Stephen Hunter
Acupuncture, Massage and Stretching
Serving Nelson, Castlegar, Trail, Slocan, Kaslo and area
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Acupuncture
Acupuncture originated in ancient China and is now used all over the world as its benefits become more well-known.
One of the fundamental concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine is that of Qi.
Qi is energy, the life force which flows through and around the body. When Qi does not flow properly, then illness will be the result. Sometimes there can be too much or too little. Sometimes Qi can become stuck or flow in the wrong direction.
Acupuncture stimulates the body’s own healing process by correcting and balancing the flow of Qi. This is achieved by inserting very fine needles into specific points on the body. Often lifestyle advice will also be given. Read more about what to expect in an acupuncture session.
What can acupuncture treat?
I am often asked what acupuncture can treat. All symptoms and behaviour can be explained using Traditional Chinese Medicine theories. No symptom is dismissed as irrelevant to the condition the person is in. The whole person is looked at – every symptom, every feeling, every expression – in order to determine the Patterns of Disharmony.
Patterns of Disharmony.
There are many different Patterns of Disharmony and it is usual to have more than one at the same time. These Patterns use names and concepts that are not familiar to Westerners, but that are absolutely fascinating to learn about. For example, muscle aches in the limbs could be due to Dampness in the muscles, Phlegm Heat in the muscles, Liver Qi Stagnation or Liver Blood Deficiency. Each of these different patterns would require a different set of points for treatment.
However, I find that once a pattern of disharmony has been explained, with some expansion of how symptoms interlink, it often makes perfect sense in terms of the patient's experience.
How I make a diagnosis.
An acupuncturist diagnoses by asking lots of questions about lifestyle and symptoms, looking at skin, eyes and hair, checking the quality of the pulse and looking at the tongue and general stature of a person.
All of these various symptoms lead to a deeper understanding of the person and which Pattern(s) are presenting and which require priority for treatment.
Acupuncture can be used for both new and ongoing health issues and as it is an holistic system, the whole body is treated, not necessarily just the presenting issue. It is possible to treat a wide range of different health problems with acupuncture.
Health and Safety.
As acupuncture uses needles, there are regulations in place to ensure the safety of both practitioner and patient which I adhere to with diligence.
In addition to my traditional acupuncture practice, I also offer a specific technique called Battlefield Acupuncture for pain management. You can read more here.