This healing modality has been around for centuries and its time honoured reputation can largely be attributed to its successful treatment of ailments of both a physical and psychological nature.

Chinese medicine views the body from a holistic perspective with a person having a vital life force, or Qi (pronounced chee), which circulates throughout the body in energy pathways called channels or meridians. All disease in Chinese Medicine originates from blockages - when the Qi becomes weakened, blocked or out of balance.

It can assist the body in regulating the nervous systems, in turn regulating digestion, blood pressure and many other organ functions. Acupuncture has immune enhancing properties, so is great for colds and flus. Muscle spasm and tenderness can be alleviated, improving muscle function, while general pain relieving properties can assist in the reduction of headache, lower back and menstrual pain.

Acupuncture seeks to correct these imbalances and encourages the body to heal itself. It does this by correcting the flow of Qi by inserting very fine, sterile, needles into designated points on the body along these meridians. These stimulate specific anatomical points in the body (called acupoints or acupuncture points) for therapeutic purposes. Other methods may also be used to stimulate the points, including heat or moxibustion, friction or pressure.