Here you will find the answers to many of the most commonly asked questions, if how ever you need further information please feel free to contact me at enquiries@oriental-health.co.uk.
Chinese Medicine has been used in China for over 3000. Even today there are a number of Chinese hospitals where TCM is the primary care given. TCM includes a number of disciplines, such as Acupuncture, Electro-Acupuncture, Moxibustion, Cupping, Herbal Medicine, Nutritional Therapy, Qi Gong, and Tuina. Although it is called Traditional Chinese Medicine, TCM is Changing and developing new methods and techniques every day, and so is not entirely traditional.
TCM is health care system capable of providing primary care for anything from a common cold to Raynauds Disease, but can also provide help and treatment in specialist areas such as Fertility problems and IVF.
TCM is based on a foundation of ancient theories and principles, which developed from many Chinese classical texts such as the Huang Di Neijing Su Wen (the Yellow Emperors Classic of Internal Medicine). Once studied these theories give practitioners the necessary skills to diagnose any condition and relate it to what is called a Syndrome Differentiation.
This basically means practitioners have the ability to categorize the signs and symptoms of a condition, into groups described in the classics. For example someone suffering from lethargy, poor appetite, loose stools, with a scalloped tongue and slippery pulse would be classed as suffering from Spleen Qi Deficiency. The practitioner then would perscribe the necessary treatment for Spleen Qi deficiency.
What is Acupuncture?Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat.
Acupuncture is the insertion of fine sterile needles into specific points across the body. The points are located along energy pathways called meridians.
Your practitioner will insert needles in a number of areas. Some points will be local or specific to your condition. Other points will be in places which may seem strange in relation to your problem.
For example pain in the neck and shoulder may also include a number of points in the hand and the foot. This is because there are points in the hand which are used to treat pain, and points in the foot which correspond to the Liver meridian which runs through the neck and shoulder area. If the Liver Qi is no moving smoothly this can lead to pain in this region.
The needles are then let insitue for around 10 minuets, before a manipulation technique is applied. This is not painful and is used to encourage the Qi to flow to the points.
What is Electro-Acupuncture?Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat.
Electro-acupuncture is an extension of traditional acupuncture in that the same points are used during treatment, but some are stimulated using an electrical current. The frequency and intensity of the current is controlled an set by the patient, to obtain the strongest, but most comfortable treatment possible.
What Conditions can Electro-Acupuncture Treat?
Electro-acupuncture is most often used in conditions where there is either an accumulation of qi, (e.g. chronic pain) or in cases where the qi is difficult to stimulate.
Does Electro-Acupuncture Hurt?
You may experience a tingling sensation while being treated, but in most cases the tingling sensation can not be felt.
Moxibustion involves the burning of mugwort at the same location as the acu points. It is used to strengthen the blood, stimulate the flow of qi, and maintain general health.
How does moxibustion work? Does it hurt?
There are two types of moxibustion: direct and indirect.
Direct moxibustion, involves a small, cone-shaped amount of moxa being placed on top of the point and burned. The moxa is the extinguished and removed before it burns the skin. You will experience a pleasant heating sensation that penetrates deep into the skin.
Indirect moxibustion is the most popular method as there is a much lower risk of pain or burning. For this the moxa come in the form of a stick, similar to a large cigar. One end of the stick is lit and ignited in the same way an incense stick is burned. It is then held close to the area being treated for several minutes, until the area turns red. Another form of indirect moxibustion uses both acupuncture needles and moxa. A needle is inserted into an acupoint and retained. The tip of the needle is then wrapped in moxa and ignited, heating the point and the surrounding area. After the desired effect is achieved, the moxa is extinguished and the needle(s) removed.
What is moxibustion used for?
Because of its warming effect moxibustion is used if you have a cold or stagnant condition. The warmth enters the meridians and expels the cold, and provides energy in the form of heat, which encourages the smoother flow of blood and qi. Moxibustion also has around a 75% success rate in turning breech babies to the normal head-down position prior to childbirth.
Why use mugwort?
Mugwort, also known as artemesia vulgaris or Ai ye in Chinese, has a long history of use in folk medicine. Research has shown that it acts as an emmenagogue that is, an agent that increases blood circulation to the pelvic area and uterus and stimulates menstruation. This makes it a good choice of herb when treating gynecological disorders, but iin general is also a good herb for increasing blood movement.
Cupping involves placing glass jars at specific points on the body. A vacuum is created by removing all the oxygen from within the jar before placing it on the point, this is traditionaly achived by quickly inserting and removing a flame from inside the jar prior to application. This creates a suction affect and stimulates the flow of blood, lymph and Qi.
Cupping is often used for pain relief in the muscles and clearing congestion in the chest. It also has a detoxifying affect which is employed in the treatment of acne.
Gua sha involves using a smooth flat stone, with herbal oil to scrape along the meridians. Its action is similat to that of cupping and it is most frequently used in China when someone has caught a cold.
What is Chinese Herbal Medicine?
Chinese Herbal Medicine uses an extensive Materia Medica of thousands of plants. These are combined using ancient recipes called formulas to treat numerous diseases and ailments. Chinese Herbal Medicine is available in a number of forms:
Dried Herbs - The traditional method of administration is to boil the dried herbs to form a decoction. This produces the most potent medicine, but is only employed by Oriental Health if felt absolutely necesarry or by request.
Powdered Herbs - This involves the dried herbs being ground down to form a powder. These are slightly less potent, but only need to be mixed with hot water. This gives practicality for modern life, with optimal healing strength.
Tablets or Capsules - This is the form most regularly used in practice. Tablets again are more practical than dried herbs, but also suited to those who find herbal medicine unpalatable. Tablets and capsule are made to order, according to your personal treatment plan. (Vegetarian capsules also available).
Patent Pills - These are also regularly used in practice and are most often the first form of herbal medicine given. These are commonly used standard formulas, which are manufactured in to pills. However in comparison to the above forms the potency is dramatically lower.
Oriental Health guarantees no use of animal or restricted herbs in their treatments, by using GMP Approved Products and suppliers ONLY.
GMP stands for Good Agricultural Practice and means that herbs used are produced to the highest standards and contain the lowest possible level of pesticides and heavy metals available.
How do i Know which treatment i need?
When you attend your initial consultation and Laura has all the apropriate information, she will reccomend to you which treatments will be most benificial. Adjunctive therapies such as cupping, moxabustion etc are added to an acupuncture treatment at no additional cost if thought nessesary. Chinese Nutritional Therapy is offed to all Acupuncture and Herbal treatments if thought benifitial, again at no additional cost.
What happens when i have a consultation?
Your first visit will normally last around 90 min's. This will begin with you filling in a detailed health history form. Then the consultation will begin. Laura will ask a number of questions, some of which may seem irrelevant. This information is then applied to the principles of Chinese Medicine to produce a syndrome differentiation and diagnosis. From the diagnosis the Laura will formulate your treatment plan and treatment.
Depending on your personal situation you will the receive your first session of acupuncture, and your practitioner may recommend the use of a herbal formula, or a nutritional therapy plan to complement the Acupuncture. Adjunctive therapies such as cupping and moxbustion are administered if necessary during the acupuncture treatment.
After your treatment you will normally feel calm and relaxed.
What conditions can you treat?
Traditional Chinese medicine can help a wide range of conditions below is a list of commonly treated disorders. TCM also promotes well being and can be used to provide support for your body to help prevent disease occuring. Laura specializes in fertility and gynacolgy, but is capperable of treating many other conditions and will do her best to reccomend other therapists in areas she cannot. If you would like help or advice on a condition not listed below do not hesitate to contact me.
Muscular Skeletal
Arthritis, Back Pain, Frozen Shoulder, Lumbago, Tennis or Golfers Elbow, Sciatica, Sports injuries, Stiff Neck.
Neurological
Headache, Migraine, Dizziness, Multiple Sclerosis, ME or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Bell's Palsy, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Menieres Disease.
Gastrointestinal
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Constipation, Diarrohea, Weight Loss, Nausea and Vomiting, Morning Sickness.
Psychological and Emotional
Fatigue, Insomnia, Panic Attacks, Stress
Dermatological
Acne, Dermatitis, Eczema, Psoriasis, Facial Rejuvanessance, Hair Loss.
Respiratory and Allergic
Cold, Flu, Cough, Hay fever, Rhinitis, Bronchitis, Asthma.
Cardiovascular
Hypertension, Palpitation.
Gynecological
Painful Period (Dysmenorrohea), Irregular menstruation, Amennorrohea, PMT, Menopause, Infertility, IVF, endometriosis, fibroids, polycystic ovaries.
According to your condition and response to treatment, Laura will discuss with you your future treatment needs. Most conditions need a number of treatments, and some chronic cases may need the occasional top up treatment every few months, but these issues will be discussed during your initial consultation, so a treatment plan that will best suit you and your life style can be established. For an example acute wry neck may take arround 3 treatments, iinfertility can take arround 4 months or more.