Home > Therapies > Acupuncture > Five Element Acupuncture
These are representations of the ways in which energy interplays within each of us, and each one of us will have an energetic resonance to one Element in particular, which gives us our special gifts and abilities in life, but also leaves us vulnerable to particular imbalances such as relationships, or our ability to cope with emotions such as grief or fear.
Of course we are all made up of all of the Elements, but by identifying that which is special within each one of us, we can tailor treatment to support the Element within us that is most in need.
In directing treatment to our core in this way, we enable the body to heal itself.
By integrating these two philosophies, Five Element Acupuncture provides a completely holistic form of therapy for physical, emotional and mental health.
Five Element Acupuncture:
Five Element acupuncture places particular importance upon a person’s body, mind and spirit which are considered to be inseparable. It is concerned with treating a person as a whole. This system is over 2000 years old and is rooted in Daoism and Naturalism, believing humans to be an integral part of Nature, each one of us a tiny manifestation of the Universe as a whole and, as such, subject to the interplay of the Elements of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.These are representations of the ways in which energy interplays within each of us, and each one of us will have an energetic resonance to one Element in particular, which gives us our special gifts and abilities in life, but also leaves us vulnerable to particular imbalances such as relationships, or our ability to cope with emotions such as grief or fear.
Of course we are all made up of all of the Elements, but by identifying that which is special within each one of us, we can tailor treatment to support the Element within us that is most in need.
In directing treatment to our core in this way, we enable the body to heal itself.
By integrating these two philosophies, Five Element Acupuncture provides a completely holistic form of therapy for physical, emotional and mental health.
Therapist(s) that offer Five Element Acupuncture:
 Marcus James |
Prices:
For full details see our Price List.
What is acupuncture:Acupuncture is a holistic form of health care, which is over 2000 years old. It is rooted the ancient philosophy known as Daoism, which concentrates on the need for change, growth, balance and harmony. In recent years there has been increased scientific research into the benefits of acupuncture, and it forms a fundamental part of the current trend towards Complementary therapy in Western Society.Acupuncture is based upon the belief that health is dependent upon the smooth flow of Qi energy, our life-force, through a system of channels called meridians which run just beneath the skin. Qi is composed of Yin and Yang, opposing qualities which cause illness when they become imbalanced. Many factors can upset the natural balance of Qi, including emotional states such as anxiety, stress, anger, fear or grief, particularly when they are suppressed, as so often they are in modern society. Other factors such as nutrition, our physical environment, our hereditary constitution, infections and physical trauma, including surgery, can all upset that equilibrium. Acupuncture aims, by the use of fine needles inserted into carefully selected points on the channels, to re-establish the body’s energetic harmony. When you come for treatment the flow of your energy will be assessed by taking your pulses on both wrists and looking at your tongue. A treatment will then be designed, from over 500 acupuncture points, specifically for your needs. Acupuncture needles are not at all like the needles experienced in Western medicine. Most people enjoy treatment, experiencing a feeling of heaviness and relaxation. Other techniques may be employed to enhance treatment, such as the smouldering of herbs over acupuncture points to warm and encourage the body's energy, or the use of cupping, an ancient technique using suction to stimulate and move the body's energy particularly in muscular conditions. How can acupuncture help?Acupuncture can be beneficial in the treatment of:
These are just some of the conditions that can benefit from treatment, and acupuncture can also can lead to increased energy levels, a healthier approach to appetite, better quality sleep and a general feeling of wellbeing. It can also help with self-esteem, confidence, anger management and enable us to deal with emotional issues, since emotional states such as anxiety, stress, anger, fear, grief, or frustration particularly when they are suppressed, all upset the natural balance of Qi energy. Many patients who have had acupuncture simply feel better in themselves, feeling stronger, more decisive or confident, or less affected by life events. Often they cannot describe how they feel different, yet the evidence is there in their new found abilities. This may enable patients to improve their life situations for the better, often facilitating radical change. Is it safe?Our therapists are members of the British Acupuncture Council, which means that they have had extensive training in acupuncture, and relevant biomedical sciences, and that they practices a recognised and traditional style of diagnosis and treatment.There is no government legislation as yet in the UK and anyone can actually practice. BAcC accreditation guarantees that practitioners have achieved a high standard of practice and constantly adhere to Standards of education, ethics, practice and discipline to ensure the health and safety of patients. Members of the British Acupuncture Council are bound by strict Codes of Safe Practice, Professional Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures, ensuring the highest standards of professional care to patients. These Standards have been drawn up in conjunction with the Department of Health and a Public Health Consultant. For more information, and a list of registered practitioners  Contact:The British Acupuncture Council: 63 Jeddo Road, London.W12 9HQ Tel: 020 8735 0400 Fax: 020 8735 0404 Email: info@acupuncture.org.uk Website: www.acupuncture.org.uk Acupuncture and Philosophy Acupuncture has been used in the Far East to restore, promote and maintain good health for over 2,500 years. It has a close association with Taoism, Taoists being pioneers of the belief in body-mind-spirit consciousness. The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine dates from around 300 BC and is one of the early accounts of acupuncture, still referred to today. In it are found detailed descriptions of the law of yin and yang, the five elements, the organ system, pathology and physiology, and the energetic network along which acupuncture points are located, known as meridians. Acupuncture practice has developed and been refined by masters over centuries into the system of medicine we know now. Since the late 1950s links have been established between scholars in Britain and many Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese master practitioners, and acupuncture is now the subject of many scientific studies which demonstrate its effectiveness in the treatment of a wide range of conditions. It is a growing profession, with over 2,800 qualified practitioners, registered with the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) in 2007. The skill of an acupuncturist lies in their ability to make a diagnosis from what is often a complex pattern of disharmony, to design a unique treatment plan for each individual. To do this they need information about your current symptoms and what treatment you have received so far, your medical history and that of your close family, your diet, digestive system, sleeping patterns and emotional state. The science/theory behind acupuncture, in greater detail than previously mentioned: The Western theories behind acupuncture relate to the nervous and hormonal systems of the body. The neurological theory behind acupuncture is called the counter-irritation theory of pain management. It is believed that the insertion of needles into the skin irritates the nerves and causes the nervous system to decrease its sensitivity to pain. The hormonal explanation for acupuncture is known as the endorphin theory. These two hormones are known to be secreted during acupuncture and have the same analgesic qualities as the drug opium. Studies indicate that acupuncture clearly effects blood flow to centers of the brain and the central nervous system related to sensation and involuntary body functions, such as immune reactions and the regulation of blood pressure, blood flow, oxygenation and body temperature. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, illness is seen to come from imbalances in the basic energetic flow of life, known as qi (pronounced chee,) which in health is smooth and harmonious. It is not a substance measurable in terms of Western science and from the Western perspective it is not known exactly how acupuncture is effective. Qi flows through 14 channels in the human body, known as meridians, which branch to bodily organs and functions. Disease or illness is the result of a blockage or obstruction in one or more of these meridians. The energy flow is detectable in the pulses of both wrists. Qi is accessible through approximately 500 different acupuncture points on the body and by inserting extremely fine needles into them in various combinations, acupuncture practitioners rebalance this flow. This will allow your body's natural healing mechanisms to take over. The British Acupuncture Council provides Briefing Papers which review the evidence of effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of specific conditions. These papers, in Adobe Acrobat format, are available for download at: www.acupuncture.org.uk/content/Library/documents.asp Does Acupuncture Hurt?Acupuncture needles are nothing like the needles experienced in Western medicine. In Ancient China, the first needles used were made from stone, but nowadays they are extremely fine and crafted from metal for single use only.The sensation experienced is not the piercing of the skin by a needle, but the connection made when the needle reaches the point intended. This may feel like a sensation of heaviness, a dull ache, or a tingling sensation traveling along the channel. There are some specific point combinations that are well established and documented. The NADA Protocol consists of the insertion of five, small, fine, sterile stainless steel needles under the surface of the skin on specific sites in the outer ear in the treatment of addiction. Additionally there are some points for which a very specific application is established, such as a point on the little toe known to be very successful in the turning of breach babies. Acupuncture is used with moxibustion, the burning of a Chinese herb, and changes placental estrogens and prostaglandin levels, which results in increased foetal heart rate and active foetal movements. However, the beauty of Chinese medicine is in its specificity to each individual person, rather than a medical condition. No two people are the same, and even though they may have the same Western diagnosis they will be seen as very different through the eyes of an acupuncturist, who will want to understand their individual health in detail. Consequently their treatments may be very different. |
