Acupuncture  

What is acupuncture? 

Acupuncture is an ancient healing technique involving the insertion of very fine needles at specific meridian points on the body that aims to harness the bodies innate capacity for self-healing. Acupuncture is a practice within Traditional Chinese Medicine, a holistic system of medicine which utilises acupuncture as a technique for balancing the flow of energy or life force – known as Qi – that flows through pathways or meridians in the body. When imbalance occurs illness can arise, and acupuncture is used as a tool to bring the body back into harmony and stimulate the bodies innate healing response to restore balance.

How does it work?

With its roots dating back over 2,000 years acupuncture is a refined and sophisticated medical system, focused on diagnosis and treatment of the underlying cause of disease. By using needles at specific points of the body to access the Qi we can promote circulation of oxygen, nutrients and blood through the blood vessel system to nourish every cell of the body.

From an Eastern perspective we work with the Meridian system that conducts Qi & Blood flow in the body. We help to build Qi and blood where it is weakened, and move Qi and blood where it is stagnant. We choose acupuncture points based on their energetic function in the body as well as by what your body tells us it needs using tools of pulse, tongue and abdominal diagnosis. In most cases we can expect to see immediate changes to the quality of your pulse or abdominal presentations. We work with the 12 primary meridians, the Luo network (where your body stores latent pathogens or traumas until you are ready to release them), and the 8 extraordinary meridians (responsible for our “blueprint” upon conception, our ability to actualise our destiny, and our unique cellular coding that informs the way we view ourselves and the world).

From a Western perspective, acupuncture reduces inflammation, alleviates pain, and activates the body’s natural endorphins as well as lowers cortisol levels. By acting on the body’s interwoven fascial system, a unique cascade of neural synapses takes place that allows optimal conditions for the body to heal itself. Western studies have also found acupuncture points to be sites with a higher density of nerve endings and microcirculation. When activated they cause a specific, biochemical change in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain, stimulating the body’s natural healing abilities and promoting deep relaxation and nervous system regulation by encouraging signalling of the parasympathetic nervous system.What can I expect in my treatment?

Chinese Medicine addresses each individual as unique, therefore each consultation and treatment is tailored specific to you and your presentation and no two treatments are the same.

Treatments generally involve a short consult to discuss your goals for the treatment followed by pulse and tongue diagnosis followed by a combination of acupuncture, cupping, guasha, bodywork, dietary and lifestyle advice, nutritional supplementation and Chinese herbal medicine prescription depending on what is most required.  

Acupuncture is very relaxing and should leave you feeling grounded, calm and at home in your body. After the treatment you may noticed feeling energised or you may feel the need to rest, listen to your body and what it needs to assist the healing process. You may feel noticeable relief from physical pain and increased emotional wellbeing, commonly decreased stress and anxiety.

Does acupuncture hurt?

Acupuncture treatments promote internal healing and deep relaxation with little to no pain involved. Acupuncture needles are filiform needles that are incredibly fine. You should not feel any pain however a dull ache, heaviness, tingling or warm sensation is expected. This sensation is referred to as ‘De Qi’ or ‘the arrival of Qi’ and indicates that the acupuncture is working. You may feel like you are sinking and floating at the same time, more aware of your body whilst also deeply at peace, often people with fall into a sleep or deep meditative state during treatment.

At Shen Space I practice gentle acupuncture techniques using minimal needles and I use the finest quality needled that allow for painless and effective treatments. For those who do not feel comfortable receiving acupuncture there are many other therapeutic techniques we can use such as moxa, cupping, guasha, massage and acupressure.

Also know that you are always in control of the treatment. If at any point you feel uncomfortable we can adjust the treatment to what you feel comfortable to receive on that day. I will be constantly checking in with you throughout the treatment to make sure you are feeling comfortable and safe at all times.

How many sessions will I need?

Treatment plans depend on the individual and health concerns however most people require a minimum of 6-8 weekly treatments for acute conditions, or 3 months of weekly treatments for chronic conditions, followed by more spaced out treatments for maintenance. It is said it takes 90 days to create a new habit, so this is the ideal timeframe for mental health, life transitions, or spiritual concerns.

Is acupuncture safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding?

Yes, acupuncture is safe during pregnancy and is recommended for pelvic pain, low back pain, nausea, morning sickness, depression, and headaches. Acupuncture can be used after birth to increase breast milk production, treat fatigue and postpartum recovery.

Cupping

Cupping is a traditional technique that uses small glass cups as suction devices that disperse and break up stagnation and congestion by drawing stagnant blood, energy and toxins to the surface.

Cupping can be used for many ailments but is commonly used for the treatment of pain and tension, it is also effective in shortening colds and flus and works as an overall detoxification for the body. The experience is often likened to a deep tissue massage and can be deeply relaxing and releasing.

The marks left on the skin after cupping are known as ‘Sha’. They are painless and can be a range of colours from pale to dark purple depending on the degree of stagnation in the body. The intensity and shade of the marks will tend to change as your treatment progresses and in many cases there may be minimal to no marking. These marks typically resolve within 2-7 days after treatment.

Moxibustion

Moxibustion or moxa is a form of heat therapy that involved gentle burning processed mugwort on or near the body to stimulate acupuncture points, build Yang Qi and encourage healthy Qi circulation. There are many different types of moxa, direct moxa is placed directly on the skin either in large or small cones whilst indirect moxa involves attaching moxa to acupuncture needles or using a moxa stick.

Guasha

Gua Sha is a traditional massage technique that involves scraping a smooth edges tool over the body. It is used wherever there is tightness or pain in order to relax muscles, unblock stagnation and release heat toxins. Like cupping it is likely ‘Sha’ or petechiae will come up, this is said to be stagnation clearing from the body. These marks will disappear in a matter of days and are likely to subside with subsequent treatments.

Herbal medicine

Chinese Herbal medicine is based on the principle of pattern differentiation. This involves identifying a person’s unique set of signs and symptoms in order to determine the root cause of their imbalance.

Shen Space is committed to providing the highest quality and most environmentally responsible herbal products and is conscious about the sourcing of all products prescribed. Empirical Health is a certified organic Australian owned herbal company that prides itself on being socially responsible and environmentally conscious. The herbs that are sourced undergo rigorous and independent testing processes for pesticides and heavy metals to ensure they are of the highest quality and safety. We partner with Empirical Health at Shen Space to ensure you are receiving the safest and most ethically source herbs available.

We use a variety of types of herbal medicine at the Shen Space clinic.

Raw Herbs

Raw herbs are in their most natural state, cute and dried ready for use. Whilst this is the strongest way to take herbal medicine it does require a little effort. Once I have created a herbal formula specific to your requirements I will dispense the herbs for you to take home and boil. This process takes about 1 hour but will make enough herbs to last approximately three days. Some people enjoy the ritual of cooking the herbs themselves however for some it is too much of a time commitment. I will likely only prescribe raw herbs in the event of an acute illness.

Granules or Herb Powders

This is a powdered and water dissolvable form of the herbs that can be easily taken by simply adding a small amount of hot water, stirring and drinking.

Pills/Tinctures

If the taste or smell or the raw herbs or granules is still too difficult to commit to taking every day, we can also explore using herbal pills, capsules or tinctures that may be easier to take.