Treatments

Image Complimenting Hooper Acupuncture Using Traditional Chinese Medicine’s diagnostic system of tongue and pulse observation in addition to questions, your practitioner will deduce the most effective treatment or combination of techniques to apply.

The treatments include:
Acupuncture – the insertion of very fine pre-sterilised needles into the skin at specific points on the energy pathways of the body to re-establish the natural flow of vital energy known as qi thus restoring balance. For a comprehensive list of conditions treated by acupuncture please see the 'Why?' section.

Abdominal Acupuncture – a specialist style of acupuncture based on the understanding that the whole person can be treated through the abdomen, as research is finding that reflected therein are all the body’s parts. Regarded as the most powerful acupuncture treatment for chronic and acute conditions, it involves the shallow insertion of extra-fine needles making it a gentle and effective treatment.

Hooper Acupuncture specialises in Abdominal Acupuncture and Paediatric Chinese Healthcare.

Paediatric Chinese Healthcare – safe, effective and drug-free techniques that strengthen a child’s constitution, they include Paediatric Acupuncture, Tui Na, Cupping and Gua Sha (see below). Paediatric Acupuncture was devised to treat the little ones in your life from birth to around seven years old. It uses "non-insertive" acupuncture (Japanese Shonishin) and the finest needles to gently zap the common child illnesses of the ear, nose and throat, skin and tummy upsets to name a few. During a treatment the child will be accompanied as needles are inserted, stimulated and immediately taken out or are left in for a very short time. Tailored Tui Na techniques, Cupping and Gua Sha are very popular treatments with the kiddies and have no adverse side-affects.

Ear Acupuncture – while reflexology is most commonly practised on the feet, similar maps of the body are found on the hands and ear. Ear Acupuncture involves the use of tiny specially-developed needles or magnetic seeds or both. While it can be used as a stand-alone treatment, it is often used to further enhance treatment beyond the time of your appointment as the ear needles can be left in for 3-5 days.

Moxibustion – a technique in which a gentle heat is applied to specific points by warming the needle and or surrounding area by burning moxa, otherwise known as the mugwort herb. By strengthening the blood and stimulating qi (the body’s internal energy), it is used to enhance an acupuncture treatment.

Cupping – used for thousands of years in all cultures including China, the practice of placing glass cups on the skin along the meridian lines to create a vacuum thus promoting the movement of blood, qi and the lymph system was first documented in Ebers Papyrus, the oldest recorded medical text book, dating back to Egypt in 1550 BC. This technique is effective for many ailments from pain relief to clearing colds and flu. It can be done as a stand-alone therapy or in addition to acupuncture or Tui Na Massage.

Gua Sha – stroking with a smooth-edged instrument over an oiled area of skin. By removing the stagnation of blood and lymph fluids, it is effective in the treatment of acute and chronic conditions – be they musculoskeletal, respiratory or internal organ dysfunction. It can be used with cancer patients to remove toxins from the radiation field.

Electro-acupuncture – the attachment of a gentle electrical current to the acupuncture needles to enhance a treatment by providing a rhythmic stimulation.

Laser Acupuncture – often the young and elderly like Laser Acupuncture which instead of inserting fine needles into the skin uses a low-level laser to stimulate the acupoints.

Tui Na Massage (Acupressure) - used extensively in hospitals throughout China today as it has been for well over 2,000 years, it is still the oldest healing art for mankind. Tui Na is a medical massage that uses the hands instead of needles to manipulate specific points on the energy pathways of the body to encourage the harmonious flow of qi.

The overall principle of Tui Na is to increase blood circulation, improve tissue elasticity by relaxing muscles and tendons and lubricating joints as well rebalancing qi flow. It aids the reduction of pain and discomfort and promotes greater function and freedom, often resulting in improvements to the whole body, not just a specific area.

Most often used in conjunction with acupuncture, it treats musculoskeletal conditions, respiratory and digestive issues, insomnia and menstrual problems.

Fertility Programme – used successfully in reproductive medicine for centuries, acupuncture can help boost fertility – both male and female, prepare the body for conception and pregnancy and also relieve post-birth problems.

It can also be used to improve the chances of IVF success, as indicated by increasing evidence. A German study in 2002 found that when receiving acupuncture before and after an embryo transfer the chance of becoming pregnant increased to 42.5%, compared to about 26% without acupuncture. While a more recent scientific review in the British Medical Journal - based on seven studies published in English since 2002 - found that the odds of conceiving rose by 65% for women given acupuncture just before and after in vitro fertilisation.

It is recommended that for optimal results a couple be treated over a three-month period (for egg follicle & sperm maturation) to best prepare their bodies for conception. In this way not only is the uterus nourished and hormones balanced but the sperm quality and quantity may be dramatically improved.

Our fertility programme is aimed at creating a healthy and supportive environment for conception, pregnancy, birth and beyond.

Whole Health – diet, exercise and lifestyle guidance – to complement and enhance treatments received with the aim of restoring optimal health; whether dealing with a health issue such as blood sugar imbalance, high cholesterol or a need to rid yourself of an extra few pounds, we create programmes tailored to an individual’s needs.