your elbows, on your legs below your knees and along either side of your spine from your neck to your sacrum. Each point is swabbed with alcohol before the needle is inserted.
We may ask you to report any sensations of tingling or warmth around the site of the needles. These sensations indicate that the point has been correctly located. A common acupuncture benefit is that it’s usually very relaxing – all you have to do is lie still and it’s quite common for people to fall asleep during their treatment.
Tip: As you lie there (eyes closed) breathe slowly, smoothly and deeply through your nose – as you exhale relax and “let go” of your ailment and imagine it leaving your body.
