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Welcome
to The UK Acupuncture Guide
The
Directory that provides information on Acupuncture &
Acupuncturists and Acupuncture Providers in the UK.
If you are looking for an Acupuncturist
near you or you want to find out more about Acupuncture
as an alternative/complementary therapy, what therapists
can offer, our guide has all that and more. If you want
to promote an acupuncture related business, product or
service, we offer specific pages, to list all these, in
our therapist directory.
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What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
which has been used in China for over 2000 years. Many claim
it has its origins more than 5000 years ago, and it is based
on the theories and teaching of early Chinese medical philosophers.
The word acupuncture is derived from the Latin -- acus (needle)
and punctura (to puncture) as this suggests, the procedure of
Acupuncture involves the therapist penetrating the clients skin
with very fine (", 0.18mm to 0.51 mm dia.) solid, metallic
needles.
These sterilised and disposable needles are inserted into acupuncture
points (acupoints) throughout the body, producing a slight tingling
feeling. The acupoints relate to specific organs of the patients
body. Traditional Chinese Medicine traditionally recognise more
than 2,000 acupuncture points that can be used.
Most treatments can involve only one or two needles but occasionally
20 needles may be used depending on the patient and type of
treatment that is required.
The needles can be left in for a few minutes or up to 10 to
20 minutes and in some cases they may be retained for several
days.Often courses of ten treatments, usually at weekly intervals
are, required.
In many eastern countries Acupuncture is accepted as a mainstream
form of medicine but in the West it is still perceived as a
Complementary or Alternative Therapy. However Acupuncture has
seen a rapid growth in Western countries and has become more
generally accepted by the general public and by many doctors,
with an estimated one in three GP surgeries making Acupuncture
available to patients.
Acupuncture is used for a wide range of physical ailments which
include arthritis, asthma, neuralgia, high blood pressure, skin
conditions, bronchitis, insomnia, and pain of many kinds. It
is also thought to be helpful for emotional problems, including
anxiety and depression, and is often used to treat alcohol and
drug addiction.
Other conditions where acupuncture has been found to be successful
is in the treatment of headaches, and has proven to be beneficial
for many patients with chronic headache, particularly migraine.
The World Health Organisation has a long list of conditions
it feels acupuncture can treat: (whether many acupuncturists
would make the same claims is debatable)
For
a more detailed description of Acupuncture, How it Works, its
History and Origins see our page Acupuncture
How it Works
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What
can Acupuncture treat?
Acupuncture reduces stress and anxiety, helping patients enter
a deep state of relaxation, which enhances the healing process
The
World Health Organization has determined that acupuncture is an
effective therapy for over 200 clinical conditions, including:
•
back pain
• neck and shoulder pain
• repetitive stress syndrome (including carpal tunnel
syndrome)
• insomnia
• migraines and headaches
• alcohol, food, and tobacco addiction
• accidental injuries (promotes healing)
• sprains
• osteoarthritis
• rheumatoid arthritis
• respiratory problems
• digestive problems
• gynaecological disorders
• circulatory disorders
• nervous system disorders
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Acupuncture
cannot be clamed to be an universal cure-all, it will not have
any kind of effect in situations where body tissue is starting
to disintegrate (for example cancer) but it will help reduce stress
and anxiety, help patients enter a deep state of relaxation, which
enhances the healing process. Herbal medicine can increase the
effectiveness of your acupuncture treatment and is often the primary
treatment for chronic internal medical disorders.
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What are the benefits of Acupuncture?
Acupuncture has seen a rapid growth in the Western World
and is now generally accepted by the general public and by many
doctors, as many as one in three GP surgeries now offer acupuncture
to patients.
Acupuncture is used for a wide range of physical ailments which
include arthritis, asthma, neuralgia, high blood pressure, back
pain, arthritis, circulatory problems, skin conditions, bronchitis,
insomnia, and pain of many kinds. It is also thought to be helpful
for emotional problems, including anxiety and depression, and
is often used to treat alcohol and drug addiction.
Some other conditions where acupuncture has been found to be successful
is in treating headaches, and has proven to be beneficial for
many patients with chronic headache, particularly migraine.
In eastern countries it is regularly used as an alternative to
anaesthetic and in pregnancy management and for the relief of
pain in childbirth.
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What
to expect from an Acupuncturist
The therapist will ask you to sit or lie on a treatment couch.
You may remain fully clothed or be asked to remove any necessary
outer garments.
He
or she will then feel 12 pulses - including one for each internal
organ - along the radial artery on the outside of each wrist.
The abdomen and certain acupuncture points may also be checked
for tenderness or pain.
Next,
the colour, shape and coating of the tongue, colour and texture
of the face and skin are checked for signs indicating those internal
organs that may have problems. The sound of your voice, your breath
and any body odours will be noted and questions asked about diet,
exercise, sleep patterns, stresses, problems and fears to confirm
a diagnosis.
Acupuncture
points will then be selected for treatment and needles inserted,
either by hand or through a guide tube. This should be quick and
painless. Some people feel a mild sensation as the needles are
inserted, but this usually passes quickly.
Most
modern acupuncturists use disposable stainless steel needles of
fine diameter (0.007" to 0.020", 0.18mm to 0.51 mm),
sterilized with ethylene oxide or by autoclave. The upper third
of these needles is wound with a thicker wire (typically bronze),
or covered in plastic, to stiffen the needle and provide a handle
for the acupuncturist to grasp while inserting. The size and type
of needle used, and the depth of insertion, depend on the acupuncture
style being practiced
As
few as one or two or more than 20 needles may be used in treatment
and they are usually left in for 15 to 30 minutes. A course of
ten treatments at weekly intervals is common.
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What does acupuncture feel like.
The
needles used are usually very fine and sharp and the initial insertion
causes minimal discomfort, the acupuncturist, at this point, is
searching for the Qi along the relevant meridian, once this is
located there is a sensation that is felt both by the patient
and the acupuncturist. The patient can experience feelings from
tingling, numbness, itching or a dull ache which can sometimes
be accompanied by a localised temperature change. Sometimes these
sensations can travel along the meridian away from the needles
local area. After the treatment some patients may experience some
slight swelling or soreness. These sensations will vary from patient
to patient and to some extent the location and nature of the treatment.
It is important to stress that if the patient feels anything other
than slight discomfort the practitioner should be informed.
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Are
there any side effects.
There
is, as with many therapies, an understandable concern about side
effects. the great majority of patients show no adverse reactions
whatsoever. Occasionally there can what is descibed as a "needle
shock" reaction that can result in nausea, lightheadedness
and sometimes vomiting these are very rare and tend to last a
very short time.
It is advisable that the patient has not drunk alcohol for at
least an hour before treatment. Pregnant women should not receive
treatment but in both these cases the practitioner will normally
establish if either condition applies.
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Choosing
an Acupuncturist
Choosing
an acupuncturist can be made easier by following a few simple
guidelines.:-
Often, one of the best guidelines to use in choosing an acupuncturist
is seek advice from friends and family who may have been treated
by the practitioner.
Ask if the acupuncturist certified and how long have they been
practicing acupuncture. Most qualified British Acupuncturists
will have trained at a college accredited by the British Acupuncture
Council (BAAB).also it is highly recommended that you choose a
practitioner who is a member of the British Acupuncture Council
(BAcC).
Question where they qualified and how long they have been qualified.
Establish if the Acupuncturist has any experience of treating
people with your condition.
It would be useful to establish, either from an initial meeting
or through a telephone call, that you feel comfortable with any
potential therapist and you would feel confident they could treat
your condition successfully. Feeling at ease with the acupuncturist
is vitally important as you may be required to reveal personal
details during diagnosis and subsequent treatment sessions.
It is important that you ask questions both before and after any
treatment offered or given.
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We
have hundreds of therapists listed on our pages so if you want
to find an Acupuncturist near you, use our our Find
a Therapist page
Our
Acupuncturists guide covers the whole of the UK including-:
Acupuncturists and Acupuncture Providers in Bedfordshire,
Bedford,
Luton,
Dunstable,
Leighton
Buzzard, Biggleswade,
Sandy
Acupuncturists and Acupuncture Providers in Berkshire,
Reading, Bracknell, Maidenhead,
Newbury, Windsor, Wokingham,
Slough
Acupuncturists and Acupuncture Providers in Buckinghamshire,
Aylesbury,
Milton
Keynes,
Amersham,
Buckingham,
High
Wycombe,
Acupuncturists and Acupuncture Providers in Cambridgeshire,
Cambridge,
Wisbech,
Ely,
March,
Whittlesey
, Chatteris,
Linton
Acupuncturists and Acupuncture Providers in Cheshire,
Chester, Stockport,
Runcorn, Macclesfield,
Sale & Altrincham ,
Crewe, Warrington
Acupuncturists and Acupuncture Providers in Cleveland,
Hartlepool, Stockton on Tees,
Middlesborough
Acupuncturists and Acupuncture Providers in Cornwall,
Bodmin,
Truro,
Camborne,
Falmouth,
Penzance,
Newquay
Acupuncturists and Acupuncture Providers in Cumbria,
Carlisle,
Whitehaven,
Workington,
Penrith,
Keswick
Acupuncturists and Acupuncture Providers in Derbyshire,
Derby,
Buxton,
Chesterfield,
Ashbourne
Acupuncturists and Acupuncture Providers in Devon,
Exeter, Plymouth,
Torquay, Barnstaple,
Exmouth, Sidmouth,
Newton Abbot
Acupuncturists and Acupuncture Providers in Dorset,
Dorchester,
Poole,
Weymouth,
Sherborne,
Shaftesbury,
Bournemouth
Acupuncturists and Acupuncture Providers in Co. Durham,
Durham,
Darlington
Acupuncturists and Acupuncture Providers in Essex,
Colchester, Chelmsford,
Southend, Harlow,
Romford
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in Gloucestershire,
Gloucester,
Cheltenham,
Bristol,
Cirencester,
Stroud,
Acupuncturists and Acupuncture Providers in Hampshire,
Portsmouth,
Southampton,
Aldershot,
Winchester,
Basingstoke
Acupuncturists and Acupuncture Providers in Herefordshire,
Hereford,
Ross-on-Wye,
Leominster,
Ledbury,
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Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in Hertfordshire,
Hertford, Watford,
St. Albans, Stevenage,
Hemel-Hempstead, Hatfield,
Bishops Stortford
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in Huntingdonshire,
Huntingdon,
St.
Ives,
St.
Neots
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in Kent,
Maidstone, Margate,
Folkestone, Chatham,
Canterbury
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in Lancashire,
Lancaster,
Preston,
Bolton,
Wigan,
Oldham,
Blackpool
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in Leicestershire,
Leicester, Loughborough,
Melton Mowbray, Hinckley,
Market Harborough
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in Lincolnshire,
Lincoln,
Grimsby,
Scunthorpe,
Boston,
Grantham,
Stamford
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in (Gtr.) London,
Central
London, North
London,
South
London, East
London,
West
London
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in (Gr.) Manchester,
Manchester
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in Merseyside,
Liverpool, Bootle,
Southport, Wirral
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in Middlesex,
Harrow,
Enfield,
Staines,
Ealing,
Potters
Bar
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in Norfolk,
Norwich, Thetford,
Kings Lynn, Gt Yarmouth,
Dereham
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in Northamptonshire,
Northampton, Peterborough,
Corby, Kettering,
Wellingborough
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in Northumberland,
Alnwick,
Morpeth,
Hexham,
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in Nottinghamshire,
Nottingham, Mansfield,
Worksop, Newark
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in Oxfordshire,
Oxford,
Banbury,
Witney,
Bicester,
Henley-on-Thames,
Thame
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in Rutland,
Oakham,
Uppingham.
Cottesmore
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Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in Shropshire,
Shrewsbury,
Telford,
Oswestry,
Bridgnorth,
Market
Drayton, Ludlow
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in Somerset,
Bath, Taunton,
Yeovil, Bridgwater,
Weston-s-Mare
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in Staffordshire,
Stafford,
Stoke-on-Trent,
Cannock,
Lichfield
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers inSuffolk,
Ipswich,
Bury St. Edmunds,
Lowestoft, Felixstowe,
Sudbury, Haverhill
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers inSurrey,
Guildford, Croydon,
Woking, Sutton,
Kingston-on-Thames,
Wimbledon
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in Sussex,
Brighton, Chichester,
Worthing, Crawley,
Hastings, Eastbourne,
Bognor Regis
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in Tyne & Wear,
Newcastle, Gateshead,
Sunderland, North Shields,
South Shields
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in Warwickshire,
Warwick,
Nuneaton,
Rugby,
Stratford-upon-Avon
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in West Midlands,
Birmingham, Coventry,
Wolverhampton,
Dudley, West Bromwich,
Solihull
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in Wiltshire,
Trowbridge,
Salisbury,
Swindon,
Chippenham,
Marlborough,
Warminster
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in Worcestershire,
Worcester, Kidderminster,
Malvern, Evesham
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in East Yorkshire,
Hull, Beverley,
Bridlington
Acupuncturists
and Acupunctur
e Providers in North Yorkshire,
York, Northallerton,
Scarborough, Whitby,
Harrogate
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in South Yorkshire,
Sheffield, Doncaster,
Barnsley, Rotherham
Acupuncturists
and Acupuncture
Providers in West Yorkshire,
Leeds, Bradford,
Wakefield, Halifax,
Huddersfield, Pontefract |
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Recommended
Acupuncture Books
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