Needles

I use very fine disposable, sterile needles. They are made of stainless steel and produced in China, Germany, Japan, Korea or the USA. The needles I prefer to use have a thickness of 0.14mm - 0.25 mm max.

Needles are disposed of safely after each insertion. Most of my needling is done very shallowly, that utilises and in/out approach common with Five Element, Japanese or Korean acupuncture. My focus is to make it as comfortable as possible for you the patient. Needles are occasionally left in for short amounts of time, depending on need.

Moxa

Moxa is made from the seed head or 'punk' of the common mugwort or Artemisia vulgaris. It comes in various grades, from dark green to light yellow/green and is used directly on the skin in small cones [ and occasionally big ones]. The cones are lit and then whisked off just before it burns down to the skin level. It also is used in various forms attached to the end of needles, transmitting warmth down through the needle to the acupuncture point or meridian. Moxa cigars or 'rolls' and loose moxa contained in wooden boxes are also used to cover larger areas.

Heat in chinese medicine moves qi, adds qi and relieves stagnation [which can relieve pain].

For more information about moxa there is a B.Ac.C. factsheet which you can download.

N.B. Moxa is not suitable for everyone.

Cupping

Cupping is a specialist area that I have a particular interest in. It involves flames and fire again and that magic ingredient, warmth. I practice fire cupping whereby by a flame is placed inside a glass cup briefly, long enough to burn up the oxygen then the cupping jar is placed swiftly on the skin. This takes advantage of the brief vacuum created in the cup that stimulates the acupuncture point and the meridian of energy in the locality. Skin, muscle and blood are raised up, stimulating circulation and helping to relieve muscle spasm and muscle knots.

In chinese medicine the treatment moves stagnation of qi and blood which in turn helps to relieve pain and stiffness.

Cupping can also be used to help relieve internal diseases, particularly in the lungs, but also the stomach. Most commonly it is used on backs, shoulders, knees and elbows. It is one of the earliest forms of medicine found throughout the world. It was used most widely as a form of folk medicine, applied at the top of the shoulders to drive away the beginnings of colds and fevers and utilising old jam jars or commonly in China lengths of bamboo boiled in herbs to heat them up.