Both massage and acupuncture can increase circulation, relax tense muscles and reduce pain and inflammation. For some people massage oracupuncture alone is effective but often I use massage with oil as an initial examination to assess what treatment is appropriate and also which is preferred.
Massage enables areas of pain and tension to be identified which may have taut muscle bands and ‘trigger points’. These areas can be massaged or acupuncture needles can be inserted.
My training is in Western medical acupuncture which depends mostly on a medical diagnosis and treatment of trigger points but I also use traditional Chinese acupuncture points which may be distant to the problem area eg. on the foot or hand.
Results of medical research are showing that acupuncture can increase the release of natural painkillers including endorphins and serotonin and can modify pain signals to and from the brain and spinal cord. It has been found that acupuncture can affect the different body systems such as the nervous, musculoskeletal, endocrine, digestive and respiratory systems but it is especially effective in helping arthritic conditions by reducing joint pain and increasing mobility. For people there is most evidence for acupuncture being effective in treating tension headaches, low back pain and osteoarthritis in the knee. However acupuncture is often helpful in treating soft tissue problems such as tennis/golfer’s elbow and conditions that may be stress related.
In May 2009 the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) produced a clinical guideline advising the NHS in England and Wales that acupuncture and manual therapies (including massage) should be considered in the treatment of non-specific low back pain.
Madge, occupational therapist – “after only 3 sessions of massage and acupuncture my shoulder was so much better and the pins and needles in my hand had gone”.
Nick, marketing engineer – “in the 16 days between my first and second treatment with massage and acupuncture I had no headaches instead of several times a week”
Pat, dog-walker – “I think the effects of acupuncture are amazing and I have regular treatments for my aches and pains!”
Fiona, schoolteacher – “acupuncture really helped me recover from post-viral fatigue which I’d had for over a year. I now look forward to a massage every month to reduce the tension in my neck and shoulders that builds up with my work!”
