Traditional Acupuncture

Fully Licensed Acupuncturist operating in London since 2007

About Traditional Acupuncture

Traditional acupuncture is an ancient form of medicine that is still used by millions of people, rural and urban, rich and poor, in modern China and other countries in East Asia. The practice of acupuncture originates in part from the great Chinese philosophical traditions of Confucianism and Daoism, although in the second half of the twentieth century, separate European schools of acupuncture have also emerged. Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine needles into specific areas of the body. In the UK today, these needles are all in individual sterile packaging and are used once and then discarded safely into a sharps box. The aim of the treatment is to correct energy imbalances in the patient’s body and facilitate self-healing.

These energy imbalances may entail a deficiency of Qi (the body’s own energy), a blockage of the flow of Qi (perhaps the result of accident, overwork, or stress) or an accumulation of bad energy (such as the result of infection, emotional problems, or lifestyle).

Mark has worked with patients who present with a wide variety of conditions at his London acupuncture clinics. A list of some of these can be found on the Conditions page of this website.

Many clients use traditional acupuncture in its purest form as a preventative medicine to facilitate general well-being and to help at arduous times. The classical Chinese practitioners recommended four seasonal treatments to keep ill-health at bay. There was also a tradition in ancient China were families would retain a physician and pay them while all the family members remained in good health, but once somebody was ill, the practitioner would receive no income until that person was well again.

In fact, there is a famous saying in traditional Chinese medicine that ‘the inferior physician treats illness, the superior physician prevents illness’.

Mark works frequently with people who present with stress and stress-related issues, anxiety, and depression and also the complaints that often accompany these and that conventional medicine can sometimes struggle to address, such as headaches, insomnia, and fatigue. Studies have demonstrated that acupuncture has a powerful capacity for engaging the para-sympathetic nervous system, which is associated with lower blood pressure, slower heart rate, and increased blood flow to the organs. The Chinese have a saying that “westerners live in their heads”. Many people find acupuncture to be a powerful tool to overcome the general feeling of having too much going on in one’s head and the inability to switch off, thus enabling them to clear their thoughts and providing a sense of calmness.

Prior to a traditional acupuncture treatment, it is important to have a good breakfast or lunch. Alcohol must be avoided – and ideally tea and coffee too for one hour beforehand. After a treatment, it is best to avoid alcohol and coffee for the rest of that day.

Traditional Healing Therapies

Alongside acupuncture needles, an acupuncturist may work with their patient in a variety of other methods. These include:

Chinese Dietary Therapy
Cupping Treatment
Gua Sha Treatment
Moxa

To learn more about the history of acupuncture click here.