Medical acupuncture is a therapeutic intervention derived from traditional Chinese acupuncture that is performed by a healthcare professional. This practice involves the insertion of fine needles into specific points on the body to stimulate nerves, muscles, and connective tissues, aiming to promote natural healing processes and alleviate various symptoms.
Medical acupuncture is used to manage pain, enhance recovery, and treat a wide range of disorders including musculoskeletal pain, migraines, and chronic illnesses. It integrates principles of evidence-based medicine and modern anatomical knowledge, offering a complementary approach to conventional treatments. Clinical studies suggest that medical acupuncture can improve outcomes by modulating pain pathways, enhancing immune function, and balancing neurochemical activities.
Full assessment and diagnosis
If you're a new patient to the West-Gate clinic, your practitioner will take a through initial case history prior to acupuncture treatment in order to ensure the safety and effectiveness of your treatment. This gives patients a chance to fully discuss their symptoms as well as any previous medical history
Treatment
Sterile needles of varying lengths to suit the bodily area in question are inserted using a guide tube which insures accurate and precise application. Needles are then left for a short period of time and stimulus is occasionally applied to promote pain modulation.
Removal of the needles is pain free and quick with no need for post treatment care to the site of insertion
Post treatment effects
Patients report decreased pain, increased flexibility and often a great nights sleep. Patients often report small bruises at the location of insertion particularly if patients are on medications such as warfarin or aspirin.