Acupuncture is an ancient therapy used across the world for the holistic management of disease and the maintenance of health.

The system of healing has been practised in China and other far Eastern countries for thousands of years and has grown in popularity in the West in recent years, said the British Acupuncture Council (BAC) who has 2,500 practitioner members.

Acupuncture, often described as a means of pain relief, can be used to treat people with a wide range of illnesses because it focuses on improving overall wellbeing rather than specific symptoms.

According to Chinese philosophy our health is dependent on the body's motivating energy – known as Qi – moving smoothly through a series of meridians or channels beneath the skin.

Qi comprises equal and opposite energies – called Yin and Yang – and illnesses can result when these forces become unbalanced. The flow of Qi can be disturbed by factors such as anxiety, stress, anger, fear and grief, poor nutrition, hereditary conditions, infections, poisons and trauma. Typical conditions treated by acupuncture include headaches, indigestion, back and joint pains and high blood pressure.

An acupuncturist stimulates the body's healing response and restores the natural balance by inserting fine needles into the skin to tap into the channels of energy. The aim of acupuncture is to treat the person as a whole and recover the equilibrium between their physical, emotional and spiritual needs.

However, the skill of an acupuncturist lies in their ability to make a traditional diagnosis from what is often a complex pattern of disharmony. The degree of imbalance is unique to each individual and so each patient is given a personalised acupuncture treatment plan.

Many people have an aversion to needles usually based on bad childhood experiences of having vaccines or blood tests. However, acupuncture needles are much finer than hypodermic syringe needles and are solid rather than hollow.

When a needle is inserted, the sensation is often described as a tingling or dull ache. An acupuncturist might insert a needle for a few seconds or leave it in place for 30 minutes or more depending on the treatment. During therapy, patients commonly experience heaviness in the limbs or a pleasant feeling of relaxation.

The benefits of one or more sessions of acupuncture include more than just pain relief or alleviation of symptoms, said BAC. Many people also get increased energy levels, better appetite and sleep patterns, and overall improved well being.

For more information about acupuncture or to find an acupuncturist see the BAC website at www.acupuncture.org.uk . To read about how dentists are using acupuncture to help their patients, see page 27.