Acupuncture
Laser, Needle and Ear Acupuncture
Practitoner
Dr Mark Fazlian (MD, FRACGP, FAMAC)
Fellow of The Australian Medical
Acupuncture CoLLEGE (AMAC)
An introduction to acupuncture
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese therapy that has been used for thousands of years. In Western medicine, it is used as an alternative or complementary treatment for a wide range of conditions. There is a significant and growing body of scientific research that supports the efficacy of acupuncture.
At Kaizen Clinics, we provide acupuncture therapy for patients of all ages. We often recommend acupuncture as a complementary therapy to relieve or manage the symptoms of a range of conditions, as well as helping with recovery and rehabilitation.
How acupuncture works
Traditional Chinese medicine has long made use of acupuncture to balance the body’s vital energy, also known as its Qi. Focusing on specific acupuncture points, fine needles are placed into the skin. The aim is to restore balance to affected areas, aid in the flow of Qi throughout the body, release pain and assist with healing and optimal health and movement.
Modern medicine has found that acupuncture can help increase blood flow and oxygenation, improving healing and reducing inflammation, as well as stimulating the peripheral nervous system.
Inserting needles into the skin triggers the nervous system, which sends messages to the brain, releasing chemicals like endorphins, noradrenaline and serotonin. These can help to promote feelings of wellbeing and contentment and could account for the pain relief sensation that often accompanies acupuncture treatments.
The needles can also generate what are known as “micro traumas.” These are minor injuries (that cause no damage and generate no pain) that trigger the body’s natural healing processes.
Acupuncture is a complementary treatment and is most effective when used in conjunction with the appropriate medical treatments.
For those who are not comfortable with needles, there are alternative methods of needle-free acupuncture available including laser acupuncture, acupressure and cupping.
Is it painful?
When performed by a trained and experienced practitioner, acupuncture is mostly pain free. You may feel some slight discomfort, minor pricking sensations or a tightening or numbing of the area being treated. This is all normal and indicates that the treatment is working.
Professional acupuncture is a safe and sterile process. All needles are purpose manufactured, single-use acupuncture needles. They are fully sterilised and safely disposed of after every use to eliminate the risk of infection.
All our acupuncture treatments are performed by qualified and registered medical practitioners.
Conditions responsive to acupuncture
Acupuncture can be used to treat a wide range of musculoskeletal problems including arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, frozen shoulder, neck pain, whiplash injuries, lower back pain (lumbago) and sciatica.
Other conditions acupuncture can help with include:
- Menstrual and other pelvic pain, PCOS, irregular periods, menopausal flushes
- Migraine and other headaches
- Neuralgia e.g. diabetes, trigeminal or post-herpetic (shingles)
- Post-operative pain and pain from scars, colic or “phantom limb” syndrome
- Restless legs, night cramps and insomnia
- Depression, PTSD, anxiety
- Asthma, rhinitis, sinusitis
- Travel or hyperemesis/morning sickness and vomiting
Dr Mark Fazlian is a fellow of Australian Medical Acupuncture Collage (AMAC) providing medical acupuncture services Monday to Friday.
For more information you can visit
Australian Medical Acupuncture Collage
Evidence-based acupuncture
https://www.evidencebasedacupuncture.org/
To book an appointment, please give us a call on (03) 5964 2943.