Why Acupuncture
What is
ACU
"Acupuncture is considered safe in the hands of a well-trained practitioner; it is essential to visit a registered Acupuncturist and in Australia, this means an Acupuncturist must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). All therapists at Aus Acu hold unconditional membership with AHPRA, and are members of the Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association (AACMA) with all relevant qualifications, insurances, and certifications."
Acupuncture (Acu), is a health tool originally from Traditional East Asian Medicine, one of the world’s oldest healthcare systems. Acupuncture is referred to in historical literature dating back over two thousand years, and now has more research backing up its efficacy and possible mechanisms than almost all other health modalities.
Acupuncture (and Acupressure) both involve the stimulation of points on the skin with either sterile, hair-thin pins (‘needles’), or with laser, electrical-impulse, or massage. Acupuncturists must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) in order to deliver safe and effective treatments.
At our Gold Coast Acupuncture Clinic, each treatment includes a consultation, after which the patient will relax on a treatment table while the Acu points are inserted. As the needles are so fine they do not require a cutting edge (like hypodermic needles do), they are usually painless and the treatment is designed to be incredibly relaxing and gentle. The needles remain in place between 30-45 minutes, during which time you will relax and enjoy an ‘Acu-nap’. Similar to meditation, this time of stillness is accompanied by tranquil music, aromatherapy, and the spa-like ambiance of our beautiful clinic to help your body heal. You will have plenty of time to ask questions, to relax, and to feel comfortable. You are welcome to contact the clinic with any questions you may have in regards to our Acupuncture treatments at any time.
For online consultations, we will talk through your consultation virtually, and include self-acupressure techniques designed to deliver similar results in your own home. Our online Acu consults include a detailed personalised treatment plan with lifestyle recommendations, as well as resources designed to help you feel and live a healthier life. You can book for an Online Consultation directly through our website.
How does
Acu work?
While relaxing during your ‘Acu-Nap’, the Acupuncture point combination we select is chosen to assist your body to find homeostasis (balance) between your internal health and external environment. Much of your body’s capacity to heal is influenced by stress, as evaluated by your central nervous system. By addressing blood flow, neurological messaging and nervous system relaxation, Acupuncture is able to create an environment conducive to maximum natural healing.
The exact science of Acupuncture is still being discovered, however much research (including brain imaging and neuro-scans) suggests Acupuncture causes changes at a chemical level, promoting a more peaceful and balanced internal state that allows your cells to repair faster. Your Acu therapist will select points based on energy lines in the body we call ‘Meridians’, each associated with a different organ or system in the body.
We are here to answer your questions - you do not need to ‘believe’ in Acupuncture for it to work, as it’s quite scientific in nature. If you are fearful of needles, we can talk through other options including Acupressure and ‘sticker-puncture’ procedures to deliver similar results without needles.
Contact our Gold Coast Acupuncture Clinic to chat with us about Acupuncture, how it works, and how we can help you feel better, naturally.
What
Tools are Used?
The Acupuncture needles used at Aus Acu much finer than hypodermic (hospital) needles. Acu needles have no cutting edge like a hypodermic needle, making Acupuncture virtually painless - the needles glides in usually undetected by the nervous system regulating in less discomfort. After the needles are placed in position, you may feel a little heaviness, or sensations such as pins and needles or ‘energy movement’, all of which are normal during a session.
Aus Acu uses high quality Japanese needles (there are much cheaper Acupuncture needles available, however we believe you get what you pay for!) that are less painful, and do not cause redness and itchiness at the needle site post-treatment.
Additionally, our treatments may utilise other tools such as acupressure, massage, stretching, breathing techniques, cupping, and Gua Sha (scraping), plus infrared light therapy. Please visit our Health Blog section to read more about these incredible healing modalities.
New
Research
Recent years have seen an increase in the amount and the quality of scientific research aiming to understand the method, the physiology, and the efficacy of Acupuncture treatments.
"Research into acupuncture as a medical treatment has grown exponentially in the past decades, increasing at twice the rate of research into conventional medicine. The last 20 years has seen over 13,000 studies published in 60 countries, including hundreds of meta-analyses summarising the results of thousands of human and animal studies."
Here are some of the best research links to read more about current research papers and how Acupuncture is being explored for a range of health needs across multiple health disciplines.
