Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Wellington

What is Acupuncture?

 

Traditional Chinese Acupuncture is a branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) - a tried and tested healthcare system that has been practiced for thousands of years in China and the Far East.  It has been developed, tested, researched and refined over centuries to give us a complex and detailed understanding of the body's energetic balance.

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Acupuncture treatments consist of inserting thin, disposable needles into the skin.  Acupuncture is used to treat many different diseases, disorders and pain conditions. 

 

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How Does Acupuncture Work?

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Acupuncture may improve the body’s functions and promote the natural self-healing process by stimulating specific anatomic sites, commonly referred to as acupuncture points, or acupoints.  The most common method used to stimulate acupoints is the insertion of fine, sterile needles into the skin.  Pressure, heat, or electrical stimulation may further enhance the effects.  Other acupoint stimulation techniques include: manual massage, moxibustion or heat therapy, cupping, and the application of topical herbal medicines and linaments.

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Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on an ancient philosophy that describes the universe, and the body, in terms of two opposing forces: Yin and Yang.  When these forces are in balance, the body is healthy.  Energy, called "Qi" (pronounced "chee") flows along specific pathways, called meridians, throughout the body.  This constant flow of energy keeps the Yin and Yang forces balanced.  However, if the flow of energy gets blocked, like water getting stuck behind a dam, the disruption can lead to pain, lack of function, or illness.  Acupuncture therapy can release blocked Qi in the body and stimulate function, evoking the body’s natural healing response through various physiological systems.  Modern research has demonstrated acupuncture’s effects on the nervous system, endocrine and immune systems, cardiovascular system, and digestive system.  By stimulating the body’s various systems, acupuncture can help to resolve pain, and improve sleep, digestive function, and sense of well-being.

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What Happens During an Acupuncture Treatment?

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First, your acupuncturist will ask about your health history. Then, he or she will examine your tongue’s shape, color, and coating, feel your pulse, and possibly perform some additional physical examinations depending on your individual health needs.  Using these unique assessment tools, the acupuncturist will be able to recommend a proper treatment plan to address your particular condition.  To begin the acupuncture treatment, you lay comfortably on a treatment table while precise acupoints are stimulated on various areas of your body.  Most people feel no or minimal discomfort as the fine, pre-sterilised needles are gently placed.  The needles are usually retained between five and 30 minutes.  During and after treatments, people report that they feel very relaxed.

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How Many Treatments Will I Need?

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The frequency and number of treatments differ from person to person.  Some people experience dramatic relief in the first treatment.  For complex or long-standing chronic conditions, one to two treatments per week for several months may be recommended.  For acute, recent problems, usually fewer visits are required, often three to ten visits in total.  An individualized treatment plan that includes the expected number of treatments will usually be discussed during your initial visit.

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What Conditions Are Commonly Treated by Acupuncture?

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Hundreds of clinical studies on the benefits of acupuncture show that it can successfully treat a number of conditions ranging from musculoskeletal problems (back pain, neck pain, and others) to nausea, migraine headaches, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and infertility.  We have chosen not to list conditions here as research and evidence will constantly be evolving and we do not want to mislead that acupuncture will be effective in all cases of any given condition as this may not be the case.  It would also be hard to provide a comprehensive level of information on the broad number of conditions applicable.

 

The Acupuncture Evidence Project is a good place to start if you are interested in more information on what conditions acupuncture has been shown to have some level of effectiveness at treating, although there will be many other conditions and resources not included in this project.
 

 

How Do I Choose the Right Acupuncturist?

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At Tao Clinic we have highly trained acupuncturists.  Our acupuncturists are NZ Registered and ACC Treatment Providers.  To guarantee the standard of training and competency, we advise that you always verify that your acupuncturist is registered with one of the two regulation body for acupuncturist in New Zealand and the Chinese Medicine Council of New Zealand (now a legal requirement for practice):

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https://www.acupuncture.org.nz/

https://www.nzasa.org/

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