Acupuncture is more than just using needles to relieve pain, as we often think in the West. It is a complete health protocol with the intention of balancing all yin and yang energy flows in the body. Since its inception in China more than 2,500 years ago, acupuncture has been traditionally used to prevent and treat illness, as well as to improve general health. Very fine needles are indeed placed in specific places where the energy or chi flow through the body can be influenced. Sometimes the acupuncturist will also use extra heat (see moxibustion) or electrical stimulation (see electro-acupuncture).

How does acupuncture work?

Clinical studies have so far been able to document the effects of acupuncture well, but they have not yet been able to fully explain them. Modern biomedical research has established that acupuncture points are electrically and anatomically different from other body areas. They are organized according to a system of meridians, lines on the body. By stimulating these specific points through acupuncture, the nervous system is activated to produce biochemical substances such as endorphins and immune system cells at specific locations in the body. Furthermore, studies have shown that acupuncture affects the biochemistry of our brain by producing neurotransmitters and neurohormones. The parts of our central nervous system that are responsible for sensory stimulation and involuntary body functions respond to this, for example by: adjust blood pressure, blood circulation and body temperature.

What complaints can acupuncture treat?

Acupuncture does not aim to treat the single symptom, but the entire person. It is a holistic approach that seeks to restore balance between the physical, emotional and spiritual dimensions of the individual. Therefore, acupuncture makes the most sense as a preventive medicine.

However, acupuncture can also be used very curatively to heal physiological disorders, as it has an effect on our hormonal system, immune system and central nervous system. Therefore, acupuncture can treat a very wide range of health conditions, such as digestive problems, gynecological complaints, musculoskeletal disorders, allergies and migraines, to name just a few. Acupuncture can also improve stress management as well as psychological complaints such as anxiety attacks or depression.

Chronic pain such as neck pain, frozen shoulder, stomach pain or cramps and knee joint pain are often treated here in the West with anti-inflammatories and cold compresses, but the effect is not remarkable and often only temporary. Anti-inflammatories have negative side effects on the stomach and cold compresses can cause dermatitis. This is a weakness of Western medicine. Acupuncture is therefore preferable in these types of conditions.
It is also effective for complaints such as high blood pressure, insomnia, stress, burn-out, diarrhea, stomach complaints and the consequences of cerebral infarctions.

Acupuncture helps to activate the immune system and stimulate the production of anti-stress hormones such as oxytocin. It is also often used as an aid in palliative care for cancer patients to relieve pain and relieve nausea.

Sports acupuncture

Do you suffer from persistent pain or an acute sports injury?

Sports acupuncture is focused on the treatment of:

• musculoskeletal disorders
• frozen shoulder
• lower back pain
• sciatica
• orthopedic complaints
• rheumatic complaints
• tennis/golfer's elbow
• whiplash
• etc.

Within Traditional Chinese Medicine, treatments for sports injuries originated in the context of Kung Fu and other martial arts. Chinese history is a series of wars, conflicts and therefore all the associated injuries. For many centuries, these could only be treated and cured with TCM. It was often the task of monks to treat these traumas with acupuncture and other treatments (moxa, cupping, etc.).

China has also applied and studied the influence of food and herbs on health for centuries. Plant and herbal medicine is a very important part of sports medicine. TCM uses substances extracted from plants, herbs, minerals and animals in the treatment plan. Chinese herbs are now offered in capsules or powder form and sometimes also used in ointments or creams.

This treatment usually takes 60 minutes. Take into account a required rest period (36 to 48 hours) after the treatment.

Electroacupuncture

Electroacupuncture has a lot in common with traditional acupuncture as the same points are stimulated with needles during the treatment. These are placed at specific points on the meridians and then connected via small clips to an electrical device that sends continuous current pulses through the needles.

The intensity and frequency of these pulses depend on the complaint to be treated. However, the same point will rarely be stimulated for more than 30 minutes. The patient can also indicate which intensity suits him best and when he wishes to stop the stimulation.

This treatment usually takes about 60 minutes. Take into account a required rest period (36 to 48 hours) after the treatment.

Stimulation with current pulses is often used for:

• pain relief
• sports injuries
• orthopedic complaints
• frozen shoulder
• sciatica
• lower back pain
• tennis/golfer's elbow
• whiplash

Ear acupuncture

Ear acupuncture is used in many cases to treat a wide range of complaints. Over the centuries, it has proven to be extremely useful to treat all kinds of addiction problems (such as quitting smoking), but also for severe mood swings, obesity, general pain complaints, etc.

Once again, this technique takes a holistic approach in which specific points in the ear represent the entire body and person in all its facets: spiritual, emotional, physical and mental. Modern studies have shown that piercing the ears stimulates the release of endorphins, which give a general feeling of well-being.