Will it hurt?

Acupuncture needles are extremely fine (less than 0.25mm in diameter) and are made of the highest quality materials, this allows an almost pain free insertion into the body, there is a feeling when the needle ”reaches the point”, this may a dull ache, feel hot or be like a mild electrical current, this feeling is the desired affect of inserting the needle and will only last a few seconds.

How long is the treatment?

Typically treatments are around 45 minutes, the first consultation may require a longer time as more information will need to be collected to make a diagnosis.

I don’t like needles, can it still be treated?

Yes, if a person cannot accept or is afraid of needles Acupressure can be used, this situation is common and Acupressure is just as effective as Acupuncture.

How many treatments will I need?

The amount and frequency of treatments vary depending on the type and severity of the condition, usually one treatment per week is adequate, however there are certain situations were two or even three treatments in a week may be required, a typical treatment course is six weeks, often people with on going health problems may come regularly for “maintenance” or preventive treatments.

Are there any side affects?

No there are no adverse side affects, after treatment you may feel more relaxed and calmer, if you are very run down and tired you may feel the need to sleep, this is because your body now needs time to recover and allow the healing process to begin.

Where will you insert the needles?

This depends on the condition being treated, there are over 360 points on the body where needles can be inserted, the most commonly used points are on the legs, arms, back and abdomen.

How many needles will you put in me?

The number of needles varies between 2 and 10 and is dependent on what is being treated, a skillful Acupuncturist will always try to use the least amount of needles possible to get the desired result.

I am taking medication, can I have acupuncture?

Yes, Acupuncture treatment is safe to have while you having other treatments or taking medication please inform your clinician of any medications you may be taking prior to treatment.

Are the needles clean?

Yes, only single use sterilised needles are used, and then disposed of in a specially designated “sharps” container, all sterilisation complies with the standards set by the New Zealand Department of Health.

This page last updated on the 06/12/2017

A typical treatment will begin with an interview in which the main complaint a past medical history including any medication or other treatments you may be receiving will be recorded, from here a more detailed investigation of the main complaint will be carried out. The diagnostic process in Traditional Chinese Medicine will insure a complete holistic approach to your condition.

Once the interview and diagnosis are completed you will be given an explanation of what treatment is best for your condition. After this you will be asked for your consent to the treatment.

At any stage during the treatment you may withdraw your consent for whatever reason, we will not take offense and will make every effort to make you as comfortable as possible.

From here the treatment will begin, you will be positioned on the treatment table that will allow access to the areas to be needled. This may be face up or down depending on what points will be used.

If sensitive areas need to be exposed you will be given adequate privacy to get changed and will be covered with a towel at all times, in most cases the areas that are needled are legs, arms, back or abdomen.

You are welcome to bring a support person with you if this will make you more comfortable.

The areas to be needled will be disinfected with 70% Isopropyl Alcohol in accordance with New Zealand Department of Health guidelines, then the needles will be inserted into the chosen points, only high quality single use sterilised needles will be used (usually between 2 and 10 needles are used per treatment).

The needles are retained between 20 – 40 minutes and are then withdrawn, and disposed of in a medical waste “sharps” container, this may be the end of the treatment or there may be some Massage or Acupressure following the withdrawal of the needles.

After the treatment you may feel more relaxed and calm, in some cases if you are very fatigued you may feel sleepy, this is normal as the body now needs to rest to allow the healing process to continue.

This page was last updated on the 06/12/2017

Acupuncture is part of the natural medical system known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM); TCM has a recorded history dating back over 3000 years..

The TCM view of the body is that it is a whole inter-related organism that is influenced by many factors such as emotions, food, hereditary tendencies and the environment and that no one function of the body is separate, if this inter-connectedness is in harmony the body is balanced and there is health. Disease occurs when there is disharmony and imbalance in the body.

The human body has pathways of energy flowing through it called meridians; these meridians connect and transport nourishment and information to all tissues and organs. Imbalances disrupt and interfer with the flow of energy in these meridians leading to pain, weakness and illness.

Acupuncture treatment is based not only on the disease manifestation but the underlying cause of the disharmony.

Extremely fine sterile needles are inserted into specific points on the meridians in order to restore normal flow, stimulate and improve the body’s natural ability to heal itself.

Tuina

Tuina is the Traditional Chinese Medicine system of needle free treatment, it has three main aspects, Acupressure, Chinese joint adjustments and Massage all of these may be used alone or together to form a complete safe and effective treatment system.

Acupressure is based on the same fundamental principles as Acupuncture but no needles are used, instead various hand techniques are used. Acupressure may be used alone or in combination with acupuncture, Acupressure is commonly used on people afraid of needles or on young children.

Herbal Medicine

Natural herbal medicine may be used as part of the treatment in order to supplement the body’s functions. Various plant extracts are combined together to make a herbal formula, most commonly taken in pill form. These herbal formulas are of the highest quality and are manufactured from “A” grade herbs according to both Australian and China national GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) standards and are licensed and inspected by the Australian Health Department.

Tai Chi Qi Gong

Qi Gong (Chi Gong) translated it means “energy work” it is regarded as the highest level of self healing, the purpose of Qi gong is to assist the body’s natural self balancing capacity by adjusting internal energy with one’s mind and breathing. Qi Gong practice is completely self sufficient as no equipment is needed as all the work is done with the mind, the breath and some gentle movement. Qi Gong uses the body by moving it, it uses the breath by concentrating it and directing it in specific ways and it uses the mind by focusing it to achieve relaxation and to move energy.

If you would like to make an appointment please call us on (07) 333 8989, or if you require more information you may e-mail us at info@taupoacupuncture.co.nz

“For every disease that afflicts mankind, there is a treatment or cure occurring naturally on the earth 

Dr Norman Fansworth, pharmacologist

This page was last updated on the 06/12/2017