Acupuncture originated in China over 2000 years ago. In the last 30 years it has been an integral part of mainstream health and wellness. Acupuncture is now a  4 year degree in Australia where acupuncturists have to be registered with AHPRA, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. The same agency that oversees Chiro, Physio, Nursing and Medical etc.

Acupuncture is the insertion of very thin needles into acupuncture points in the body. There are over 350 points and an infinite number of combinations of points that can be used. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, acupuncture is used to balance the flow of qi, or energy flow in the body. According to western medicine, the acupuncture points have been shown to stimulate nerve pathways in order to increase blood flow, and release endorphins to reduce pain. At our clinic we use Chinese Acupuncture, auricular (ear) acupuncture, cupping, electro acupuncture, and dry needling.

Conditions that acupuncture is known to treat include: Headaches, Migraines, Disc Problems, Bell’s Palsy, Peripheral Neuropathies, Trigeminal Neuralgia. Musculoskeletal conditions: frozen shoulder, sprains, strains, tendonitis, back pain, neck pain, sciatica, tennis elbow, arthritis, muscle tension. Respiratory conditions such as sinusitis, rhinitis, bronchitis, asthma and cough, Gastric problems such as, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, gastritis, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and heart burn. Gynaecological problems, fertility issues, dysmenorrhea, menopausal symptoms, PMS, fibroids, low libido, irregular menses and endometriosis. Male conditions, sexual dysfunction, prostatitis.

While many people have a fear of needles, most are amazed at how little they actually feel when we insert the pins.

Dry needling is a modern treatment designed to ease muscular pain. Dry needling is often utilised by manual therapists. It often can get confused with acupuncture. Only someone that has had the full qualifications of an acupuncturist is allowed to use the term acupuncture. Dry needling is also the insertion of very fine needles into points on the body which are sometimes referred to as trigger points. The points are areas of knotted or hard muscle. Unlike acupuncture, the time the needles stay in is a lot shorter. In acupuncture the needles can be left in from anywhere between 10-20 minutes. In dry needling the needles remain in for less than 5 minutes.

What is dry needling used for? Dry needling focuses more on musculoskeletal symptoms such as headaches, frozen shoulder, sciatica, neck and back pain, tendinitis and tendinosis, tennis elbow, runners knee.

Speak to our clinicians if acupuncture and or dry needling may benefit you.