Acupuncture treatment in Hilversum

Acupuncture treatment in Hilversum?

Do you need acupuncture treatment, because you can’t get rid of chronic or acute afflictions? Then the Physiotherapy Douma’s acupuncturist will gladly help you. If you have never had an acupuncture treatment before, we will first extensively discuss your afflictions with you to accurately document them. Then follows a bodily examination to help you as best as possible. Read more about the treatment here.

More about acupuncture

This traditional Chinese treatment assumes there is a circulating energy of sorts within the body. This energy is also called ‘qi’. It circulates through imaginary lines on the body, known as ‘meridians’. Meridians connect acupuncture points with more-or-less the same qualities. According to traditional Chinese medicine, it is of great importance that the circulation of energy in the body can take place unimpeded. Ailments or illnesses develop, according to traditional Chinese medicine, when the circulation of energy is disturbed in some way. If that happens, the circulation is no longer in equilibrium. Acupuncture treatment consists of restoring the circulation in parts of the body where it has been blocked. Restoring the energy circulation can let the body recover from all sorts of afflictions which were caused by the disturbance of the energy circulation.

The Western world and acupuncture

For a long time, the Western world has had trouble with other cultures’ ancient and traditional medicine, but since a few years back the West has become more open to these treatment methods. This is mostly because extensive scientific research has proven that acupuncture does in fact have a positive effect on the treatment of various afflictions. The Western explanation for the effectiveness of acupuncture is that, when an acupuncture point is stimulated, various specific substances are released by the body. The stimulation causes an increased production of natural painkillers and enzymes in the brain and spinal column, and also increases the production of neurotransmitters and anti-inflammatory substances such as endorphins and dynorphins. Besides this, acupuncture also normalises the blood flow in the brain and has a positive effect on the immune system, hormone levels, pain threshold and mood. Because of all the scientifically proven effects of acupuncture, it is explainable why acupuncture can be used against so many different afflictions.

Indications with acupuncture as treatment

There are many symptoms and afflictions which can be treated with acupuncture. In 1979, the WHO (World Health Organisation) composed a list of afflictions which can be treated with acupuncture. Besides those, acupuncture can also be used to support those undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

• Allergies: to, among others, foodstuffs, pets, pollen, and dust mites
• Breast: tension in the breast, full feeling in the breast, pain in the breast, heart palpitations
• Joints: stiffness, pain, problems with movement, arthrosis, rheumatic afflictions, joint infections, bursa infection, pain in muscles or tendons, decreased muscle power, abnormal shivering, cramps, afflictions to the neck or back, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, sprains, (sport) injuries, recovery after orthopaedic operations
• Head: headaches, migraines, local hair loss, facial pain, dizziness (for example Ménière), heavy feeling in head
• Skin: transpiration problems, itches, dry skin, eczema, acne, cold sores, shingles, psoriasis, boils, ulcers
• Internal afflictions: anaemia, abnormal chilliness, blood flow issues, high blood pressure, low blood pressure, thyroid problems, diabetes, being overweight
• Throat, nose, ear: (chronic) nose colds, forehead cavity infection, sinus infection, allergic colds, hay fever, ear pain or ear infection, ringing ears, some cases of deafness, coughing, hoarseness, throat pain, speech problems, lump in the throat, afflictions to the gums, toothache, bad breath, abnormal bitter taste in mouth, dry throat, abnormal saliva production, fever rash
• Limbs: abnormally cold limbs, heavy feeling in limbs, moisture retention (oedema)
• Airways: (chronic) colds, immune system problems, shortness of breath, asthma, bronchitis, hyperventilation
• Mental afflictions: sleep disorders, abnormal dreaming, hyperventilation, restlessness, abnormal fear, fainting, compulsive laughing or crying, depression, easily being scared, forgetfulness, anorexia nervosa, listlessness, lack of energy, overall weakness, stress, burnout
• Eye: eye infections, eye itches, abnormally teary eyes, dry eyes, burning eyes, blurry or spotted vision, low vision
• Digestive system: nausea, poor appetite, vomiting, heartburn, eructation, stomach ache, gall afflictions, diarrhoea, constipation, stomach cramps, stomach rumblings, abdominal distention, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), hemorrhoids
• Urinary tract: urinary tract infection, incontinence, bladder- or kidney stones, impotence, decreased fertility, premature or nocturnal ejaculation, prostate afflictions
• Addictions: addictions to smoking, eating, alcohol or drugs
• Nervous system: hernia, deaf feeling, nerve infection/pain (neuralgia), such as: intercostal neuralgia (nerve pain between the ribs), ischia - neuralgia after shingles - facial pain, trigeminus neuralgia as an effect of whiplash (pain, dizziness, fatigue, concentration loss), epilepsy, results of CVA (cerebral haemorrhage, cerebral infarction)

Pregnancy-related afflictions

• Gynaecology: menstruation problems, premenstrual problems (PMS), menopause problems, tension or pain in breasts, some forms of lessened fertility, leukorrhea, support of IUI/IVF/ICSI.

Afflictions in children

Coughing, colds, asthma, bronchitis, throat infections, intestine afflictions, stomach aches, bedwetting, sleep problems, growing teeth, eczema, ear pain or -infection

Research

The acupuncturist spends time on finding a good diagnosis. Most people can readily name their affliction; this is important information, but not enough for the acupuncturist. Because the acupuncturist sees body and mind as a whole, they will search for additional information. They will ask you many questions about your bodily and mental health. Finding a good diagnosis consists of four elements: a conversation with the patient, a bodily examination, the tongue diagnosis and the wrist diagnosis.

The conversation

If you visit the acupuncturist for the first time, they will ask you extensively about your affliction. But other subjects will also be discussed, such as your appetite, bowel movements and sleep patterns. If you are a woman, they will ask you about your menstruation patterns. The acupuncturist will also want to know about the structure of your day, your work and your mood, and whether you’re an evening or a morning person. This wide perspective gives the acupuncturist a good view of your daily goings-on. From that, they can deduce how your energy balance is doing.

Bodily examination

By observing you carefully, the acupuncturist can also learn many things about the condition of your body and mind. Your posture and body languages say a lot about how you’re feeling. The condition and (dis)coloration of your skin, the look on your face, and the condition of your hair and nails give the acupuncturist a treasure trove of information about your energy balance.

The tongue diagnosis

Your tongue can give a lot of information about your health. The acupuncturist looks at the colour, shape and humidity of the tongue and looks for tarnishes, gaps and bumps.

The wrist diagnosis

For the acupuncturist, feeling the wrist is a very important way to come to a diagnosis. This goes further than a simple quick check-up. The acupuncturist examines every wrist joint in three different places, at three different depths. By measuring carefully the tension, width, depth and tension, the acupuncturist can learn a lot about the amount and quality of the energy in various of your organs. Becoming proficient in the wrist diagnosis requires years of training.

Acupuncture treatment

Needles

The most well-known form of acupuncture is, of course, the treatment with thin needles. The acupuncturist places the needles at several acupuncture points on your body. These points are located on meridians. Meridians are channels in the body through which the energy circulates. By inserting the needle in a particular manner, the acupuncturist can influence the energy flow through that meridian. By this method, they can regulate the energy flow in your body, leading to:

A better flow of energy

• The disappearance an energy block
• Increasing the amount of energy or moving it to another area which needs it more
• Improving the quality of the energy

During the treatment, the energy in your body starts flowing again. You can notice this by a prickly or heavy feeling around the nails. Sometimes you can feel it throughout the whole meridian. This feeling is named Qi and doesn’t last very long. The needles are kept in for about 20 minutes.

Ear acupuncture

The acupuncturist sometimes inserts tiny needles into the ear to strengthen the treatment. They may also only use ear acupuncture. Very small needles which can be left in for a week are used. The acupuncturist will explain how they work.

Moxa

Besides the use of acupuncture needles, another treatment method may also be used: moxa. This treatment often looks rather intense, with burning incense sticks and smoking needles. Moxa is another name for mugwort (artemisia vulgaris) and is used to warm up the acupuncture points. This is done by attaching a little bit of the herb to a needle and letting it smoulder for a bit. The warmth of the moxa permeates deep into the acupuncture point and stimulates the energy stream. This can also be done with a moxa stick, which can best be described as a sort of herbal cigarette. This stick can also be used by the patient at home. Especially joint afflictions are effectively treated with it. Moxa treatment is most commonly used in places where the energy flow is very weak. Stimulation with the use of needles is insufficient for such places. Moxa is also useful for treating very sensitive acupuncture points, or points which cannot or may not be punctured.

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