Acupuncture

Traditional Chinese Acupuncture in Exeter & Cardiff, with Yulia Heaton

Natural – Safe – Effective – Drug Free
Appointments Available In Exeter & Cardiff

Acupuncture facilitates the healing of physical, emotional, and mental disease. One of the main branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Acupuncture is performed by inserting hair thin needles into acupuncture points that may be located on the arms, legs, back, or even in the ear.

Acupuncture points are found along 14 specific pathways running throughout the entire body. These pathways are called meridians. Each one of these meridians has specific organ systems, emotions and anatomical locations that they connect to.

What Can Be Treated With Acupuncture?

Acupuncture has been used to effectively treat numerous health conditions and is endorsed by WHO (World Health Organisation) for many common problems including:

• Allergies
• Anxiety
• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Addictions
• Autoimmune Conditions
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Chronic Fatigue
• Colitis
• Common cold
• Constipation/Diarrhea
• Depression
• Digestive issues
• Dizziness
• Emotional issues
• Fatigue
• Fertility
• Fibromyalgia
• Headaches/Migraines
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Insomnia
• Low back pain
• Menopause
• Menstrual irregularities
• Osteoarthritis
• Pain
• PMS
• Sciatica
• Shoulder pain
• Sinusitis
• Smoking
• Stress
• Tennis/Golf elbow
• Trigeminal neuralgia
• Urinary tract infections

**Please note this list is not exclusive, please contact us directly if you are not sure. Our approach is always holistic and aims to address the root cause of the problem. Functional testing, dietary and nutrition intervention, herbal medicine, acupuncture and bodywork are often used in conjunction with each other

How Does Acupuncture Work?

The Eastern Perspective

When one sees an acupuncturist, patterns of disharmony are first determined through evaluation of the pulse and by examining the tongue as well as through questioning and health history taking. You will also be checked for structural imbalances in the whole body as well as for the areas of contraction and pain. Through this process, an accurate assessment of your condition can be discussed and treated from an Eastern medical perspective.

In treatment, the focus is on restoring balance and increasing vitality rather than on diseases. Yes, specific diseases are treated, but no two people receive the same treatment, even though they may have very similar complaints. In Chinese medicine, there are many cases in which specific illnesses are treated before symptoms arise. This is the true essence of the medicine.

Once the imbalances in your body during the initial consultation are detected, specific acupuncture points are chosen to address those imbalances.

The Western Perspective

Acupuncture points are neural nodules, and with stimulation they affect both the central and peripheral nervous systems. This triggers the release of the body’s internal chemicals such as endorphins and enkaphalines, which have pain relieving properties. Another physiological effect is an increase in blood circulation, hormone and immune cell production affecting both the part of the body and the pathway of the meridian the needle has stimulated. This means the needle can work locally and distally, depending on what is required. You shouldn’t feel surprised to see needles inserted into your feet or hands to treat a headache, for example.

Acupuncture as Pain Relief

Pain relief in the joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles is one of the most prominent and immediate actions of acupuncture treatment. If you have lingering pain, or pain that just not being fixed by any other modalities, then acupuncture offers a time tested, very reliable method of pain relief.

If used in an injury treatment, acupuncture can:

• Decrease pain and scar tissue build up.
• Increase range of motion.
• Allow the soft tissue to heal.
• Resets the spindle cells in muscles that regulate relaxation and contraction, therefore helping contracted tissue to relax.

Please look at the MFR, Structural Bodywork and Yoga pages to see what else can be helpful with conjunction with acupuncture to help you with your pain.

Do the Needles Hurt?

Acupuncture needles are engineered so precisely that usually a very mild sensation is felt, if any at all. The needles are about the diameter of a hair.

Most patients report feeling deeply relaxed and often have instant pain relief.

How Safe is Acupuncture?

There are very few adverse reactions to acupuncture but in some cases your condition may get temporarily exacerbated following the treatment. This is a sign of detoxification and is considered to be a good thing.