As a newbie to acupuncture, I’d assumed it would simply involve lying down, having some needles stuck into my skin and – hopefully – feeling a bit better afterwards. There was also a small part of me that thought I’d feel no effects at all. I was wrong. Yes, there was lying down, and of course, there were needles, but the whole process was far more involved than I’d imagined, and the outcomes were very surprising.
My GP had suggested I try acupuncture about a year ago, to help with pain management for back problems. I didn’t follow it up, partly because I wasn’t convinced it would be worth the money. But after a little research I was surprised to learn it’s actually one of the most practised complementary therapies in the world and patients report high success rates – there’s also a wealth of studies backing this up.
I also learned that it’s used across a wide range of ailments. People have it to help them quit smoking, combat insomnia, reduce stress and anxiety, to support recovery from injury or surgery, to relieve pain and symptoms associated with problems like osteoarthritis and autoimmune diseases. And it’s all down to the use of very fine single-use, disposable needles, inserted into specific points along energy lines in the body.
In its traditional form, acupuncture stems from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the origins of which date back around 2,500 years. Its ancient principles have held strong, though, and these days, it’s often used alongside modern/Western medicine.
Still feeling a little unconvinced I decided to seek a second opinion from Dr Huafei Li, a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, Emirates European Medical Centre, Umm Suqeim, Dubai. Dr Li, who has been practising the ancient healing technique for over eight years, says the demand for it is increasing across the UAE. Currently he treats up to 10 patients a day.
“A lot of patients are referred to me by their GPs, including migraine patients or those with back problems who take a lot of painkillers to manage their condition,” says Dr Li.
“Acupuncture provides drug-free pain relief, and by digging deeper to find the root cause of the problem we can treat the symptoms with long-term impacts. Often patients see results without using any painkillers at all.”
Dr Li explains that the needles are left in for roughly half an hour to stimulate the body’s healing response. “Patients don’t just need pain relief, but also relief from health complaints like digestive dysfunction and infertility,” he adds.
“Acupuncture is also effective in treating symptoms such as nausea, fatigue and anxiety, and can help cancer patients by easing the side-effects of chemotherapy.”
The Dubai Herbal & Treatment Centre’s (DHTC) traditional Chinese medicine department treats 30 to 50 people with acupuncture every day.
“We use acupuncture to treat acute or chronic conditions, like back pain, that do not require surgery,” says Dr Maria Ridao Alonso, physician in Chinese medicine and medical director at DHTC.
“We see patients with conditions ranging from sinusitis to infertility, chronic pain, hormonal imbalances, and those who want to quit smoking,” she says.
In the UK some 2.3 million acupuncture treatments are carried out each year, making it one of the most popular complementary therapies. In fact, the number of people using acupuncture in Britain alone has risen by 15 per cent in the past decade. As far back as 2007, 30 per cent of Americans were opting for pins over pills, and acupuncture has since been recognised as an effective alternative medicine by the World Health Organization.
I’d heard acupuncture is used to promote good overall health by focusing on the body’s energy balance and improving sleep patterns and mental clarity while lowering stress levels. Back pain niggling, I didn’t need anymore convincing.
My session was with Maureen Cromey, a member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC), with 26 years’ experience. Membership assures practitioners are fully qualified, have completed a minimum of three years’ study and meet safety standards and regulations. Cromey trained in China and spent time at a hospital where TCM was routinely used alongside modern treatments. Impressed by what she saw, she’s now convinced that a combination of the two is the key to optimum health.
The session begins with a consultation. Cromey asks all about my general health and lifestyle; any illnesses, problem areas, how I sleep, how I feel, my diet and exercise regime, family histories... She looks at my tongue and takes my pulse, making notes all the while, before finally asking if there’s anything specific I’d like her to focus on. This is routine for first-time sessions.
“It’s a full consultation, looking at the current state of health and lifestyle and talking to the person about what’s happened in their life, where they are and what’s going on,” Cromey explains.
Everybody’s constitution, she adds, is different. And this, alongside how it evolves over time with our lifestyles, events, injuries and illnesses we encounter, combine to create an overall map of our health and wellbeing.
“Unlike in ancient Greek medicine, in TCM the mind and body were never separated, so the emotions and physicality are all part of the same picture,” Cromey says.
This overall picture plays a key part in the treatment. “In TCM, harmony within the body is about a good energy flow and calmness, and any pain or discomfort is considered a blockage in that energy,” Cromey explains. “So if you focus on a bad knee for example, without considering whether a person’s anxious or not sleeping correctly for instance, you could achieve a change in the knee for a short time but the full problem behind it is still there.
“If everything’s fine and in harmony, then this might not be needed,” she adds. “But imagine you’re planting some flowers; you have to prepare the soil first.”
Another analogy is explaining TCM as roots and branches: “The symptoms are the branches, but to treat the branches effectively, we need to look at all of the roots.” This is why people often feel ‘generally better’ after acupuncture. Even if they pursued treatment to help with a stubborn knee or eczema, they might experience additional benefits like feeling energised, calmer and sleeping better. This is why my treatment begins with some general, harmonising work.
Cromey inserts needles (27 in total) into various acupuncture points all over my body; hands, ears, ankles, legs. A diagram on the wall reveals there are hundreds of these points, some clustered close together, and each relates to different energy flows.
Cromey chooses points based on the map she’s created from the consultation. It looks complicated; it’s taken Cromey years of study and experience to master her skill, and she says she’s continuously learning.
Acupuncture is nothing like having an injection. The needles are extremely fine so it’s not painful when they’re inserted into the skin. Once in however, it’s normal to feel a range of sensations. Some of mine bring on tingling and others throbbing. This is a sign of blockages being opened up, apparently.
With my pincushion ensemble complete, Cromey leaves me to relax for 20 minutes, with soothing music playing in the background.
“Don’t be alarmed if you suddenly feel very emotional or overwhelmed,” she tells me – that’s normal too. So is falling asleep, as some people find it very relaxing.
Afterwards, it’s on to phase two – inserting needles specifically to target my back. I’m nervous that it’s going to trigger a painful flare-up but, actually, the immediate response is remarkable – when Cromey removes the needles, my back feels freer than it has in months, my range of movement’s increased and there’s a significant reduction in pain.
For effective long-term results, Cromey advises a longer course of treatment; a few sessions is the norm for most problems, while some people benefit from one or two, and people with chronic ailments may need more regular top-ups.
While acupuncture on the whole has very few side-effects, she tells me that, especially with musculoskeletal problems, it can be normal to experience heightened symptoms before seeing improvement, and this is the pattern that follows for me.
That said, over the following few days, I do find myself sleeping far better, feeling more energised and awake, and my back has, to an extent,improved. I feel ecstatic, but the sensible voice in my head also reminds me not to get too carried away.
As Cromey points out, while acupuncture can be highly effective, it’s about supporting health and well-being as a whole – so support it by looking after yourself; eat well, take regular exercise and manage stress levels.
I’ve already booked myself a follow-up treatment, and I feel acupuncture has opened up a whole new realm of pain relief for me. Be brave and you could reap the benefits too.
Friday’s Verina Durand tries out acupressure
The treatment Acupressure at the Dubai Herbal and Treatment Centre, Zabeel 1.
The cost Single session Dh270 for 30 minutes. 5 sessions Dh1,100.
The experience Acupressure holds the same principles as acupuncture but uses thumb pressure instead of needles – which I was very pleased about! I suffer from sciatica. This is when the sciatic nerve becomes trapped and causes severe shooting pain from the lower back right down to the feet. After a little research online I found out that acupressure improves the function of the organs to relieve pain rapidly.
My doctor, Dr Zhong Yuchao, asked me to point out where I felt pain on a diagram of the spine. I told him it was in the right side of my lower back, leading all the way down to my right foot. What came next was something I can safely say I have never felt before.
I have massages and physiotherapy regularly, but this treatment was something quite different entirely. It felt like Dr Yuchao was using some sort of an instrument, not his own thumbs, and I didn’t have to tell him where the pain was – he just knew, as if by magic!
He said later he could see and feel areas of my back that were swollen as he massaged it, which did hurt – but I didn’t mind as I slowly felt the tension leave my back and leg.
After about 20 minutes he told me to sit on a chair as he continued to work on my lower back. He asked me if I felt any more pain. The answer? None! It was a miracle. I felt pain-free and relaxed. Dr Yuchao said I would need repeat treatments, but after one session I was convinced.
This treatment is great for pain relief and for people who are scared of needles.
To book Call 04 335 1200 or visit www.dubaihtc.com.
