Western Acupuncture with Pauline Jones
Western Acupuncture is a
modern approach to an ancient system of healing used by many cultures that has developed
over the past 2000 years. It is a truly effective treatment that integrates
well with conventional medicine, stimulating both muscles & nerves, using
needles to influence the physiology of the body; relaxing muscles, healing
localised tissue damage & providing effective pain relief.
The tender fibrous knotted
areas in the muscles we all feel especially in the shoulders - known as
Myofascial Trigger Points - in a chronically tight or over stretched muscle can
create many pain patterns. We expect broken bones, torn or sprained ligaments
& inflamed tendons (tendonitis) to take a while to heal but often don’t
attach the same importance to damaged muscles & yet they can refer pain
down the arms, legs or create headaches & facial pain. An over loaded or
suddenly stretched muscle can develop small areas of damage that can be slow to
heal. These knots, or Trigger Points, create taut bands along the length of the
muscle that restrict movement because of the pain they produce. Direct needling
of these areas deactivates these Trigger Points removing pain patterns &
restoring normal function to the localised joints or limbs.
How does
it work?
Acupuncture works on many levels. Chemicals are
released in the area where the needles are inserted, dilating blood vessels.
This increases blood flow encouraging tissue healing. It also affects the nerve
supplying that specific area of skin at the spinal level, reducing the response
to pain (segmental analgesia), & thus lowering the pain experienced by the
recipient. Endorphins are released which can produce a sense of euphoria in
some, & deep relaxation in others, often improving the quality of sleep.
It is increasingly used by GPs as well as Chiropractors
for both acute & chronic pain patterns where clinical trials have proven
effective, as opposed to just a placebo. The surprising news is that good
results are achieved whether deep or superficial needling is applied. Achieving
a good response is actually irrespective of whether superficial, where often
the recipient is unaware of the placement of the Acupuncture needle, or deep
needling is used creating the more traditional drawing sensation known as “Chi”
(Qi).
How Does
It Feel?
Many people are completely unaware when the Acupuncture
needle is being placed. It is extremely narrow in diameter as it doesn’t need
to carry any fluid, unlike the needle you have with an injection or giving
blood. It is often the greater depth of insertion that creates the Chi sensation,
which some people enjoy & others prefer not to feel. So it depends
completely on the individual’s preference, which we will always adhere to. The
sensation is described as a localised feeling of warmth, tingling or sometimes
a mild dull ache.
Occasionally
we use Chinese Meridian Points for pain relief. The traditional belief is that
better results are gained when the Chi sensation is elicited, however when used
for muscle release & localised ligament & tendon healing scientific
studies have shown very little difference in the results gained by deep or
superficial needling so it really is your choice. The results will speak for
themselves.