Classical Acupuncture
Classical Acupuncture is a traditional system of healthcare with a history spanning more than 3,000 years. It is used to help relieve pain, support recovery from injuries, improve mobility, and address a wide range of acute and chronic health concerns. It considers the broader patterns that may be contributing to your health concerns. This whole-person approach allows treatment to be tailored to you and your particular needs.
Understanding Classical Acupuncture
In Chinese medicine, health depends on the smooth flow of Qi (pronounced chee), our vital life energy. When this flow becomes disrupted or out of balance, pain, illness, or emotional distress can arise.
Acupuncture uses very fine, sterile, single-use needles placed at carefully selected points to encourage the body to return to balance. Treatment supports the body's natural capacity for healing, helping to reduce pain, improve function and promote overall wellbeing.
Te Tieke combines Classical Five Element acupuncture, which focuses on treating the whole person and underlying patterns of illness, with training in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Every treatment is tailored to the individual, taking into account your health history, symptoms, lifestyle and overall wellbeing.
Acupuncture can support you through injury and pain, stress and anxiety, women's health, digestive concerns, sleep, and many other aspects of health and wellbeing.
Traditional wisdom · Individual care · Centred on you
How Acupuncture Can Help
Treatment Approaches
Acupuncture is one of several ways your health can be supported at Te Tīeke. Depending on your individual needs, treatment may also include acupressure, herbal therapy, moxibustion, cupping or gua sha, all working to support balance, wellbeing and your body’s natural healing processes.
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Acupuncture is a healthcare system with origins in traditional Chinese medicine that has been practiced for thousands of years. It involves the gentle insertion of very fine needles into carefully selected points on the body.
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Acupressure is a gentle alternative for people who are uncomfortable with needles, children, or anyone who prefers a hands-on approach. It uses the same diagnostic principles as Classical Acupuncture, but instead of needles, gentle pressure, massage, and other hands-on techniques are applied to selected acupuncture points and along the meridians.
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Classical herbal formulas may be prescribed where appropriate. Traditional formulas, refined through generations of use, can be used to support a range of contemporary health concerns, alongside modern formulations based on classical principles. If a more complex herbal prescription is needed, I can refer you to an appropriately qualified herbal practitioner.
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Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that uses gentle, penetrating warmth to stimulate acupuncture points. It involves warming the body with moxa, made from dried mugwort leaves, which is carefully heated near selected acupuncture points.
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Cupping is a traditional therapy that uses gentle suction to lift the skin and underlying tissues. The cups are placed on selected areas of the body and may be left in place or slowly moved across the skin, a technique known as gliding cupping.
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Gua Sha is a traditional East Asian technique that uses a smooth-edged tool to gently scrape or press along the skin. This creates a therapeutic effect in the underlying tissues and is traditionally used to release areas of tension and stagnation.