About Acupuncture

Acupuncture is generally believed to have originated in China over 2,000 years ago and remains an important component of the Chinese medical system. It is practiced in most countries around the world and has become part of mainstream medical practice in several of these countries. Currently, the most popular methods and theories of acupuncture are those of modern China; however acupuncture has been practiced in other Asian countries for quite a long time. In Japan, for example, it has been part of the practice of medicine for about 1400 years.

Mary Jo utilises Japanese acupuncture techniques and classical Chinese medicine in the treatment of her patients. The Nagano-Matsumoto style is based on both classical Asian thought and modern medical understanding. Beginning in the 1950s, Japanese master Dr Kipshu Nagano (a blind acupuncturist) expanded and refined classical technique to encompass modern physiology and pathology. His student, Kiiko Matsumoto has continued to explore and develop this rich legacy. This style of treatment utilises palpatory diagnostic techniques together with a holistic approach. The nature of the techniques used in Japanese acupuncture are often more gentle, subtle and less painful than the techniques used in the Chinese acupuncture tradition.

Palpation as a diagnostic tool

The abdomen, neck and back are palpated in order to determine treatment strategies thereby enabling me to obtain instant feedback from the patient. Pressure pain on any of these areas is used to both diagnose the underlying causes of the patient’s chief complaint and to determine treatment points to be used. Many disorders will reflect as pressure pain on the abdomen, neck and back.

Holistic Approach

In addition to its therapeutic effects for specific disorders, acupuncture is also commonly used to maintain health, increase vitality and reduce stress.

Conditions treated by Acupuncture

Acupuncture is used to treat a wide variety of conditions. As medicine is not an exact science, one cannot completely predict the effectiveness of treatment for any particular individual, but generally one can assess the success of the treatment within one or two treatments. In addition to its therapeutic effects for specific disorders, acupuncture is also commonly used to maintain health, increase vitality and reduce stress.

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• Infections: Colds and flu, sore throat, bronchitis

• Internal: asthma, hypertension, ulcers, colitis, indigestion, haemorrhoids, diarrhoea, constipation

• Head: tinnitus, earache, dizziness, sinusitis, hay fever, headaches, migraine

• Skin: eczema, acne, shingles

• Musculo-skeletal: frozen shoulder, back pain, tennis/golfer’s elbow, tendonitis, repetitive strain injury (RSI), trigeminal neuralgia, Bell’s Palsy, after-effects of stroke

• Mental/emotional: anxiety, depression, stress, insomnia

• Reproductive/gynaecological: impotence, infertility, PMS, irregular or painful periods, morning sickness

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Does Acupuncture Hurt?

The Japanese style of acupuncture Mary Jo practices is based on the premise that the treatment is more successful if the patient does not feel the needles. Very fine needles and a gentle needling technique are characteristics of this style. Once the needles are inserted, the patient usually falls into a deep state of relaxation.