Body & Soul: In at the sharp end

June 2003: Ireland on Sunday

LAURA BERMINGHAM isn't a bit needled by an acupuncture session.

Acupuncture means to puncture with a needle. In simple terms, the needles in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are used to stimulate and re-balance the body's healing energy - or 'chi'. By stimulating chi, blockages responsible for low energy and sickness are removed.

In TCM, the body has 12 meridian lines. Each is connected to a specific organ and each has more than 350 acupuncture points. It is these points which are isolated by an acupuncturist when treating a condition, and where the needles are placed.

The needles can be anything from a half-inch to three inches long, the length determined by the illness and the patient's size. They are made of stainless steel, come in sealed packs and are disposed of after use.

DAN-TIEN

An appointment was made with David Shipsey in his complementary health studio. Dan-Tien, at Christchurch, Dublin. David said it's common for people to be afraid of the needles but explained that they are extremely fine, some as thin as human hair and designed to pass through the akin with nearly no pain. Often, he said, people are unaware of the needles being inserted and many fall asleep during a session. I wasn't convinced but was willing to give it ago.

CONSULTATION

A very thorough medical history must be taken from each new patient because. David explained, sometimes people come for a certain problem, unaware their condition may be linked to another, underlying problem. My condition was a chest infection that was refusing to shift. Mostly, it's treated with a course of antibiotics but that can become problematic for those who get two or three infections a year. My situation is further complicated because I'm allergic to penicillin. Because I have asthma as well, David was keen to examine other areas of my life like diet - to see if there was some link to my respiratory problems. Thanks to my recent kinesiology session, where a yeast allergy was discovered, my digestion and energy levels have improved dramatically so I was keen to discover other ways to maintain better health.

TONGUE AND PULSE READING

Every acupuncture session includes tongue and pulse reading. The colour, shape, length and coating of the tongue can indicate many things, and a practitioner can identify many underlying problems affecting the organs, like liver damage, congestion in the colon, etc.

My tongue was in good health but showed indications of a deficiency in the kidneys, and heat there. This can manifest itself in thirstiness and can be dealt with by a greater intake of water and more water-based fruit

David took a pulse reading from six points on each wrist to check the level of energy flow through my body. A difference in any of the points shows a blockage where illness may lurk.

THE SESSION

I was slightly apprehensive as I lay on the treatment bed, although not as much as my photographer, who looked petrified.

David told me the insertion of the needles might cause a slight stinging sensation but that it would be brief.

The first needle was placed between my eyebrows and it did not hurt at all. Two more were inserted into my wrists and lower legs before the abdominal ones were inserted.

David finds using a combination of regular acupuncture with abdominal acupuncture the fastest method of achieving results. Abdominal acupuncture is largely forgotten about as body acupuncture soared in popularity but David says his success rate using this method has been wonderful.

There were maybe ten or eleven needles placed in my abdomen and, with the exception of one just below my solar plexus, none hurt. Having expected to be crying by this stage, I found it very peculiar to have no pain. Even more peculiar was the sensation in my legs. From one to the other, I had a kind of pulling sensation towards the needle, which lasted for two or three minutes.

Most people are left at this stage to relax and enjoy their session. As we still doing photographs, I had no such luxury. What I had imagined would be a form of torture was exactly the opposite. I became so relaxed and comfortable that I completely forgot about the needle between my eyebrows and tried to brush it away, thinking it was a stray hair.

On the whole, it was a very different form of treatment but one too often dismissed by people because of a fear of needles. I was so relaxed by the end that when David returned to remove the needles, I wasn't in the least concerned. There was no pain or sensation while he did this - and no blood. Another fear conquered, I thought.

Acupuncture can be used to treat many ailments, including back pain, anxiety, high blood pressure and migraine. Both David and his wife, Deirdre, have trained in China and are passionate about TCM and its beneficial effects.

There are no real contra-indications to acupuncture - anyone can be treated, from babies to the elderly. Aside from physical conditions, many mental and emotional problems can benefit from acupuncture, including depression and stress. It is also a great aid to those wishing to give up smoking.

RESULTS

In the days following my treatment, David said I would probably find myself coughing more as my body worked to expel the infection. Overall, my chest feels a lot clearer and I wont be bothering with another course of antibiotics. Not bad for a half hour session.

• Feb 2008:The Sunday Business Post: Nothing Twee about these Treatments
  
  
• March 2004: GCN: Alternative Options
  
  
• February 2004: Garda Review: Speaking In Tongues
  
  
• November 2003: The Sunday Business Post: Getting the Point
  
  
• August 2003: Irish Tatler: Mother And Baby: Aches & Pains
  
  
• June 2003: Ireland on Sunday: Body & Soul: In at the sharp end
  
  
• November 2002: The Sunday Business Post: Just A Little Needlework