Acupuncture

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an ancient system of healing from Traditional Chinese Medicine and involves the insertion of fine, sterile, disposable acupuncture needles into specific points located on body. This system of medicine has been used in the East for thousands of years and has recently been adopted into Western medicine. Acupuncture can influence the body via the nervous system to help restore balance and improving the function of the body and the relief of symptoms.

What can acupuncture help with?

Acupuncture may help to relieve some of the possible side effects of breast cancer treatments such as fatigue, difficulty sleeping, nausea, pain, anxiety, hot flushes and night sweats. Acupuncture may also give you an enhanced sense of well-being and help with general symptoms such as headaches, migraines, stiffness and constipation. 

What happens in an acupuncture session?
This begins with a consultation and follows the form of TCM diagnosis including tongue and pulse diagnosis. The remaining time is spent having the acupuncture treatment itself, during which you will be able to rest deeply or even sleep. You will have up to 12 fine needles placed in appropriate acupuncture points on the body. These will usually stay in for at least 20 minutes while you rest.

When can acupuncture be given?
Acupuncture can be helpful with the relief of symptoms and side effects at any stage of breast cancer and its treatments

Number and length of appointments
Acupuncture is usually given in a course of 3-6 treatments, according to the needs of the individual. Each session lasts for up to one hour.

“All the therapies have made a huge difference to me but acupuncture has been a revelation. The difference this made to my energy levels was astounding, my whole system felt balanced and I was so much calmer – something my family was extremely grateful to The Haven for. All I can say is thank goodness for The Haven – my soul saver”      
- Adel, Visitor to The Yorkshire Haven

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