Acupuncture with a trained and fully qualified practitioner is one of the safest and longest established forms of healthcare. It is suitable for people of all ages, including pregnant women and children, and can be used effectively alongside conventional medicine.
Traditional Acupuncture differs from Western acupuncture (sometimes also called dry needling) often used by physiotherapists/GPs/osteopaths/etc. after they have attended a short course. This technique has its benefits mainly in pain relief and uses basic acupuncture techniques such as needling local tender points (which we call Ahshi points) with perhaps some standard acupuncture pain relief points – to often good effect. It doesn’t, however, involve a full traditional diagnosis as taken in the initial consultation of a Traditional Acupuncturist, which, in my opinion, results in a more holistic approach of the issue. My degrees in Sports Sciences and in Acupuncture have given me a foundation in the Western approach to anatomy, physiology and pathology, but my Traditional Diagnosis is based on the Chinese medical approach to health, i.e. the balance of Qi, Yin and Yang, etc., which also takes in to account the emotional wellbeing of the patient. I also learnt to apply this theory under supervision during 9 months of clinical practice, before graduating, and have continued topping up my practical skills during my many years in practice,
British Acupuncture Council
With over 3,000 members the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) is the UK’s largest regulatory body for practitioners of traditional acupuncture. The BAcC is a founder member of the Professional Standards Authority Accredited Voluntary Register (AVR) and maintains high standards of training, safe practice and professional conduct.
Acupuncturists registered with the BAcC carry the letters MBAcC after their name. When you choose to visit a BAcC member you can be sure of:
- Extensive training (minimum three years degree level), including anatomy, physiology, and other appropriate elements of western medicine
- Adherence to the Council’s Codes of Safe Practice and Professional Conduct
- Compliance with current health and safety legislation
- Full medical malpractice and public/products liability insurance cover
- Up-to-date knowledge and skills maintained by mandatory continuing professional development
- Many BAcC members undertake postgraduate study of common health conditions.
Zita West Affiliate
Zita West affiliated acupuncturists specialize in all aspects of male and female reproductive health.
I have been a member of the network since 2010 and have received training in Zita’s unique holistic approach to achieving optimum reproductive health.
As an affiliate, I can offer discounts on the Zita West range of quality nutritional products.
Professional Standards Authority
The Professional Standards Authority accredits registers so you can be confident when choosing health and care practitioners. The Authority makes sure that the public is protected when choosing and using health and care services by independently assessing organisations who register practitioners, who are not regulated by law, working both within and outside the NHS. Accredited registers help people get better care by ensuring that the health practitioners they register are competent and trustworthy