ACUPUNCTURE @ Health Haven Family Physio & Wellbeing
There is growing evidence of the benefits of acupuncture in assisting with recovery from injury, relieving pain and regulating hormone imbalances for a number of conditions.
Our Physiotherapists both have Post-Graduate qualifications in Western Acupuncture and have attended numerous post-graduate training courses. They are both registered with PAANZ (Physiotherapy Acupuncture Association NZ). Acupuncture is offered where appropriate during Physiotherapy consultations and can also be booked as specific consultations (for hormone, cosmetic and chronic pain conditions)
You may be offered Acupuncture as a part of your treatment plan if it is appropriate for your pain/injury: This is included in the price of your treatment and will be discussed with you if it would be beneficial for your particular injury.
Acupuncture can be useful in the treatment of the following injuries: - Neck and back injuries and chronic back pain - Shoulder : rotator cuff injuries, AC joint injuries, post-surgical rehabilitation - Knee & ankle injuries (particularly where swelling or muscle spasm is a factor) - Patellofemoral dysfunction (runner's knee) - Achilles pain - Plantar fasciitis - Lateral epicondylitis (Tennis elbow) - Muscle strains & tears - Ligament strains & tears (for swelling and muscle spasm) * Acupuncture or Dry Needling for injury or pain conditions usually requires needles to be left in anywhere from a few seconds up to 15-20 minutes, depending on the technique required and physiological effects we are trying to elicit.
Acupuncture-specific treatments for the following conditions must be booked separately
- Anovulation (fertility issues relating to irregular cycles or anovulation) - Hot flush symptoms due to menopause - Morning sickness during pregnancy - Cosmetic Acupuncture (reducing fine lines and improving skin tone) * Please select Melissa when you book for the Acupuncture specific treatments * Acupuncture-specific treatments often require needles to be left in situ for 30 minutes or longer
The Process Acupuncture needles are very thin and are inserted via a plastic tube. Health Haven Physios use only sterile, disposable needles. Depending on the treatment/condition we are treating, needles may be inserted for only a few seconds and then removed or could be left in place for 10-30 minutes. Your therapist will discuss this with you at the time of treatment.
What does it feel like? When the needles are first inserted, you may feel a slight prick, or you may feel nothing at all. Once the needle is in place, you may feel a dull ache, a shooting or tingling sensation or a 'heavy' feeling. This is completely normal as the nerve endings are responding to the stimulus. It should settle after a few minutes and feel quite comfortable
Benefits The stimulation of nerve endings can have various benefits depending on the technique used. These benefits include: - A flush of blood flow and nutrients into the area to support healing - Pain relieving chemicals released from the brain into the painful area - Activation of trigger points in the muscles which releases muscular tension - Stimulation of the central nervous system to regulate hormone production and release into the blood stream - Dilation of pores and reduction of fine lines, wrinkles, acne and facial blemishes (Cosmetic Acupuncture)
Side Effects The most common side effects are very mild. Is is likely that you will not suffer from any side effects at all. Possible mild side effects include: - Bruising - Localised tenderness over the needle site - Short term aggravation of your pain symptoms (this is often a good sign) - Mild nausea/dizziness - Tiredness More serious side effects are very unlikely as our Physiotherapists are trained to use the correct technique and regularly review safety guidelines and training. There have been reported cases of pneumothorax or puncturing of the pleura surrounding the lung, following acupuncture over the chest area. However, with the correct technique, risks are very low. Please note: Pneumothorax can also happen spontaneously.
Acupuncture during Pregnancy Acupuncture can be helpful for lots of conditions during pregnancy. These include: - Morning sickness - Lower back and pelvic pain - Carpal tunnel syndrome - Headaches - Sprains and strains - Fluid retention
Is it safe to have acupuncture during pregnancy? There is no evidence to suggest acupuncture can have any detrimental effects on an unborn baby or on the mother. All research to date demonstrates positive effects, particularly in the area of morning sickness and lower back and pelvic pain. However, due to a higher prevalence of miscarriage due to natural causes in the first trimester, if you do not feel comfortable having acupuncture, please feel free to decline it or discuss further with your Physiotherapist.
Acupuncture for Hormone Imbalances Acupuncture works on the central nervous system to help regulate hormones that are released into the blood stream. It also helps improve blood flow to the ovaries and stabilise metabolic imbalances. This can stabilise the menstrual period and associated symptoms, encourage ovulation and stabilise thermal regulation (during menopause). This technique can be used for - Hot flushes - Irregular menstrual cycles - Polycystic ovarian syndrome - Painful menstruation and Endometrioses - PMS symptoms
How Acupuncture can assist with Fertility & Hormone Imbalances Acupuncture works on the central nervous system to help regulate the hormones that are released into the blood stream. It helps to improve blood flow into the ovaries and stabilize metabolic imbalances. This can stabilize the menstrual period and symptoms associated with it, encourage ovulation and balance your thermal regulation (our inner thermostat). It is also thought that acupuncture can help with supporting the implantation process and improve your chances of having a viable pregnancy with IVF. How Acupuncture can Help Morning Sickness Morning sickness is caused by the huge fluctuations in hormone activity during pregnancy. Our hormones balance changes to allow our body to accommodate our baby and also to support the growth of our special wee bundle. However, these same hormones can become too over-active and this can make us feel really unwell i.e nausea, fatigue, vomiting etc. Acupuncture can help normalise the balance of hormones to settle the symptoms of morning sickness. For some people it can completely remove these symptoms and for others it reduces the severity of symptoms. The way that we deliver treatment for morning sickness is with a combination of relaxation, acupuncture and gentle massage and recommendations. This is a really effective way of gaining some relief from your symptoms to help you to keep functioning!
Cosmetic Acupuncture This technique has been used for thousands of years by Eastern practitioners to reduce the signs of ageing including reduction of fine lines, wrinkles and sun spots and to help reduce facial acne and other facial blemishes. In western medical understanding, the technique of cosmetic acupuncture works to improve blood flow and nutrients, open facial pores that are constricted to allow improved oxygenation and reduce over-dilated pores to prevent bacteria from settling in the pores.
How will it be done? After filling the appropriate consents, your experienced Physiotherapist will instruct you to lie on your back on the treatment table and make you as comfortable as they can. After asking you any specific areas that you would like to focus on, a hot cloth will then be placed over your face to open your pores for best results (some essential oils may be used). Single-use, sterile needles will then be inserted into your face into specific points. These needles only go in very shallow into the dermal layer of your skin. You may feel a slight sting or pinch as the needles go in but once they are in, they are usually quite comfortable. A few needles will then be put into extra-segmental points (points in your hand and/or legs). The needles will then stay in for approximately 20 minutes. The needles are quickly removed, any small dots of blood will be dabbed and a hot cloth will again be placed on your skin for a few minutes.
Side effects Cosmetic Acupuncture is a very safe procedure and has no serious side effects. Some minor post treatment side effects include - tenderness over needle sites - bruising These should settle in 48 hours and should only be mild
How many sessions of Acupuncture will I need?
Acupuncture works differently for everyone and can give you instant benefits or relief, or can take up to 6 treatments to start seeing progress. We recommend that you have two sessions in the first week if possible and then one to two times per week. Your Physiotherapist will discuss your treatment plan with you and recommend the frequency of your treatments. Do not panic if you do not feel any different after your session OR have an aggravation of your symptoms directly afterwards. This is often a good sign that you have had a response from treatment.