The Grapevine Autumn 2019 Grapevine Oct-Nov 2019 v2 | Page 36

How does does acupuncture acupuncture work? How work? Have you ever ever wondered wondered how how acupuncture acupuncture Have you works? This This article article answers answers this this question question works? using both Traditional Chinese Medicine using both Traditional Chinese Medicine theory and a a Western Western Medicine Medicine perspective. perspective. theory and Have you ever wondered how acupuncture release release of of these these hormones hormones will will lead lead to to less less pain pain and and enhanced enhanced feelings feelings of of happiness. happiness. How tips does to acupuncture work? Practical improve your posture works? This article answers this question The benefits of better posture Acupuncture originated China where it it still still Acupuncture originated in in China where using both Traditional Chinese Medicine features in mainstream healthcare. This article offers practical tips on how you can features in mainstream healthcare. theory and a Western Medicine Acupuncture now widely widely used perspective. and but the improve your and sitting postures Acupuncture is is standing now used and accepted all over the world as a most important thing you can do is stay active and accepted all over the world as a where Acupuncture originated in China it on still complementary medicine and is offered keep moving. The musculoskeletal system complementary medicine and is offered is on features in for mainstream healthcare. the NHS certain conditions. designed move, . . . and the NHS for to certain conditions. Acupuncture is now therefore widely used ‘your best the posture is your next posture’ accepted all over world as a (TCM) Traditional Chinese Chinese Medicine Medicine (TCM) Traditional complementary medicine and is offered on In TCM, Acupuncture Acupuncture works to to help help maintain There are many benefits of better posture In TCM, works maintain the NHS for certain conditions. your body's physical and mental balance including: your body's physical and mental balance (equilibrium). involves the insertion insertion of efficient • Correctly aligns your joints to encourage (equilibrium). It It involves the of Traditional Chinese Medicine very fine needles needles into specific (TCM) points on on the the muscle activity. very fine into specific points In body TCM, to Acupuncture works to help maintain regulate the flow of 'Qi', your body's • body's Helps reduce stress on the joints your body to regulate the flow of 'Qi', body's your physical and mental balance vital energy. TCM believed that the the • energy. Prevents back, neck it it or muscular pain. vital In It In TCM is is the believed that (equilibrium). involves insertion of flow of Qi can can blood become disrupted, depleted depleted flow of Qi become disrupted, • Improves circulation very fine needles into specific points on the or blocked because because of of physical physical trauma, trauma, or blocked • Improves digestive function body to regulate the flow of 'Qi', your body's injuries, illness illness and and different different lifestyle lifestyle and and injuries, Improves In lung function vital • energy. TCM it is believed that the environmental reasons such as poor diet, environmental reasons such as poor flow • of Research Qi can become disrupted, depleted a reduction in the rate diet, of poor posture, shows overwork and emotional emotional poor posture, overwork and or blocked because of physical trauma, degenerative change in certain areas of upset. This This can can result result in in symptoms symptoms of the spine upset. injuries, illness and good different lifestyle of and • Feels and looks pain, ill-health or or a a general general feeling of of being being pain, ill-health environmental reasons such feeling as poor diet, unwell. Through inserting needles posture into How to improve your standing unwell. Through inserting needles into poor posture, overwork and emotional specific Acu-points allows Qi to to flow flow freely freely specific Acu-points it it allows Qi • Keep your upset. This can shoulders result in relaxed symptoms of through energy energy channels channels called called Meridians Meridians through • Avoid tilting head forward, pain, ill-health or your a general feeling backward of being or and this helps helps restore restore balance balance and and promote promote and this unwell. Through inserting needles into sideways physical and emotional harmony. physical and a emotional harmony. specific Acu-points it allows Qi to the flow freely • Imagine piece of string lifting back of your through energy channels called Meridians head (slight chin tuck) Western Medicine Western Medicine and helps restore balance and promote • this Earlobes line up with shoulders the Scientific research has been been studying studying the Scientific research has physical and emotional harmony. • Let your arms hang naturally down by the mechanisms of acupuncture for years and sides mechanisms of acupuncture for years and of your body has concluded several physiological physiological has concluded several Western Medicine • Keep knees soft (avoid locking them straight) explanations. One has major finding that explanations. One major finding is is that the Scientific research been studying • Stand with your feet shoulder width apart acupuncture works through neurohormonal acupuncture through neurohormonal mechanisms works of acupuncture for years and with pathways. Stimulating local sensory sensory nerves nerves equal weight on both physiological legs pathways. Stimulating local has concluded several with the needle sends signals to the brain explanations. One major finding is that with the needle sends signals to posture the brain How to improve your sitting and results in the the brain brain releasing hormones acupuncture works through neurohormonal and results in your releasing hormones • Sit with bottom right in the back of a chair and chemicals that have have pain relieving pathways. Stimulating local sensory nerves and chemicals that a a pain relieving allowing more surface area of your back to The be in (analgesic) effect, such as endorphins. endorphins. with the needle sends signals to the brain (analgesic) effect, such as The contact with it. and results in the brain releasing hormones and chemicals that have a pain relieving (analgesic) effect, such as endorphins. The The The World World Health Health Organisation Organisation (WHO) (WHO) release of an these hormones will lead to less published official report listing several published an official report listing several pain and your enhanced feelings of happiness. • Distribute weight evenly on both buttocks symptoms, conditions and diseases that symptoms, conditions and diseases that • Both feet flat on the floor (avoid crossing the knees) have been have World been shown shown in in controlled controlled trials trials to to be be The Health Organisation • Avoid sitting in one position for longer (WHO) than These 30 treated effectively with acupuncture. treated effectively acupuncture. These published an official with report listing digestive several minutes include depression, headaches, include depression, headaches, digestive symptoms, conditions and diseases arthritis, that disorders, hypertension, back disorders, hypertension, back pain, pain, Workstation have been assessment shown in controlled trials arthritis, to This be chemotherapy reactions and nausea. chemotherapy reactions and and nausea. This Download a free copy of the Health Safety treated effectively with acupuncture. These is the full list. is is also increasing is not not DSE the full list. There There also increasing Executive Workstation Checklist http://www. include depression, headaches, digestive evidence acupuncture can improve evidence that that acupuncture can improve disorders, hypertension, back pain, arthritis, hse.gov.uk/pubns/ck1.htm fertility and the success of IVF and fertility and the reactions success of IVF and ICSI. ICSI. chemotherapy and nausea. This One final tip full list. There is also increasing is not the If are looking for Acupuncturist, If you you are postural looking for an an Acupuncturist, Identify your stresses and then reduce them! evidence that acupuncture improve have confidence in in finding a can have confidence finding a practitioner practitioner For fertility example: and the success of IVF and ICSI. that registered with the British that is is registered the Postural stress: sitting at with a desk for British 8 hours. Action: Acupuncture Council, as they will be be Council, they get If Acupuncture up you and are move around regularly or do will desk looking for an as Acupuncturist, degree level trained (or equivalent). For degree level trained (or equivalent). For have confidence in finding a a practitioner exercises. Postural stress: carrying heavy bag to more information on acupuncture and more information on use acupuncture and to is shoulder. registered with the a backpack British and over that one Action: get in in please discuss if it it can help please discuss can help you, you, Acupuncture Council, as they will get be distribute the if weight evenly. touch. touch. level trained (or equivalent). For degree more information on acupuncture and to discuss if it can help you, please get in touch. Clinical Clinical Specialist Specialist Physiotherapist Physiotherapist Experienced Experienced Acupuncturist Acupuncturist Clinical Expert Specialist Physiotherapist Expert Assessment Assessment Experienced Acupuncturist Individual plans Individual treatment treatment plans Expert Assessment Recognised by Recognised by Healthcare Healthcare Insurers Insurers Individual treatment plans T: 792126 T: 01386 01386 792126 Insurers Recognised by Healthcare M: M: 07801 07801 993125 993125 T: 01386 792126 www.inkberrowphysioacupuncture.co.uk M: 07801 993125 www.inkberrowphysioacupuncture.co.uk 36 To advertise call 01684 833715 or email: [email protected] www.inkberrowphysioacupuncture.co.uk