Inner West Health

Acupuncture is an integral part of Traditional Chinese Medicine and has been used in East Asian countries for over 2000 years to address and try and prevent illnesses. Chinese Medicine is a comprehensive medical system with its own principles, diagnostic methods and therapies, including acupuncture, moxibustion and cupping. It views the body as an organic whole with a network of meridians connecting and coordinating the internal organs, Qi (often translated as vital energy), blood, body fluids, muscles, bones, tendons and the skin. Chinese Medicine looks at pain and illness as a sign that this network is out of balance. Acupuncture treatment aims to restore this balance by promoting the body’s ability to heal it-self and so resolving or managing symptoms and encouraging and maintaining good health. Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine needles on specific points on the body. It is a safe, drug-free and clinically effective treatment method for many health issues including non-specific lower back pain, osteoarthritis of the knee and tension-type headaches.

Cupping is an ancient therapy that has been used by many different cultures for over 3000 years and it has been part of mainstream medicine in Europe until the late 20th century. Cupping involves the principal of applying a vacuum to the treatment area to stimulate or regulate Qi and Blood circulation in the body and release any stagnation that is often the cause of illness. It is regularly used in the treatment of muscular and joint pain, common colds, asthma, chronic cough and indigestion. There may be marks left on the skin from the cups but these usually disappear after a few days.