Awake healing

Acupuncture

Awake Healing is Anna-Marie Wakeling.

Accredited Chinese medicine and acupuncture practitioner, crystal therapist and reiki 3 attuned healer.

What is Acupuncture?

Classical acupuncture is an ancient, philosophical, holistic, medical therapy. It is used widely around the world, originating in China over 4000 years ago. It is a safe, elegant and effective healthcare system; helping people, from all walks of life, with many different illnesses and troubles. 

Practitioners use thin, sterile, disposable needles to stimulate acupoints points; inserting them superficially into the skin. Points maybe chosen away from the area of discomfort, in order to have a greater effect. Acupuncture seeks to create energetic balance and to assist the body’s natural ability to heal itself.

How does it work?

The classical Chinese explanation is that pathways (meridians) of energy (qi) run throughout the body and over its surfaces. The free flow of movement and change through these pathways results in good health, balance and well being. Resistances, or blockages within the pathways can generate disharmony within the entire connected system. Treatment seeks to understand the nature of the disruption causing the imbalance; to strengthen constitutional weakness and divert excess energy to where is it lacking.

Patterns of disharmony are applied to the 5 element model: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. All organs, presenting symptoms, thoughts, tastes, tendencies and emotions are used as diagnostic tools. Stagnation can be released and the body benefited by needling acupoints relating to elements in disharmony; restoring flow and retuning the body-mind to balance.

The mechanisms of acupuncture, as understood by western science, remain under investigation.

It is likely that many reactions, throughout different systems, occur simultaneously. One system of particular interest though, is fascia. Fascia is composed of active thin layers of connective tissue that wrap, hold and connect every muscle, bone, blood vessel, nerve fibre and organ.

It is as sensitive as skin and provides continuity and communication through our entire being. It has been shown to be capable of transmitting electrical signals throughout the body and it’s reaches extend down to the level of cell membranes. It is perhaps this all reaching, largely undiscovered organ and it’s piezoelectric properties, that create acupuncture’s wide and often lasting effects.

One thing we do know is that acupuncture eases us out of stress mode (sympathetic) and into calm mode (parasympathetic). The adjustment in energy and biochemical balance is believed to stimulate the body’s own natural healing responses while we are still and relaxed, leading to faster recovery.

allow rest

In 2021 the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended acupuncture as a viable option for the management of chronic pain: NICE guideline [NG193] 
The World Health Organisation recommends acupuncture for these diseases, symptoms or conditions, because acupuncture has been ‘proven through controlled trials.

Acupuncture can be an effective treatment for:

  • Adverse reactions to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy
  • Allergic rhinitis (including hay fever
  • Biliary colic
  • Depression (including depressive neurosis and depression following stroke)
  • Dysentery
  • Dysmenorrhoea
  • Epigastralgia, acute (in peptic ulcer, acute and chronic gastritis, and gastrospasm)
  • Facial pain (including craniomandibular disorders)
  • Headache
  • Hypertension and hypotension
  • Knee pain
  • Leukopenia
  • Low back pain
  • Malposition of fetus
  • Morning sickness
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Neck pain
  • Periarthritis of shoulder
  • Postoperative pain
  • Renal colic
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Sciatica
Get in Touch with Anna-Marie
Achieve Balance

Acupuncture FAQs

Below are some of the questions most often asked about acupuncture. If your question is not answered here, or not covered in enough detail; please don’t hesitate to contact Anna-Marie and find out how acupuncture may be able to help you.

This is entirely dependant on the individual. Treatment has the potential to produce rapid results, however, usually a course of treatment is required. Results and improvements are commonly seen within 3-6 weekly, or fortnightly sessions. Many then choose to return for ‘maintenance’ treatments, assisting in any further needed rebalancing and to help prevent any further issues: prevention is better than cure.

In short, no. The needles used are the same but that is where the similarity ends. The techniques and diagnostic tools used are very different. Acupuncture is a holistic form of treatment, treating the whole person, as opposed to the focus being the painful elbow or shoulder, or whatever else the manifestation of your symptoms might be. Case histories taken and examinations made are more comprehensive. Diagnosis is based on several factors, including the appearance of your tongue (colour, size, shape, coating), the quality of your pulses in your wrists and your mental and physical wellbeing. Western acupuncture and dry needling, commonly practised by osteopaths, GPs and chiropractors, are very symptom targeted. Consequently, the needling techniques and the needling sites used are also very different.

The acupuncture profession is not regulated, allowing anyone to call themselves an acupuncturist.
When choosing a therapist it is important to make sure that your chosen practitioner is fully qualified, insured, registered with a recognised accreditation body and understands the nature of any pre-existing medical conditions you may have.

Very thin – only slightly thicker than a human hair, ranging from 1 to 3 inches in length.

The insertion of the needles often causes little or no discomfort. A localised ache may be felt when the acupuncture point is reached. Any discomfort experienced is short lived and often followed by a deep sense of relaxation.

The blood donor service does not accept blood from anyone who has had acupuncture within four months preceding donation. This precaution is enforced as there is no current regulation of the acupuncture profession and prevents any small risk of spreading hepatitis; which could become an issue if correct hygiene procedures are not followed and disposable needles are not used.

Anna-Marie is available for appointment bookings on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between the hours of 13.00 and 18.00.

Fees

Integrated healing: acupuncture, crystal therapy, reiki and sound healing:
Initial treatment; including consultation, diagnosis and treatment plan

One and a half hours

£60

Follow on sessions

One hour

£40

Invest in a pack and save

5 x follow on sessions

One hour each

£180

10 x follow on sessions

One hour each

£320

Systemic healing, plus facial rejuvenation acupuncture

One and a half hours

£75 *available only as a follow on treatment *

Invest in a pack and save

5 x follow on sessions

One hour each

£340

10 x follow on sessions

One hour each

£600

Book An Appointment

Cash and card payments available.

Anna-Marie is available for appointment bookings on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between the hours of 13.00 and 18.00.

Awake Healing

Have you become used to a level of discomfort and now consider it normal?

Many do, whether it be pain, impaired mobility, digestive abnormalities, disturbed moods or anything else. It doesn’t have to be normal, it doesn’t have to stay that way.

Get in touch with Anna-Marie