Traditional Chinese Acupuncture

How Acupuncture Works

Acupuncture was first used in China, Japan and many other Eastern cultures for centuries before being brought to the West.

It is most often associated with pain relief but it also helps with many illnesses and other disorders and can be used alongside Western medicine.

Some people use acupuncture to help with specific complaints, others just "feel unwell" and want to get better. Many people come to acupuncture for a specific ailment and then return for "top up" treatments to keep feeling well. It treats the person, not the symptoms so is helpful for a wide variety of complaints. When conventional, Western medicine cannot find anything wrong, that is often when acupuncture can help.

What to Expect

For acupuncture, at the first consultation Elaine takes a full medical history. Nothing is irrelevant. Past experiences and illnesses can have long term effects on the body.

As well as talking to you about your condition, at each consultation Elaine will usually also look at your tongue and take your pulse on both wrists. This helps with diagnosis.

She then decides which acupuncture points to use and whether to use additional massage techniques or moxa, which is a warming herb, helpful in some cases.

Wear loose, comfortable clothing and be sure to have eaten at least an hour or two before treatment.

The first appointment usually takes an hour but subsequent appointments should take less - around 45 minutes.

It is surprisingly relaxing. Many patients fall asleep during treatment.

How long will it take for me to feel better?

That depends on your condition and especially how long you have suffered from it. Your age may also be a factor. But no two people are alike and no two people will react the same way. If different people come to her for help with headaches, for example, she may use completely different points, depending on the type of headache, whereabouts on the head it is felt, the type of pain and other symptoms present.

A "rule of thumb", if there is such a thing, would normally be 6 treatments. For female fertility issues though, 3 cycles is a better guide. It may take 2 or 3 sessions before you feel the benefit. Or you may experience an immediate benefit.

Some people feel better generally after a series of appointments and come back to me regularly every month or 6 weeks for a top up once their main condition has subsided.

(the above information has been taken directly from www.elaineslee.co.uk)

For testimonials and more information, see her website www.elaineslee.co.uk. Elaine is working in the clinic on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons; to book an appointment with Elaine, please call her directly on 07766 643310.