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Understanding acupuncture
What happens when an ancient treatment meets modern healthcare?
Acupuncture has been used for more than 2,500 years and is now practised around the world. At Life Meridian it is used for pain, neurological, respiratory, digestive, hormonal and sleep conditions.
Whether you’ve searched for acupuncture because of back pain, migraine, joint pain, stress or simply curiosity, here’s everything you need to know before your first session.
Let’s start with the simple version
Fine needles. Specific points. Individual treatment.
Acupuncture is a treatment in which very fine needles are inserted into specific points on the body. Those points are selected according to the practitioner’s assessment and the treatment approach being used.
Acupuncture has been studied for a wide range of conditions, with the strongest evidence supporting its use for several pain conditions, including some forms of back and neck pain, knee osteoarthritis and migraine.
At Life Meridian it is the primary approach for the conditions the clinic takes on, rather than something added on beside a main therapy.
Thousands of years. One simple idea.
Acupuncture has been around for a very long time.
Acupuncture has been used in some form for at least 2,500 years. It developed within traditional Chinese medicine and eventually spread far beyond its original setting, becoming a global healthcare practice. That’s the part of the history that matters here.
Its history is long. The questions we ask about it today are modern.
- 2,500+ years agoEarly acupuncture traditions
- Over the centuriesTechniques and approaches develop
- 20th centuryAcupuncture spreads internationally
- TodayPractised and clinically studied around the world
Two perspectives
What happens when an acupuncture needle is placed?
Traditional acupuncture uses specific points on the body as part of its treatment system.
Modern research has examined how acupuncture acts on the nervous system, on local tissue and on the way the body processes pain. Scientists continue to study exactly how acupuncture produces its effects.
- The point
- Needle stimulation
- Nervous system
- Body’s response
The question every first-timer asks
“Does acupuncture hurt?”
The needles used for acupuncture are extremely fine and solid rather than hollow like injection needles.
Most people feel a brief prick when a needle is inserted. Some people describe a sensation of warmth, heaviness, tingling or a dull ache during treatment. Others notice very little.
Your experience can depend on the area being treated, the technique used and your individual sensitivity.
Watch a Real Acupuncture Session
What it is used for
Most often for pain, and for the conditions below.
Back and neck pain, knee osteoarthritis and migraine are the ones people come for most. Your own consultation decides the approach and the course.
Common reasons people explore acupuncture
- Back & neck pain
- Sciatica & musculoskeletal pain
- Joint pain
- Migraine & headaches
- Sports-related pain
- Stress & sleep concerns
- Allergic rhinitis
- Cancer & heart: complementary care
Why people come
Sometimes people are simply looking for another option.
Whatever brings you in, the first appointment is history and examination. Your practitioner works out what is going on before recommending a course of treatment.
People come to acupuncture because:
- Their pain keeps returning.
- They want to explore a non-drug approach.
- They want acupuncture alongside the medical treatment they are already having.
- They’re tired of treating only one part of the problem.
- They want to understand what an individualised course of acupuncture would involve for them.
Every treatment plan starts with your history, your examination and your condition.
Our approach
Acupuncture is our primary treatment approach for the conditions within our clinical practice.
At Life Meridian, treatment begins with a detailed assessment of your symptoms, health history and individual clinical presentation. We do not use a single acupuncture protocol for every patient. Treatment is planned according to the individual and adjusted according to the patient’s response throughout the treatment course.
Our approach is focused on understanding the person behind the condition and providing an individualised course of acupuncture treatment.
The practitioner matters
How the clinic keeps treatment safe.
Acupuncture is generally considered safe when performed appropriately by a trained practitioner using sterile, single-use needles. Minor effects such as temporary soreness, bruising or slight bleeding can occur. Serious complications are uncommon but can occur, especially when acupuncture is performed incorrectly or with non-sterile equipment.
What patients should expect
- Single-use sterile needles
- Clean treatment environment
- Proper patient assessment
- Trained practitioner
- Clear discussion of your medical history
Tell your practitioner if you:
- Take regular medication
- Are pregnant
- Have a bleeding disorder
- Recently had surgery
- Have a significant medical condition
- Are receiving other medical treatment
See it before you try it
From “I’m nervous” to “Now I understand.”
Assess
Your condition is considered before treatment is planned.
Treat
Very fine needles are placed at selected points according to the treatment approach.
Relax
You remain comfortably positioned while the needles are in place.
Review
Your response is discussed and future treatment can be planned accordingly.
Before you book
Still wondering?
The short answers most people want before their first session.
Usually much less than people expect. Most describe a dull ache or a light pressure.
This depends on the consultation and treatment plan.
Your practitioner sets out an expected course at the first assessment.
Yes. Acupuncture runs alongside it, and your practitioner plans around what you already take. Bring your prescriptions to your first appointment.
That’s what the consultation is for. We assess your symptoms, history and clinical presentation, then plan your acupuncture treatment around them.
Curious about acupuncture?
You don’t need to know which therapy is right for you before you contact us.
Tell us what’s bothering you. We’ll listen, assess your condition and explain the individualised acupuncture treatment we would plan for you.