Acupuncture explained

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a central part of traditional Chinese medicine and has been practised for over 2,000 years. It’s now widely used in the UK as a holistic way to manage pain, boost wellbeing, and support ongoing health conditions.

The treatment involves inserting ultra-fine needles into specific points on the body to stimulate the nervous system and encourage the body’s natural healing responses. This can help restore balance—both physically and emotionally. While its roots are ancient, many traditional acupuncture ideas are now supported by modern medical research.

What is Five Element Acupuncture?

Five Element Acupuncture is a specific style of acupuncture that focuses on treating the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—by working with the natural elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Each element relates to particular organs, emotions, and life processes. Practitioners look for imbalances in these areas and use gentle needling to support a return to harmony.

Unlike other styles that may concentrate mainly on symptoms, Five Element Acupuncture aims to get to the heart of what’s causing distress, whether physical, emotional, or both. It’s especially supportive for people looking to feel more in tune with themselves and their overall wellbeing.

Evidence-Based Benefits of Acupuncture

Modern clinical research continues to support the effectiveness of acupuncture for a wide range of health issues. People often choose acupuncture to help with:

Chronic pain – such as osteoarthritis of the knee, TMJ (jaw) pain, headaches, and lower back pain
Bladder issues – including symptoms of an overactive bladder
Unexplained symptoms – where western medical tests may not show a clear diagnosis, but the body feels out of balance
Overall wellbeing – many people have regular acupuncture to manage stress, improve sleep, and maintain physical and emotional health

A Holistic and Individual Approach

Unlike some conventional treatments, traditional acupuncture focuses on the whole person, not just the symptoms. Every treatment is tailored to your individual constitution and current state of health.

Acupuncturists use fine needles to access specific acupuncture points along the body’s meridians, or energy pathways. These points help influence the flow of qi (vital energy), regulate bodily functions, and bring systems back into balance. While the idea of “energy” may sound abstract, ongoing research supports measurable changes in the body when these points are stimulated.

To learn more about how acupuncture works in the body and the science behind it, watch this short explainer video from the British Acupuncture Council:

What Does the Research Say About Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is increasingly backed by a growing body of evidence-based research that highlights its effectiveness for a wide range of health conditions. Scientific studies have explored how acupuncture works within the body and how it can help with chronic pain, stress, digestive issues, insomnia, and more.

The British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) provides easy access to summaries of current research on acupuncture. Their website includes a comprehensive section with factsheets covering the use of acupuncture for conditions like migraines, osteoarthritis, anxiety, infertility, and back pain. These factsheets are written for the general public and regularly updated to reflect the latest findings.

For a quick overview, you can also watch their informative video, which looks at the evidence behind acupuncture and how it is being integrated into modern healthcare systems:

Professional Accreditation: British Acupuncture Council (BAcC)

I am a fully qualified acupuncturist and proud member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) — the UK’s leading regulatory body for traditional acupuncture. The BAcC is a professional membership organisation that upholds the highest standards in acupuncture training, clinical practice, and ethical conduct.

As a BAcC member, I adhere to their strict Codes of Safe Practice and Professional Conduct, which are designed to protect your wellbeing and ensure high-quality, evidence-informed care. The Council’s core responsibilities include:

Setting and maintaining rigorous professional standards for traditional acupuncture in the UK
Accrediting acupuncture education programmes to ensure clinical excellence
Supporting and promoting evidence-based acupuncture research
Providing the public with accessible, trustworthy health information

To learn more, you can visit the British Acupuncture Council website.

Professional Standards Authority (PSA)

The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) is an independent government body that oversees organisations holding voluntary registers of healthcare professionals, such as the BAcC.

In the UK, acupuncture is not yet a statutorily regulated profession. This makes it especially important for patients to choose practitioners who have undertaken extensive training and maintain high professional standards. The BAcC is part of the PSA’s Accredited Register programme, giving patients extra peace of mind that their acupuncturist is committed to safe, effective, and ethical practice.

Choosing a BAcC accredited acupuncturist means you’re receiving care from a highly trained, professionally regulated practitioner.

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