At The Mersea Road Clinic we have Osteopaths who are trained to provide medical Acupuncture.
Acupuncture treatment involves fine needles being inserted through the skin and briefly left in position. The number of needles varies but may be only two or three. The practitioner will assess each patient’s case and treatment will be tailored to the individual; so it is impossible to give more than this general idea of what your particular treatment might involve. Acupuncture can be used to treat a range of conditions and practitioners often vary enormously in the kind of conditions they are happy to treat. Broadly speaking, treatment might be once a week to begin with, then at longer intervals as the condition responds. A typical course of treatment lasts 5 to 8 sessions.
Results can never be guaranteed. Some people react very well to acupuncture while other people notice little change. In addition, some patients notice that acupuncture promotes relaxation, and results in a feeling of improved wellbeing. Many find that they feel better after acupuncture treatment, even if, unfortunately, there is no real improvement in their medical condition.
Acupuncture stimulates the nerves in skin and muscle, and can produce a variety of effects. We know that it increases the body's release of natural painkillers - endorphin and serotonin - in the pain pathways of both the spinal cord and the brain. This modifies the way pain signals are received.
Although there is no statutory regulation of acupuncture in England. If you choose to have acupuncture, it is recommended that you check the acupuncture practitioner is either a regulated healthcare professional such as a doctor, nurse or physiotherapist or a member of a national acupuncture organisation. You should always ensure that the practitioner is suitably qualified before receiving treatment.
Our Medical acupuncturists are certified with The British Medical Acupuncture Society (BMAS),
The British Medical Acupuncture Society was formed in 1980 as an association of medical practitioners interested in acupuncture. Since 2002, membership has been open to most statutory regulated healthcare professionals. In 2017 this was extended to healthcare professionals who are voluntarily regulated, provided the regulator is overseen by the Professional Standards Authority.
The BMAS promotes the use of acupuncture as a therapy following orthodox medical diagnosis by suitably trained practitioners.
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Acupuncture is a common complementary therapy that can help people manage many different conditions.
Benefits of acupuncture include the following:
Yes it is safe to have Medical Acupuncture throughout your pregnancy. Many women find this an effective way of relieving joint and muscle pain related to the changes that occur to their body during pregnancy.
Once the needles are in place, they may be left in position for a length of time lasting from a few minutes up to around 30 minutes. You may feel a tingling or a dull ache when the needles are inserted but you should not experience any significant pain. If you do, let your practitioner know straight away.
Western medical acupuncture is the use of acupuncture following a medical diagnosis. It involves stimulating sensory nerves under the skin and in the muscles.
This results in the body producing natural substances, such as pain-relieving endorphins. It's likely that these naturally released substances are responsible for the beneficial effects experienced with acupuncture.
A course of acupuncture is usually recommended because it can take a few sessions for you to see improvements.
Traditional acupuncture is based on the belief that an energy, or "life force", flows through the body in channels called meridians. This life force is known as Qi (pronounced "chee").
Practitioners who use acupuncture in the traditional way believe that when Qi does not flow freely through the body, this can cause illness. They also believe acupuncture can restore the flow of Qi, and so restore health.
