- Do you have an ongoing physical or emotional condition that it seems conventional medicine and other therapies are ineffective at alleviating?
- Have you tried all manner of treatments to try and get relief from pain and other symptoms?
- Do you have a chronic illness or recurring pain related to injury?
- Do you have a sports injury and want to get back to full fitness?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the above questions, it may be worth giving acupuncture a try.
Acupuncture has stood the test of time. Based on an age-old system of healing that originated in China, its theory is contained within ancient texts and its practice has been the continuous study and clinical assessments over thousands of years and billions of patients worldwide. It offers simple, effective relief from a range of everyday physical and emotional disorders.
How does acupuncture work?
Based on principles that go back almost 2,000 years, in which illness is viewed as the result of an inbalance within the body, acupuncture aims to restore equilibrium; balancing the physical, emotional and mental aspects to promote overall wellbeing. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is based on Yin and Yang – a harmonious balance that must be achieved for our bodies to function and feel well.
In TCM, our Qi (energy) flows through channels within our bodies. This energy can become deficient or stagnated; causing an imbalance of the Qi forces. Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine needles into the skin at specific points on the body that are based on the twelve primary Qi channels that run throughout the body; each corresponding with and connected to 12 internal organs. With an emphasis on the individual, rather than the illness, acupuncturists use subtle techniques to diagnose and treat conditions that range from headaches and migraines to pain and depression.
Types of acupuncture
Whilst there are many different branches of acupuncture, all sharing the same core values, Jemma integrates two specific schools; Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Five Element for maximum effect.
What is integration?
Acupuncture theory derives from two fundamental concepts: Yin/Yang theory and the five elements. These two profound ideas have shaped Oriental medical theory and practice for many years, and are still doing so today. Integration brings together the strengths of Yin/Yang theory using TCM and the five elements, through Five Element constitutional diagnosis.
Why Integrate?
TCM concentrates on the symptoms of a patient’s illness. It is well suited to treat a wide range of physical and psychological conditions and very effective in the treatment of musco-skeletal problems. Five Element, meanwhile, focuses on the person who has the illness, rather than the illness itself. A combination of our genetic inheritance and the first few years of life all leave us with subtle imbalances in our Qi that can affect our health and wellbeing.
By incorporating both styles, the practitioner creates a wider range of treatment possibilities. This holistic approach means that patients feel better in themselves, have more vitality and are able to deal better with the problems that caused them to seek treatment in the first place.