Complementary therapies like acupuncture (a form of Chinese medicine) can be used for general relaxation or a number of ailments including:
- Aches and pains
- Headaches and migraine
- Asthma
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Arthritis
- Bowel or bladder problems
- Fertility
I’ve always had a keen interest in alternative therapies, but I’ve also always been a bit of a sceptic when it comes to whether they actually work or not…
Session one
On arrival I was greeted by a friendly student called Tammy who gave me a health-check form to fill out while I waited to be taken through to the consultation
The initial consultation lasted about 45-minutes and during this we went through a full ‘health MOT’.
After consulting her supervisor on the best form of treatment, Tammy came back in and spoke to me about what would happen next. NEEDLES they said (what I failed to mention was my phobia of the dreaded stabber of skin).
We tried five, one in the top of my head, two in my hand and two in my feet and I didn’t even feel them! I was left for 20-minutes with mood lighting and meditation music – it was so relaxing I nearly fell asleep.
For my back pain I had a 10-minute massage. This was super-relaxing and me and Tammy talked about various herbalist topics and she shared other tips.
Needless to say, not only did I walk out of there feeling relaxed and more awake, but my phobia of needles is well on its way to being resolved.
Session two
As I’d been so receptive to the acupuncture I’d had in my consultation, Tammy was keen to add a couple more needles this time.
My sleep had returned to nearly normal and anxiety levels had reduced significantly so something must’ve worked.
This session lasted 45-minutes in total, with a general chat at the beginning about how my symptoms had improved then it was time for the treatment (which lasted around 30-minutes).
I won’t lie, this time the needles were a little bit more uncomfortable due to the placing of them, but it was almost like I could really feel them really working – they still weren’t painful though, it was just a strange sensation.
At the end Tammy recommended I come back for treatment every two-weeks for a maximum time of 30-minutes per session (again because I was so receptive, she said no more was needed).
It’s now been a couple of weeks since my last appointment and my sleep and anxiety is so much better! I can’t wait to have more sessions and thoroughly recommend the treatment to combat any form of stress, anxiety and tiredness.
The Complementary Medicine Clinic based at Lincoln College offers both western herbal medicine and acupuncture treatments.
For more information on consultation and appointment prices, plus how to book, click here.
