In 2018, a team of Portuguese researchers reviewed thirteen western based scientific studies on acupuncture.  

This review was published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice and concluded that

“Overall, there is good scientific evidence encouraging acupuncture therapy to treat anxiety disorders as it yields effective outcomes, with fewer side effects than conventional treatment".

And also that “Pharmacology and psychotherapy stand for the conventional treatment for anxiety disorders but these present limited efficacy, especially in the case of chronic anxiety, with high relapse rates and often causing adverse side effects. Clinical research studies render acupuncture as a valid treatment therapy for anxiety disorders without significant adverse effects”.

In the East, Chinese Medicine – herbs, acupuncture and QiGong have all been successfully used for thousands of years to combat anxiety, depression, mood swings, stress, irritability and psychological disorders. They have been widely used for these issues of the mind and emotions on hundreds of millions of people ...

During menopause many women in Western countries experience negative symptoms;  such as hot flushes, night sweats, anxiety, insomnia, vaginal dryness, poor concentration and memory, nausea, depression, mood swings, irritability, feelings of anger, loss of libido, urinary tract infections, dry skin and hair, thirst, brittle nails, and loss of bone density.

Surprisingly in China, most women do not endure these discomforting symptoms at all. In the West it is estimated that approximately 75% of women are affected, whereas in China it is a mere 10%. The reasons behind this are believed to be from differences in diet and from the use of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicines.

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years in China to effectively combat pain and to promote healing.  It is now being used frequently in the West for the same purpose.

For the last 25 years Western scientific and medical studies have been carried out which are proving time and time again the efficacy of Acupuncture in the treatment of many types of painful conditions. Such as lower back pain, arthritis, nerve pain, knee problems, muscle strains, migraine headaches, menstrual pain, tennis elbow and a host of other issues.

Western and Chinese Medicines still have different understandings of how Acupuncture rids pain and promotes healing, but there is now a consensus from all around the entire world that it does do this quite effectively...

Moxibustion is used in Chinese Medicine to help in turning breech babies to their best position for a natural birth.

Western scientific and medical studies have shown its use is effective in accomplishing this.

It can also be used for helping babies who aren’t in optimal positions to achieve them, such as babies who are in a posterior position. This will help to ensure as little medical intervention as possible during the birth.

If you complete the proper series of treatments (12 to 20), then good effects can be attained from cosmetic acupuncture.

Usually you can start to see improvements in complexion after a few treatments and improvements in lines and wrinkles etc. after five or six sessions. (But this is dependent on the initial health of the client, some clients get results far quicker when they are in reasonably good health to begin with). Any advice from your practitioner in relation to diet and lifestyle should be followed, and if so then the results should be long lasting.

Top ups once every six months are a good idea to prolong the results. 

This treatment in the short term won't produce the dramatic effects of a surgical face lift but in the longer term things might be very different. Most people are unaware that when you receive a surgical face lift that thousands of tiny blood vessels can not be re-joined successfully, thus diminishing circulation into the face and actually increasing the speed at which your face will age after the procedure.

Of course, as with any surgery there may be other serious complications too. And also there will be severe bruising and a recovery time necessary.

This type of surgery obviously does nothing to enhance your overall health or help you reduce stress levels. It may even help deplete some of your vital anti-aging hormones which are used up in trying to recover from the invasive operation.

With botox, there are still questions as to its long term safety and effectiveness. And again botox will do nothing for your overall health and wellbeing.

Cosmetic Acupuncture and Herbal Therapy are completely safe in the hands of a fully qualified practitioner. There is no chance of disfigurement or any serious complications. There is no trauma or heavy bruising and hence no recovery time needed.

At the Leixlip Chinese Medicine Clinic, we have been providing Cosmetic Acupuncture treatments for well over ten years. We also provide Chinese Herbal treatments for beauty. It is our opinion that in the long term, herbs will have even a more significant effect on boosting hormones and slowing down aging than acupuncture treatments would have. We always combine both treatments to produce the best results.

For more information on Cosmetic Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Beauty treatments click here.

Or if you live in Leixlip, Celbridge, Lucan, Maynooth or Dublin and would like to make an appointment at the clinic then click here.

The simple answer is - No.
 
Acupuncture needles when inserted by a skilled practitioner should not hurt. They are tiny needles. They are a similar thickness to that of a single strand of hair.

You would get about  twenty Acupuncture needles to fit into the opening of one single hypodermic syringe needle, commonly used in Western Medicine to withdraw blood or inject chemicals into the body. 

However, make sure you go to a fully qualified and skilled Acupuncturist for your treatment. There are now unfortunately others in non Chinese Medical therapies who are offering needling treatments to their clients.

It takes years of training to become proficient in using needles safely and painlessly. Most of these other therapists are not properly skilled or fully trained in needling techniques nor in Chinese Medical Theories, so you are taking a chance by attending them for any Acupuncture style treatment.

Sometimes at my clinic in Leixlip, I get nervous patients who due to past bad experiences with western injections are afraid of the needles. Once they have had a treatment and they see it is not just a pain free experience but also a relaxing one, then their fear of needles completely vanishes !

Some people claim that Acupuncture is all just in people's minds. These ignorant folk think and allege that Acupuncture is just a placebo, that it only works because gullible people believe that it will do something.

Well it certainly is not a placebo. It works whether you believe in it or not.

In fact Acupuncture is now often being used very effectively on animals by veterinarians in the western world.  

It is also regularly used on babies for all sorts of conditions.

And in China it is a standard treatment used on patients in comas to increase circulation, prevent bed sores and to keep organs functioning.

Obviously, babies and animals could have no preconceived ideas about Acupuncture and its' effectiveness.

When they heal from illnesses and ailments, this healing is caused purely by the physical and energetic effects of Acupuncture, therefore it is very real and cannot possibly be just a placebo effect.

Cupping is becoming more and more popular, It is now often used by celebrities all around the world. 

Just some of the recent celebrities to be snapped by paparazzi with cupping marks on their backs include Lady Gaga, Jennifer Aniston, Victoria Beckham, Denise Richards, Jessica Simpson, Britney Spears, Lena Dunham, Gwyneth Paltrow, Anna Lynne McCord and Chris Martin.

Cupping stimulates the lungs to absorb oxygen more effectively by strengthening them and clearing them of any build up of unwanted fluids and phlegm.

With more oxygen in the blood stream, all organs get an uplifting energetic boost, including the mind and its' emotions.

In particular, cupping is useful for boosting the energy that feeds the immune system. Which helps to create more power to make white cells and natural killer cells when they are needed to fight off infections.

It is also great as part of the treatment for lung based conditions such as asthma. I have often used it as part of my treatments here in the Leixlip Chinese Medicine Clinics. It is very effective.

My clients also find it to be a very relaxing treatment. The back is gently massaged with oil and then the cups are placed over Acupuncture points to create the healing and strengthening effects.

After a treatment, the client may have round cupping marks visible on their skin. But don't worry, these marks will disappear very quickly and are not in the least bit painful.

A Cupping Therapy treatment in the Leixlip Chinese Medicine Clinic is only 35 euro for a 40 minute treatment. Relaxing and reviving Infra-Red Heat therapy is provided with the treatment at no extra cost.

See this page for more details ....

If you are interested in Cupping but live too far away from Leixlip, then make sure you find a fully qualified Chinese Medical Practitioner for your treatment.

Cupping if not performed correctly may be painful and can cause harm to the body.

Also anytime you get a treatment from any good professional Chinese Medical Practitioner they will give you plenty of free insightful advice and tips on how to boost your health or fix any weakness you may have in your body. So it's always well worth the time to seek out a good Chinese Medical practitioner.