Treatment Details

Acupuncture is used for therapeutic or preventative purposes and involves inserting fine needles at certain sites in the body. The theory behind acupuncture is that the healthy functioning of the body is governed by the flow of “Qi” through a system of channels under the skin. When this flow of energy is impaired, illness occurs. By inserting fine needles at various points along the channels, the body’s balance can be restored and the illness resolved.

To read more about acupuncture treatment please click here.

Tuina (push and pull) massage has developed over several thousands of years and is now a hugely popular non-invasive treatment. During the tuina treatment a variety of techniques (including kneading, chopping, rolling and perpendicular pressure) are used to trigger the release of muscular tension and enhance blood flow. This will help to restore the body's equilibrium and make the patient feel relaxed.

General Tuina

The pressure applied during a general tuina massage will be much harder and firmer than during the facial and paediatric massages. The treatment, will focus on one or two of the following areas, depending on the patients’ needs:

• Head: Migraine, headache, insomnia, facial paralysis, stress
• Neck and Shoulder: stiffness, frozen shoulder
• Back: back pain, lower back muscle degeneration, sciatica pain, stress
• Joint: pain, swelling and/or stiffness in the knee, elbow, wrist or ankle.

Paediatric Massage

This treatment is specifically for infants and babies, normally under the age of 5. The therapist will apply gentle pressure over a large surface area. This is mainly used to help diarrhoea, indigestion, lack of appetite, flu and slow development of motor function. Paediatric massage can also be used to help skin problems such as eczema.

Moxibustion is a form of heat therapy and is as an essential part of Chinese medicine. Moxibustion sticks are prepared from mugwort leaves. These sticks are lit and then held just above the skin (or sometimes fixed on acupuncture needles). The heat combined with the herbal effects of the mugwort leaves, promotes the flow of energy and blood. This may cause patients to feel warmth radiating through their body during treatment.

This treatment is used to treat conditions (eg. arthritis, muscle and joint pain, stiffness etc.) which may arise or worsen due to the body being exposed to the cold (weather, environment, water etc.).

Cupping is a technique that uses small glass cups or bamboo jars as suction devices. Heat is used to create a vacuum within the cup, and then the cups are placed quickly onto the skin (at the location where treatment is required). The suction in the cups causes the skin and superficial muscle layer to be lightly drawn up into the cup. Once suctioned, the cups are left in place for about ten minutes while the patient relaxes. Cupping is much like the inverse of massage - rather than applying pressure to muscles, it uses gentle pressure to pull them upward. For most patients, this is a very relaxing and relieving sensation.

The suction and negative pressure provided by cupping can loosen muscles, encourage blood flow, and sedate the nervous system. Cupping is used to relieve back and neck pains, stiff muscles, anxiety, fatigue, migraines, rheumatism, and even cellulite.

This treatment is also becoming increasingly popular within the sporting industry, with athletes such as Michael Phelps, one of the best Olympians of all time, using this treatment technique.

Hot stone treatment is a holistic massage therapy which uses the weight and warmth of the stones to treat the body. This can be achieved either by leaving the stones on specific points or using them as a massage tools. The warmth and weight of the stones helps to relax the soft tissues and promote the flow of energy around the body.

Hot stones can be used to relieve stress, chronic lower back pains, stiff muscles, arthritis, fatigue and insomnia. They can also be very effective for treating sports injuries.