The history of acupuncture is rich and varied and in writting this I hope to outline some current thinking intraditional chinese medicine and how that might differ from a western medical approach. Before the discussion of the origins of acupuncture begins it must be stated that acupuncture is just one part of an ancient medical system. Typically there are four main disciplines that form part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). 1. Acupuncture 2. Herbal Medicine 3. Chinese m

Electroacupuncture is quite similar to traditional acupuncture in that the same points are stimulated during treatment. As with traditional acupuncture, needles are inserted on specific points along the body. The needles are then attached to a device that generates continuous electric pulses using small clips. These devices are used to adjust the frequency and intensity of the impulse being delivered, depending on the condition being treated. Electroacupuncture uses two needl

Osteoarthritis involves damage to articular cartilage and other structures in and around joints, with variable levels of inflammation.(Hunter 2006) The most commonly affected joints are the knee and the hip. Acupuncture treatment may help to relieve pain and improve function in patients with osteoarthritis by: reducing inflammation, by promoting release of vascular and immunomodulatory factorsincreasing local microcirculation , which aids dispersal of swelling.inhibiting pain

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) causes persistent fatigue (exhaustion) that affects everyday life and doesn't go away with sleep or rest. For most people, symptoms will improve over time. CFS is also known as ME, which stands for myalgic encephalomyelitis. Myalgia means muscle pain and encephalomyelitis means inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Both CFS and ME are commonly used terms (see box on this page). (NHS 2012) M.E. is a chronic, fluctuating illness affecting 250

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) describes a collection of symptoms, commonly including chronic abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence and altered bowel habits. It is a functional disorder of the intestines, occurring in the absence of visible structural abnormality. IBS is a much used term now for a whole variety of digestive disorders. It seems that it is often given as a diagnosis when nothing else can be found. Whenever a new patient contacts me for treatment for IBS some of

Endometriosis Endometriosis is a condition where the normal uterine lining (endometrium) begins to grow outside of the uterus. The uterine lining is the tissue that grows and sheds during each menstrual cycle, but this normal process becomes problematic when the tissue is growing outside of the uterus. The endometrium continues to respond to hormonal fluctuations during the cycle, and when a woman has her period, the blood that would normally leave the body becomes trapped. T

Plantar fasciitis is extremely painful, I should know I have had it myself and you have my full sympathy if you are suffering with it . Plantar fasciitis means inflammation of your plantar fascia. Your plantar fascia is a strong band of tissue that stretches from your heel to your middle foot bones. It supports the arch of your foot and also acts as a shock-absorber in your foot. Repeated stress on the plantar fascia causes it to become inflamed. Common causes of plantar fasc