What can acupuncture treat?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) acupuncture is a complete healthcare system that has stood the test of time. It has been widely used for thousands of years and is still growing in popularity today. It can treat a vast range of health problems, and is commonly used to treat such conditions as:
Muscular and joint problems
- tennis elbow; frozen shoulder; other joint injuries
- carpal tunnel syndrome
- back ache, lumbago
- arthritis, rheumatism
- hernia
- general aches and pains
Digestive problems, and low energy
- irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); abdominal pains
- heart burn, nausea, acid reflux
- constipation, loose stools
- food intolerances
- bloating or tiredness after eating
- high cholesterol levels
- excessive gas or wind
- ulcers
- low energy levels
- ME (chronic fatigue syndrome, post-viral syndrome)
Respiration and other lung-related conditions
- asthma, wheezing, shortness of breath
- hay fever and other allergies
- persistent cough, bronchitis
- pleurisy, emphysema
- frequent colds and flu
- sinusitis, laryngitis
Menstrual, or period, problems
- painful periods
- pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS)
- excessively heavy periods, erratic menstrual cycle
- menopausal syndrome
- infertility, impotence
Headache, migraine, and nervous conditions
- Migraine and headache
- trigeminal neuralgia
- sciatica
- facial paralysis
- dizziness, tinnitus
Stress-related, mental and emotional
- depression, anxiety, panic attacks
- palpitations, fearfulness
- poor concentration and memory
- insomnia
- general feeling of stress
- high blood pressure
Other conditions
- stopping smoking (see: How can acupuncture help me give up smoking?)
- cystitis, thrush, frequent urination
- difficult urination, incontinence
- oedema
- skin conditions
- and so on.
Acupuncture as a preventive treatment
Many people also choose to have acupuncture as a preventive treatment, or because they feel unwell in themselves but do not yet have an illness that Western medicine would be able to detect.
TCM acupuncture is an holistic therapy
Indeed, after receiving TCM acupuncture treatment, people often say that they feel better within themselves, as well as having their symptoms eased or cleared up completely. This is largely because TCM acupuncture is an holistic form of healing, which aims to remove the underlying causes of your health problem, rather than just suppressing the symptoms.