Acupuncture and shonishin

Acupuncture is a traditional Oriental system of healing originating in China about two thousand years ago. As most people know, it involves the insertion of fine needles at specific points around the body to enhance the well being of the person, and to stimulate the body’s innate ability to re-balance and repair it self.

According to traditional oriental thought, a person’s health is determined by the state of their Qi - Qi being the energy or ‘breath of life’ that is said to permeate every aspect of a person. It is the underlying basis of our physical, emotional and spiritual being. When it is in balance we feel healthy and more alive; if it becomes blocked or unbalanced we feel stressed, fatigued and become ill.

We can see Qi in a number of ways: as a formal model of how the body works, as a metaphor, or as an idea. However we choose to see it, it can provide a useful framework for relating to our symptoms when our systems get out of balance. Acupuncturists make use of a variety of techniques, including needle insertion, application of heat, and massage to recover the equilibrium which has been lost, and which has lead to the development of these symptoms.

Because acupuncture stimulates the body’s own repair mechanisms, its use is not limited to a specific type of problem.

The kinds of conditions that are frequently seen by acupuncturists include:

muscular and skeletal problems such as backache, neck tension, sciatica, sports injuries etc.
Joint problems such as arthritis, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, RSI.
Other kinds of pain such as headaches, neuralgia, and menstrual pain.
Stress related conditions of all kinds
IBS
anxiety
depression
insomnia
indigestion
constipation