Good health is not merely the abscence of disease....
Acupuncture is widely considered to be beneficial for a range of illnesses and symptoms, from clearly defined complaints such as back and dental pain, headaches, vomiting and neck ache to more general symptoms such as nausea or low energy.
Increasingly women are choosing acupuncture to support them through their fertility journey, pregnancy, labour and after giving birth.
Some people turn to acupuncture for help with a specific symptom or condition. Others choose to have treatment to help maintain good health, as a preventive measure, or simply to improve their general sense of wellbeing. Because traditional acupuncture aims to treat the whole person rather than specific symptoms in isolation, it can be effective for a range of conditions.
Remember that acupuncturists treat the person, not just the condition they have, so each patient’s treatment plan will be different. However, you can always ask your practitioner about other patients’ experiences, to give you an idea of what to expect. Many people return to acupuncture again and again because they find it so beneficial and relaxing.
In 2009 the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommended that acupuncture should be made available on the NHS, as a cost-effective short-term treatment for the management of early, persistent non-specific lower back pain.
You can get more information on current scientific research into the effectiveness of acupuncture by visiting www.acupuncture.org.uk or by speaking to Annie, a BAcC registered acupuncturist.
