Acupuncture for Mental & Emotional Health
What makes East Asian Medicine so attractive for addressing mental and emotional disorders is the understanding the body and mind are interchangeable, interact and one influences the other. We also recognise the importance of the environment, diet and lifestyle and provide support and advice in these areas.
What you receive
- •Dedicated one-to-one care with a calm, confidential space to relax and review your complete medical and personal history, so together we can identify how best to help you
- A full Chinese-Medicine based diagnosis -of your total health and also how it relates to you
- Unique treatment plan, tailored at every treatment to how you are
- Diet and lifestyle advice based on your diagnosis
- Free access to the clinics lending library of books
- “Yang Sheng Fa” treatment -translated as “the art of nourishing life”
- Self-support: advice on energy exercises, self-massage, acupressure
- Optional cross-referral to trusted other therapists, if appropriate
Why One Acupuncture
Alison has many years’ experience of treating mental health issues and has specialist training in advanced acupuncture techniques specifically developed to address this. As part of treating each patient as one whole person, she always addresses both body and mind and loves to share with her patients how these are inextricably linked. By gaining a better understanding of your total self, you can be empowered to engage with your emotions in a positive way, ultimately freeing you to live life well.
How we Treat
Reducing or coming off medication:
Conventional medicine “fixes” for many people with mental health disorders or emotional issues, include the wide-spread prescription of anti-depressants and anti-anxiolytics and these can have a place. However, often people stay on medications long-term, which can bring about other issues. So, whilst Acupuncture is complementary to conventional medicine and so can be used alongside any medication you may be on, many people come to One Acupuncture® because they would prefer to reduce or not be on them, for example anti-depressants or anxiolytics.
Treatment makes best use of all the East Asian Medicine tools are her disposal [link to what we do section] to help balance your body and mind. This includes not only Traditional Acupuncture, but also Tui Na (Chinese Massage) and external herbs (moxa) as well as other techniques.
How can Acupuncture help?
•stimulate the nervous system and cause the release of neurochemical messenger molecules. The resulting biochemical changes influence the body’s homeostatic mechanisms, thus promoting physical and emotional well-being. Stimulation of certain acupuncture points has been shown to affect areas of the brain that are known to reduce sensitivity to pain and stress, as well as promoting relaxation
•increase relaxation and reduce tension. Acupuncture can alter the brain’s mood chemistry, reducing serotonin levels, and increasing endorphin levels, which can help to combat negative affective states
•stimulate nerves located in muscles and other tissues, which leads to release of endorphins and other neurohumoral factors, and changes the processing of pain in the brain and spinal cord
•regulate levels of neurotransmitters (or their modulators) and hormones such as serotonin, noradrenaline, dopamine, GABA, neuropeptide Y and ACTH; hence altering the brain’s mood chemistry to help to combat negative affective states
(Source: British Acupuncture Council, 2017)
In Five Element [hyperlink to this in the Acupuncture section] Acupuncture, which Alison frequently uses in the clinic, a key emotion is associated with each major organ. These include Anger/Lack of Anger (Liver), Joy/Sadness (Heart), Worry/Overthinking (Digestion), Fear/lack of Fear (Kidneys), Grief/Loss (Lungs). Overall these are called “Shen” which is often loosely translated as “spirit” (with a small “s” and taken to embody consciousness, emotions and thought).
What we Treat
Anxiety
Depression
Stress
Insomnia
Panic Disorders
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD)
A summary of the professional postgraduate courses Alison has attended relating specifically to Pregnancy Care. You can find a complete list of courses taken, here.
Course (Lecturer)
NADA (Detox Ear Acupuncture) (Rachel Peckham)
Five Elements – Getting Better at Getting the CF (Angie & Dr John Hicks)
Battlefield Acupuncture (John Howard)
Research
Factsheets prepared by the British Acupuncture Council on:
Charities & Professional Bodies