Acupuncture comes from a medical tradition that goes back more than two thousand years. Very fine, sterile needles are placed at selected points on the body to support its natural ability to regulate and heal itself. Treatment doesn't focus on one complaint in isolation. Each session considers you as a whole, including your energy, sleep, digestion, lifestyle and emotional wellbeing, so that both the immediate problem and the patterns behind it can be addressed.

The Traditional View

Classical Chinese medicine sees good health as a state of dynamic balance. Qi, often translated as vital energy, travels through a network of channels called meridians that link the surface of the body to the internal organs. The body's blood and fluids are kept in order by the interplay of Yin and Yang. These are complementary qualities, such as rest and activity or cooling and warming. Stress, diet, weather, illness and emotional strain can all disturb this flow, and over time that disturbance may show up as discomfort or disease. During your consultation, your practitioner builds a picture of your particular imbalance. They then choose points that gently redirect Qi and restore equilibrium. Mind, body and surroundings are treated as one connected whole.

A Modern Scientific Perspective

Researchers haven't settled on a single explanation for how acupuncture works, but several processes seem to be involved. Needling stimulates nerves in the skin and muscle, which is thought to trigger the release of the body's own pain-relieving chemicals, such as endorphins. Studies suggest it may also improve local circulation, help settle inflammation and support tissue recovery. There is evidence that it influences the balance between the nervous system's "fight or flight" and "rest and digest" states. It may also affect brain regions involved in processing pain, along with messengers such as serotonin and dopamine that shape mood.