What is acupuncture?
When practicing acupuncture, I use needles to set energy in motion in the meridians of the body. Meridians can be seen as rivers of energy that flow through the body, which are all connected to each other providing sufficient nutrition to all your organs.
Just like a river, sometimes parts run dry (you might experience dry eyes, eyelids or dry lips for example), and at other times the river might overflow (you might experience night sweats). A river might freeze over (e.g. cold feet) or heat up (e.g. a hot head). And occasionally there might be a surge of current in certain places (e.g. palpitations) and too little in other places (e.g. swollen ankles).
With the use of acupuncture, I am a kind of ‘water network manager’ whose main goal is to ensure that there is an even flow of vital energy throughout the body by restoring harmony and balance. This has a healing effect on your body and also brings a peaceful balance to your mind, because the two go hand-in-hand. Quite often you might even notice the positive effects while on the treatment table.
Is it painful?
I have a number of acupuncture techniques at my disposal:
- Toyohari is a acupuncture style developed by blind acupuncturists in Japan. It is a subtle and painless way of working on the surface of the skin. Nevertheless, the effect is powerful which is perfect for people with sensitive skin or those with a fear of needles.
- With Kiiko Matsumoto Japanese acupuncture, the Tan balance method and the Traditional Chinese Acupuncture I do insert needles in the skin. The needles I use are extremely thin and, generally speaking, you hardly feel them. In places where the skin is thin, the placement of a needle can be sensitive for a moment.
- For children, I use the needle-free Shonishin acupuncture style: This method uses different tapping or brushing techniques on the skin which have been specially developed for children.
Rest assured; I never use needles on a painful area. Painful complaints can be treated via points outside the painful area.