Acupuncture has evolved from the ancient art of placing needles into special locations on the body, to alleviate pain and increase the recovery rate and resistance to disease.

It is a system of healing which has been practiced by the Chinese and other Eastern cultures for thousands of years and may be used to treat a wide variety of illnesses.

Traditional Chinese Medicine
The Chinese approach to disease is very holistic, and emotional, hereditary and environmental factors are considered important factors in disease patterns. The philosophy and aim of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) is to restore equilibrium between physical, emotional and spiritual factors, thus restoring and maintaining health. Treatment involves using needles in specific acupuncture points (often in combination with herbal therapy) to achieve this balance, by addressing imbalances in Yin and Yang and the flow of Qi and Blood, etc.

Western neurophysiological models also exist, and are especially important when considering chronic pain management in musculoskeletal and neurological conditions.

Western Scientific Approach
The Western view of acupuncture is used predominantly in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders and, in particular, chronic pain states in animals. The effect of acupuncture is largely segmental, that is nerves, muscles and acupuncture points are needled in the same spinal segmentas the affected or painful area. “Pain gating”, as well as descending pain inhibition (via various brain and spinal cord pathways), are involved. Acupuncture also stimulates the release of pain relieving chemicals in the brain and spinal cord (endorphins, seratonin, noradrenalin, etc.) which produce more generalised or extrasegmental analgesia. These effects, combined with local needling of painful trigger points in taut muscle bands, result in exceptional relief of pain.

These two approaches may be combined and the result is that acupuncture may be particularly effective in the treatment of chronic disease states, either to complement orthodox treatments, or when orthodox medicine fails.