by Dee McMath
Acupuncture is the Ancient
Chinese practice of using fine needles on specific points of
the body to clear blocked channels of energy. This eases many
aches
and pains and promotes the balance necessary for good health.
Acupuncture is widely available throughout the whole of Andalucia,
but you will find more English speaking practices concentrated on
the Costa del Sol. This is especially true of the stretch from Malaga
and Torremolinos to Estepona to the west - and Nerja to the east.
Many thousands of UK residents and tourists live in and visit these
areas the whole year round and acupuncture is becoming ever more
popular and widely available. Many British and other foreign residents
and tourists discover acupuncture for the first time when the come
to Andalucia. Make sure you are comfortable with the practitioner
and if you see no evidence of the usual framed certificates on the
clinic walls, then don't be shy to ask for details of their training
and experience. If you are unsure, or new to the area or simply
on holiday, it's a better idea to attend a reputable clinic in a
main town, than to reply to a small ad or to have a home or hotel
visit.
Acupuncture has been practiced in China for over
3,500 years. The Chinese see the body as having two opposite but
complementary forces - Yin (negative) and Yang (positive). When
these two forces are balanced, then the bodies energy, Chi, flows
freely along routes known as meridians. Imbalance blocks the Chi
and causes ill health. When the acupuncturist places the fine needle
in the appropriate point of the meridian, it taps into the body's
natural energy flow and rebalances the Yin and Yang to bring back
harmony and good health.
My first experience of acupuncture was in Torremolinos.
I was depressed and run down after a family bereavement. A close
friend recommended an experienced Acupuncturist in Torremolinos.
Spanish, but with good knowledge of English and an assistant to
translate where necessary, I was immediately put at ease and had
full confidence in the treatment, which soon put me back on track
to face life with renewed energy. I had ten sessions over about
5 weeks and already saw big improvements after the third visit.
In a first consultation, you will be asked for a
full medical history and to describe present symptoms. The acupuncturist
treats the patient, rather than simply the condition, working on
the basis that each individual reacts in his/her own way to a condition
and also to treatment.
Although I was a bit nervous about the needles -
there was no need. They are so fine that you barely notice them
being inserted just below the skin and once in place, you feel nothing
at all and are left to relax for anything from 30 minutes to an
hour. You will normally be lying on a massage table in an individual
treatment room with soft lighting and pleasant music to help you
to drift into a deep state of relaxation. Many people fall sound
asleep and feel slightly groggy after the session. This often leaves
you with a deep sense of calm and wellbeing for hours afterwards.
A common side effect to acupuncture is an improvement in sleeping
patterns and an energy boost in the process.
Your energy flow can be disrupted by both emotional
and physical trauma. Stress, anger, anxiety, fear and grief can
cause as much disease as a physical injury. Many ailments are treated
with acupuncture, including: arthritis, asthma, depression, migraine,
circulatory problems, back pain, skin disorders, constipation, etc.
Some people book a few sessions of treatment simply
as a 'pick-me-up' or 'energy drive' to combat a busy, stressful
lifestyle or to ward off feeling a bit down.
Scientific research has found that acupuncture stimulates
the nervous system and some studies conclude that the process releases
endorphins, which blocks pain signals being sent to the brain. Much
investigation has lead to the World Health Organisation recognizing
acupuncture as a legitimate form of treatment.
There are some excellent acupuncturists practicing
in Andalucia and especially the Costa del Sol and the prices per
session are generally lower than the UK and some other parts of
northern Europe. If you are in any doubt as to the authenticity
of the clinic or the practitioner, ask to see certificates and references
or ask a local GP if they are reputable.
If you are pregnant, have a specific ailment or are taking prescribed
medicines, consult your GP before booking treatment and give all
information to the acupuncturist from the outset.
Very Important Note: make
sure the needles are always new and completely sterile. They should
be properly disposed of after their one-time use.
Recommended Acupuncturist - Torremolinos, Fuengirola
Fernándo Sumber
Centro de Acupuntura San Miguel
Calle San Miguel 6, 1ºD
Torremolinos
Tel: (+34) 952 051279
Mob: (+34) 627528994
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