Traditional acupuncture is a healthcare system based on ancient principles which go back nearly two thousand years. It has a very positive model of good health and function, and looks at pain and illness as signs that the body is out of balance. The overall aim of acupuncture treatment, then, is to restore the body's equilibrium. What makes this system so uniquely suited to modern life is that physical, emotional and mental are seen as interdependent, and reflect what many people perceive as the connection between the different aspects their lives.

Traditional acupuncturists believe that the underlying principle of treatment is that illness and pain occur when the body's qi, or vital energy, cannot flow freely. There can be many reasons for this; emotional and physical stress, poor nutrition, infection or injury are among the most common. By inserting ultra-fine sterile needles into specific acupuncture points, a traditional acupuncturist seeks to re-establish the free flow of qi to restore balance and trigger the body's natural healing response.

• Uterine fibroids
• Indomctrosis
• Menopausal syndrome
• Hormonal imbalance
• Infertility
• Irregular menstruation
• Prenatal stress disorder
• Postpartum conditioning
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• Neck pain
• Shoulder pain
• Migraine
• Knee pain arthritis
• Back muscle pain
• Sciatica
• Weight Loss
• Migraines
• Quitting Smoking
• Asthma
• Depression
• Arthritis
• Insomnia
• Eczema
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Multiple Sclerosis

Acupuncture can be used successfully to support the treatment of IVF or be used as a stand alone treatment. Regular acupuncture has been shown to regulate the endocrine function which greatly improves the chances of conception. Research shows that acupuncture may benefit fertility by:

• Regulating the menstrual cycle
• Reducing stress by decreasing the activity of the sympathetic nervous system (high stress levels are associated with reduced chances of conceiving)
• Improving blood circulation to the pelvic organs (including the ovaries and uterus), allowing the reproductive organs to work to their full potential
• Increasing blood circulation to the uterus, ensuring optimal endometrial thickness
• Helping to trigger ovulation in some women with ovulatory dysfunction

For pregnant women acupuncture may help:

• Alleviate nausea and heartburn
• Induce an overdue baby
• Relieve pain
• Treat hypertension
• Reduce insomnia, anxiety and depression
• Improve mood and energy levels
• Gestational diabetes
• Constipation and hemorrhoids
• Breach and posterior positioned babies
• To prepare the body for efficient labour when given pre-birth

Postnatal treatments can help to restore much needed energy after the birth of your child. This is a really important time in which to look after yourself because most of your energy will be directed towards your newborn. Acupuncture can help improve energy levels, as well as helping to treat a wide range of conditions such as depression, mastitis, insufficient lactation, post-natal depression and urinary incontinence.

Research has shown that acupuncture is significantly better than no treatment and at least as good as (if not better than) standard medical care for back pain (Witt 2006; Haake 2007; Cherkin 2009; Sherman 2009a).

In 2009 the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommended that acupuncture should be made available on the NHS, as a cost-effective short-term treatment for the management of early, persistent non-specific lower back pain.

If you would like a consultation with Dr Duo to discuss your problem(s) and possible treatments, please call the centre on 02089 878666 or fill in the form on our contact page.