Acupuncture ---an ancient healing art helps our today’s health care.

Acupuncture, an ancient healing art has been practiced for more than 2000 years since it was originated from China. Acupuncture, in which thin needles are inserted into the body was considered a primary medical skill in ancient China and has gained its popularity in Western countries in the last few decades. In the US alone more than 10 million acupuncture treatments are administered annually. Its rise in popularity can be due to its effectiveness for pain relief and to the fact that scientific studies have begun to prove its efficacy. In the UK an estimated 4 million sessions were performed annually which provides a considerable contribution to the healthcare of the UK.

During this unprecedented coronavirus pandemic period, acupuncture helps many people physically and mentally to get through this difficult time. In January 2021, a landmark achievement--- re-classification for all professional acupuncture practitioners in the UK was made. The category of acupuncture was upgraded from the category of Health Associate 3219 to Healthcare Professionals 2220 - the level of Osteopaths and Physiotherapists. Now all professional acupuncturists in the UK belong in the category of Healthcare Professionals. This allows all acupuncturists to open and provide their acupuncture services to public during lockdown from January. This provides people more options to achieve better health.

How can acupuncture help you? Acupuncture is absolutely amazing. It can help many aspects of your health to make you healthier and feel good. Below are some of the common visits for acupuncture treatments.

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1, Pain relief. Chronic pain is a common condition. People can get pain anywhere in the body. It can be very disturbing. Acupuncture is well known for its pain relief effect. It can help many pain conditions including low back, neck, shoulder, and knee pain, as well as headaches and migraine etc. Acupuncture may relieve pain effectively by releasing endorphins, the body's natural pain-killing chemicals. If you suffer from chronic pain, you are likely to benefit from acupuncture treatment.

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2, Anti-aging. Aging is the process of becoming older. This reflexes on the face. With aging the facial skin becomes wrinkled, loose, dry and sagging. Acupuncture reduces stress, improves blood circulation and promotes the production of collagen and elastin in the skin to restore skin elasticity and help skin repairment, increases water contents. As a result, the wrinkled skin is repaired well and wrinkles are reduced, skin is glowing, moisturised. This gives you youthful looking. 

3, Fertility and miscarriages. Due to delayed child bearing age, environmental changes, and other reasons, one in seven couples have difficulty to conceive in the UK. Many couples with fertility problems seek help from acupuncture. A survey in the US has shown that one in five couples with infertility have tried acupuncture over 18 months of observation period. In the UK acupuncture treatment for infertility increased fivefold in 10 year’s time. Acupuncture helps reducing stress and inflammation, improving blood circulation and rebalancing hormones to help fertility with better egg quality and uterine receptivity.

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3, Anxiety, stress and depression release. Anxiety, stress and depression were the three most common psychological complaints. Acupuncture can help with these psychological complaints by affecting the part of the brain. It helps to balance brain chemicals such as serotonin, a brain chemical involved with mood, release enodorphins, the body's natural feel-good hormones and reduce the level of stress hormones like cortisol.

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References

https://britishacupunctureassociation.co.uk/news/

Jason Jishun Hao et al Glob Adv Health Med. 2014 Jul; 3(4): 6–8.

A K Hopton et al https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/2/1/e000456

Dr Maggie Ju's Acupuncture wonders series of ebooks

Guest blog articles

Dr Maggie Ju talks about vulvodynia 

acupuncture – an ancient healing art + today’s health care

qigong + acupuncture: complementary Chinese health systems

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Reviews and articles

Maggie Ju (2014) Current opinion in acupuncture on stroke rehabilitation

The Journal of Chinese Medicine And Acupuncture Volume 21 Issue 2 September 2014 P9

Maggie Ju. (2015) What Part Does Acupuncture Play in IVF? 

The Journal of Chinese Medicine And Acupuncture Volume 22 Issue 1 March 2015 P21

Maggie Ju (2020) The Potentiality of COVID-19 Treatment with Chinese Herbal Medicine in the UK

The Journal of Chinese Medicine And Acupuncture Volume 27 Issue 2 November 2020 P9

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Acupuncture covered by your health insurance companies

You may find that your acupuncture treatment can be covered by your own medical insurance. Please check your individual situation with your insurer.  

In all situations you will pay directly for treatment and then be able to reclaim the costs through your insurer where applicable.

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Aviva Health Care –https://www.aviva.co.uk/health-insurance/practitioner-zone/

AXA Health –www.axappphealthcare.co.uk

Beneden Health –www.benenden.org.uk

BHSF –www.benenden.org.uk

CS Healthcare –www.cshealthcare.co.uk

 The Exeter –www.the-exeter.com

Freedom Health Care – freedomhealthinsurance.co.uk

 General & Medical Healthcare –www.generalandmedical.com

Healix Health Services – HSF –www.hsf.co.uk

Medicash –https://www.medicash.org/

Simply Health –  https://www.simplyhealth.co.uk/

 Sovereign Health Care: Sovereignhealthcare. co.uk 

Medisure (requires consultant referral): www.medisure.co.uk 

National Friendly: Nationalfriendly.co.uk 

Healthshield: Healthshield.co.uk 

Medicare: Medicare.co.uk 

Paycare : Paycare.org