Your questions answered about Acupuncture

Do you wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)?

Masks are compulsory for both the client and the practitioner. 

What else is in place to ensure the environment is Covid safe?

If you have a device that can download Track and Trace you are invited to check in on the app. Your temperature is checked upon arrival and hand sanitisation is provided. Time slots have been extended to ensure sufficient time for a thorough clean and there is no overlap of clients.

Does Acupuncture Hurt? 

You may feel a sensation from the acupuncture being inserted and then the calming effects take over. Although it is not completely necessary for the treatment it does enhance the healing effects immensely. Speak to Sarah if you are unsure, she is always happy to accommodate.

What should I expect?

A relaxing, thorough 70-90 minute treatment involves: Physical assessment/correction, Acupuncture, Spine & Joint Correction, cranial-sacral therapy, massage, nutritional and MET (muscular endurance technique.)

Will I feel relief after one session? 

Yes, Sarah would continue the treatment until you do.

How many sessions will I need? 

Physical pain is the easiest to change (depending on the depth and the length of time you’ve had the condition), internal can take longer. Sarah will start to make the change while also giving advice but ultimately it is your decision where you would like to take your wellbeing.

Can I have a treatment if I don’t like acupuncture?

There is a safe but less effective treatment method we use called magnets. The magnets are made up of a group of metals called ferromagnetic metals.

Magnets have a similar effect to acupuncture but unfortunately, the results are not as powerful because the current isn’t going through the skin and into the blood.

What we feel and our pain threshold is individual to us. If we anticipate feeling a sensation our brain is tricking us into thinking it’s going to be heightened or lessened depending beyond our reaction to the sensation the previous time it was met. By creating an emotion before any action has been carried out gives us a preconceived perception of what is about to happen and therefore, we miss out on the present moment and the true sensation.

Magnets don’t produce as much of a sensation and allow time for the body and the mind to relax, sending us into a parasympathetic state, which is the bodies best place for healing.

If you want to try magnets as an alternative to acupuncture please just ask Sarah. While the therapeutic effects are much higher when using acupuncture there is so much more to the treatment than the acupuncture. Having magnet therapy along with the rest of the treatment is going to do a much better job than not having the treatment at all. 

Is there parking?

There is free parking outside the front of the property or paid car parking around the corner from the house.

Please make the correct arrangements to arrive insufficient time for your appointment. 

We run with back to back clients and unfortunately any time you are late will have to be deducted from your treatment.

Length of treatment? 

Allow 75-90 minutes for your first consultation and treatment. Follow up treatments are 75 minutes.

What shall I wear? 

Please wear loose, comfortable clothing and bring or wear shorts to your appointment. 

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Japanese Acupuncture

Facial acupuncture promotes collagen, invigorates blood flow and calms the mind.

Part of every acupuncturist’s theory is to learn the ‘five elements.’ These elements work with what we call the ‘meridian lines’ which in turn govern the bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, vessels and skin of the body. The five elements, driven by nature, are: fire, earth, metal, water and wood and give good reason as to why there are no hazardous side effects to an acupuncture treatment, unless there are contraindications to the symptoms you are displaying, which a trained professional should notice, eradicating any harm.

The connection between nature and the body isn’t seen as obviously in the 21st century because of the ‘out of touch’ environment that we have created to function as ‘easily’ as possible using convenience, generally, wherever we can. The holistic part of an acupuncturists role is to take the ‘patients’ symptoms and turn them around, including lifestyle, emotional and physiological advice, changing how the body is adapting to its current climate.

It is not uncommon for people to suffer fatigue, constipation, depression, high blood pressure, hypothyroidism, high cholesterol and much more without giving it any consideration, unaware that they could feel so much lighter, brighter and more energetic if they sought the help they needed.

Acupuncture was originally used, over 2,000 years ago, as prevention. Using the same principles now, as they discovered way back then, it is more often called upon to find a cure, as we are ignoring our bodies first signs that it is in danger. Pain is one of the body’s primary symptoms, which is its unique way of knocking on your body’s front door, alerting you that there is damage. Leaving the damage, without making any effort to find what is causing the initial response, will lead you down the sticky path of ill health.

Being comfortable around your practitioner is essential for your own well being. Connecting, trusting and opening up to them, giving them as much information about your case, past and present. As there are many medical acupuncturists around it can feel like trying to find a needle in a hay stack but start by asking friends and family who have had positive experiences, look online for good reviews and booking a practitioner once does not mean you have to keep returning to them. If you have had a bad previous experience with a practitioner please take into account that every practitioner has had different training, from different teachers and learning a different syllabus so try, try and try again. As there will be one out there who can suit your needs, giving you answers that can turn your life around. 

Enter for the good of your health

Risk assessment at the ready

A huge lifestyle turning point, and there’s been a few, was a change of perspective towards ‘junk’ food. Picture a cottage in the Lake District, a weekend away to walk through the hills, escaping the normality, time to recharge. 

The first stop was to the local supermarket and being over 15 years ago, the only food purchases made were sugary sweets, cakes and processed, pop in the oven type meals. Thus said the weekend of walking and eating junk did not provide the recharge that was desired.

Excessive consumption is at one end of the spectrum and here at Natural Medical Clinic HQ our ethos is all about finding balance in life. We know a little ‘junk’ won’t hurt so why not take it back to when we saw ‘junk’ as a treat. Enjoying it once a week, rather than eating it as a necessity for your taste buds at the end of every meal. Your organs, blood and teeth don’t like it, neither does your energy. 

After that weekend, eating an excessive amount of junk food never happened again. A new life was born, finding ways to increase energy levels arose and along came the self-healing and wellbeing class.

Self-healing takes the stress out of exercise. Flowing movements for a supple body and mindful talk for the wellbeing of your mind, will lead you into a state of pure bliss. An hour of a holistic exercise, covering top to toe mobility and toning.

Please reserve your spot to join on 13th October, 6.30pm-7.30pm at Loudwater Farm, Rickmansworth. 

Long standing support has encouraged a rebranding of the website, where nifty features will be added along with the opportunity to purchase more time for your treatment. As a loyal member of the Active Balance base, news reaches you first, and alas you can now book the treatment time you want.

Standard treatment for 75 minutes = £60
add 15 minutes = £10
add 30 minutes = £ 20
add 45 minutes = £30

To add further additional time to your treatment please discuss directly with Sarah for pricing.

Taking the correct precautions is paramount and with the correct standards and risk assessments in place Active Balance has earned the Visit Britain’s ‘We’re good to go’ Covid-19 confident badge. Making you feel more secure that you are doing taking the right step towards improving your health.

This is Self-Healing

• 

  Visting Hatsumi in April 2017

I hope you are staying magical!

Self Healing is about finding your edge.

A combination class which includes flowing sequences inspired by Qi Gong movements and martial arts.

Back when the story began as a young martial artist we trained four times a week and practiced the medicine side of the arts once a week. Qigong, which originates from martial arts, was used as part of our warm up before we rolled around the floor and swung our samurai swords at each other. 

Having spent just under half my life practicing Qigong and medicine there isn’t much else that is understood as well as the practice that still dedicates the majority of my life.

The idea of creating the self-healing class was to share a different side of the story to that which is not shared in the clinic. To take you on a journey of self-discovery. Providing a space for you to find your balanced flow.

Initiatives are wonderful. Drink 2 litres of water a day, eat 5 fruits and vegetables, exercise at least 3 times a week, walk 10,000 steps, but how many can you abide by? 

Life is about finding what works for you. Physically, mentally and spiritually and the self-healing class is here to facilitate in your power to achieve your goals.

Balance is at the forefront of my mind when structuring the flow of the class. Balance in our bodies and minds. Balance to work our muscles, tendons, hearts, brain, proprioception and our awareness of our bodies in the space we live in. 

Each section of the class has a focus. To invigorate flow, aid flexibility, create strength or give support. The class is limited to 10 people and you can join in at Loudwater Farm, Rickmansworth or on Zoom. 

The next evening class is tomorrow: Tuesday 8th September @ 6.30pm-7.30pm and is £7. 

Make yourself more magical by finding a date or course that suits you and to be part of the growing self-healers: 

Tuesday 8th September – 6.30pm-7.30pm £7

Tuesday 15th September – 6th October 9.30am-10.30amFour weeks paid for upfront costing £28

Tuesday 13th October – 6.30pm-7.30pm £7

Tuesday 20th October – 10th November 9.30am-10.30am Four weeks paid for upfront costing £28 

Tuesday 17 November – 6.30pm-7.30pm £7

Tuesday 24th November – 15th December Four weeks paid for upfront costing £28 

Find your freedom.

How to stop yourself from getting sick

The importance of having a treatment once a month

Welcome to the new series: ‘The importance of having a treatment once a month.

We are going to talk about acupuncture, the immune system and how it stops you from getting sick.

We have a nifty system within our immune system called phagocytosis. It derives from Greek. ‘Phag’ meaning to eat and ‘cytes’ meaning cell/vessel.

Now hold on because this is really cool.

The process swallows the microbes in the body. Microbes are microorganisms, especially bacterium which causes disease.

Acupuncture increases your white blood cell count, which in turn improves your immune system and your phagocytosis process.

By using acupuncture you kill the microbes before they have time to infiltrate your cells, which stops you from getting sick.