Used by the Chinese for centuries, and now a mainstay in Western alternative medicine, the business of sticking needles all over the body to unblock invisible pathways has never been more popular.
The likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Matt Damon and Kate Moss all swear by acupuncture, and studies have proven its ability to beat fatigue, aid healing and improve wellbeing. On top of this, practitioners also believe the ancient art of inserting a series of fine, hair-thin needles into specific points all over the body has the ability to prevent disease and to bring about healing.
Need more encouragement before offering yourself up to the painful-looking practice? Well, acupuncture not only promises to improve wellbeing by releasing untapped energy stores, it's also a favourite A-list therapy.
How does it work?
The idea is that by sticking a series of fine needles into particular acupuncture points. invisible channels — which stretch from head to toe — can be unblocked. There are 12 main energy channels or meridians in the body that relate to all of the internal organs and when blocked these meridians disrupt the flow of energy. Unblocking them corrects the flow and ultimately restores wellbeing.
Qi energy
Acupuncturists believe there can either be an excess or a deficiency of this energy source, which in ancient Chinese medicine is called
qi (pronounced 'chee'), both of which can result in illness. For this reason, when a needle is inserted into an acupuncture point it can be manipulated to either build
qi, if there is an energy deficiency, or to drain
qi if there is an excess of energy.
Yin and yang
Who
hasn't heard of yin and yang? Well, it turns out there's more to the ancient philosophy than just friendship charms. Central to Chinese thought, this is the belief that every person is governed by these two opposing, but complementary, forces of energy. Half of the body's organs and meridians are defined as yin and the other half are defined as yang — and when yin and yang are out of balance the likelihood of illness and disease is believed to increase. The balance of these two forces is one of the main aims of acupuncture.
Acupuncture techniques
If the thought of being prodded and poked by an army of needles doesn't have you racing to your nearest acupuncturist, then perhaps these alternatives are more up your alley.
Cupping: A favourite of Gwyneth Paltrow — she once turned up to a New York premiere sporting the tell-tale circular bruises — cupping involves placing heated cups on acupuncture points to correct the flow of qi and encourage blood flow.
Chinese herbs: This pain-free alternative comes in the form of pre-prepared tablets or granules. Alternatively, a concoction can be freshly mixed by an acupuncturist.
Laser: Used to activate acupuncture points, laser is another painless alternative for needle-phobes.
TCM remedial massage: This involves specialised massage techniques that are applied to specific acupuncture points.
Moxibustion: The practice of burning herbs and either holding them over or applying them to specific acupuncture points.
The latest fad
Move over cupping, auricular acupuncture is quickly becoming the latest healing trend to hit Tinseltown. This new A-list fave uses the acupuncture points on the outer ear (there are as many as 200) to relieve pain and restore health.
Nick Dalton-Brewer — who practices auricular and general acupuncture at London's Hale Clinic — says that while it may be the "latest celebrity fad", it is in fact able to treat a wide range of problems "from addictions to insomnia, joint pain and fertility".
Kate Moss is a convert, using the ancient remedy to beat her addiction to cocaine.
Cherie Blair is also a fan, using it to help her combat stress. And
Matt Damon has been spotted sporting the tiny acupuncture needles.
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