Acupuncture
What is Acupuncture?
The Chinese believe that a person’s well being is a result of a balance between Yin and Yang energies within the body.
Western medicine has now adopted the use of this 6000-year-old approach to healing and well being.
Research has shown that acupuncture influences the nervous system to assist the body’s normal healing and pain relieving mechanisms.
Safe
It is important to tell your physiotherapist about any medical conditions, including haemophillia, hepatitis, HIV status or if you are pregnant.
Albert is trained in Traditional Acupuncture.
Diploma Nei Tjing 1989, Advanced Diploma Beijing 1993, (Member of the PAANZ)
What you can Expect
Your physiotherapist will advise and explain the acupuncture procedure fully. Most musculo-skeletal problems including trauma, backache, osteo-arthritis, sports injuries and many other conditions can be helped by acupuncture.
- A number of sterile needles (usually 4 – 8) will be inserted into your skin at various specific points and some needles may be inserted well away from the part of the body being treated.
- Your physiotherapist may then stimulate the needles gently either by twisting, applying heat or a small electrical impulse to them.
- The needles may be left in place for up to 30 minutes depending on the response required.
- Some treatments need a small needle to be taped in the ear and kept in place for a few days.
The acupuncture needles is extremely fine and is often hardly felt when inserted. There may be a mild aching sensation around the needle when it is stimulated.
Strictly Sterile Techniques
Physiotherapists practice the highest standards of medical hygiene. Registered Physiotherapy Acupuncturists and PAANZ members only use sterile, disposable needles for acupuncture.
Cost
Acupuncture is funded by the ACC and many medical insurance companies as part of physiotherapy treatment. It is likely some additional charges may be added for this speciality.
Needleless – Acupuncture
There are other methods of acupuncture which do not require needles, such as Laser Acupuncture which we also provide.
Tens
TENS – Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. Small pads are placed on the skin (usually over acupuncture points) and a painless electrical current is passed between them to ease pain.
Acupressure
This technique uses applied pressure and/or massage to acupuncture points. When applied to entire channels it is called Shiatsu.
Heat / Moxa
Special herbs (Artemesia Vulgaris) are burned over acupuncture points using the heat (moxibustion) to stimulate the nervous system.
Laser
Some physiotherapists use low level laser treatment on acupuncture points. This is an ideal ‘no needle’ alternative for the treatment of young children and the needle anxious patient.
Also see www.paanz.org.nz
