Proactive Health

You've probably landed here because you want to experience greater physical or emotional health.  Maybe you struggle with chronic health issues, maybe you know something isn't right but have no diagnosed disease label, or maybe you feel you are surviving rather than thriving.  If you're like many of my clients, you're seeking an alternative or complement to conventional medicine.  You want to get to the root cause of your health problems and not just apply a temporary 'fix' to them.  You are willing to invest in your health and in return you expect treatment from a highly trained, professional acupuncturist who will take their time with you, educate you, be totally focused on you and your unique needs and deliver treatment safely.  

Getting To The Root

Acupuncture is a branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine.   It has a very positive model of good health and function, and looks at pain and illness as signs that the body is out of balance.  The overall aim of acupuncture treatment is to stimulate healing of the body, mind and spirit in a natural way to restore balance by getting to the root cause of ill health.  This system is uniquely suited to modern life where people are increasingly seeking to connect the different aspects of their lives rather than just look at individual symptoms in isolation.

A Tried and Tested Healthcare System

Acupuncture is based on the ancient Chinese philosophy that your "energy" (or "Qi") is the life force on which your health depends.  If your energy is strong and runs smoothly through your body you will feel well, have a good sense of well-being and a strong constitution.  If your energy is depleted or its circulation is hindered or blocked for some reason, ill health can occur.  An acupuncturist uses highly developed diagnostic skills to understand the state of your energy. Once the root of any imbalance is identified, along with what has caused it, fine needles are inserted into specific points in the body to restore balance and help you on the way to recovery.

What happens during treatment?

Judy uses several diagnostic methods to get a complete picture of your health and lifestyle, including taking a full medical history, taking your pulses and looking at your tongue.  Based on this information, she will make a diagnosis and put together your personal treatment plan.  Acupuncture points are selected according to your symptoms as well as your underlying energy patterns.  If necessary, she will refer you to your GP or another healthcare professional.

Is Acupuncture safe?

Yes, extremely safe when performed by a well-qualified and competent Acupuncturist,   Acupuncture needles are sterile and for single-use only.  Responses to treatment can sometimes include tiredness or mild dizziness, and very occasionally minor bruising may occur.  However, all such reactions are short-lived. Two independent surveys ((MacPherson et al, White et al, both BMJ September 2001) concluded that the risk of serious adverse reaction to acupuncture is less than 1 in 10,000.    

How many treatments will I need?

This varies from person to person.  A course of treatment is typical, usually once or twice a week at first.  Improvements are often felt within 5-6 treatments (though long-standing, chronic conditions may take longer).  A longer course of treatment is usual for optimising natural fertility or for supporting assisted reproduction techniques (e.g. IVF).  Once their main complaint is resolved, many people choose to continue with regular but less frequent acupuncture treatment to maintain good health.