Morley Acupuncture Clinic
1 Queen Street, Morley, Leeds LS27 8EG, UK
tel/ fax 0113 2380208
 John P. Heptonstall, M.D. (M.A.), D.Sc. (M.A.), B.Sc. (Hons.), M.I.Ac.S., M.B.Ac.C, M.R.S.M
Traditional Chinese Medicine - Acupuncture & Moxibustion Specialist 

 

   What is Acupuncture & Moxibustion ?

 

Acupuncture & Moxibustion is a system of medicine where fine needles are inserted just under the skin in order to treat a problem or disease and moxa, the herb Artemesia Vulgaris, is applied to the body according to requirements specified by a treatment prescription.

This is a relatively painless and gentle form of medicine and is carried out by sterile procedure. No drugs are used and nothing is injected into the skin. 

The needles are very fine, the thickness of a few strands of hair. It is usual to have about 4 to 10 points treated, but this can be more or less depending on the patient. The needles are left in position for about 20 to 30 minutes. Moxa may be applied by attaching it to needles, may warm the skin thro' the use of a 'moxa cigar', or a small piece of moxa may be set alight on the skin to be removed without burning, to create a comfortable warming effect at the acupoint.

 

  What can Acupuncturists treat?

Acupuncture and moxibustion is used to treat a wide range of conditions including headaches & migraine, anxiety & depression, arthritis, backache & sciatica, musculo-skeletal disorders, allergies & sensitivities, insomnia, pain-related disorders, bowel & digestive problems, sinus problems, infertility, MS, CFS/PVS/ME and many more.

How does Acupuncture work?

There are many theories which attempt to explain how acupuncture works. The millennia old Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Theory uses the framework of the philosophy of that time when man and nature seem to have been more in tune. More information in treatment of disorders section.

What response will I have to treatment?

Treatment usually lasts about half an hour, may be given once or twice per week initially and gradually reduced in frequency as the condition improves. The response varies from patient to patient as some feel immediate improvement whilst others improve more slowly, much depends on the type of condition, its severity and length of time suffered, and what medication is being used, so some patients need just a few treatments whilst others need an extensive course of treatment. We strive to effect best results with as few treatments as possible.

 

For very recent evidence on the variety of conditions acupuncture & moxibustion treats see  http://www.ncbi.nih.gov/pubmed/21235072

Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2010 Oct;35(5):394-401. "Graded-disease-spectrum of the nervous system of acu-moxibustion therapy was determined based on its clinical efficacy and by fuzzy comprehensive estimation technique". Du YH, Xiong J, Xu YL, Li B, Sun P, Gao X, Chen YW. The First Hospital Attached to Tianjin University of Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China. jpjs_cn@sina.com.  where the eminent scientific academic team states clearly that
 
A total of 58 medical conditions involving 4 grades and 126 subtypes were included and analyzed. The Grade I contains 14 subtypes as Bell's palsy (in the acute stage and convalescence stage), primary sciatic neuralgia, migraine (mild type and moderate type), etc. which can be relieved by using acu-moxibustion therapy only. The Grade II contains 53 subtypes, such as transient cerebral ischemic attack, acute cerebrovascular disease (in the convalescence stage and sequelae stage), chronic Bell's palsy (sequelae), Hunt's facial palsy, etc. which can be relieved by using acu-moxibustion as the main therapy. The Grade III contains 22 subtypes, such as acute stage of ischemic cerebrovascular disease (with coma and without coma), acute stage of hemorrhagic ischemic cerebrovascular disease (with coma and without coma), etc. which may be relieved to a certain degree by using acu-moxibustion as the supplementary or main therapy. The Grade IV contains 37 subtypes, such as Wohlfart-Kugelberg-Welander disease, myasthenia gravis (type III and type IV), myasthenia gravis of medicinal herbs resource, chorea major, etc. whose clinical effects are not known if treated with acu-moxibustion. Acu-moxibustion therapy has apparent advantages in the treatment of different clinical conditions of the nervous system."
 
                                                                                                                                     

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