Leading acupuncturist, aromatherapist and healing holistic facialist, Annee de Mamiel, tells us how the ancient practice of acupuncture can support modern wellbeing, from reducing stress and chronic pain to improving sleep and energy.

In Chinese hospitals, when a patient is admitted, the doctor chooses between Eastern and Western treatment methods. Often, serious conditions are treated using techniques, such as acupuncture. When the body is out of balance, it is one of the most effective treatments available.
I started acupuncture because it benefited me at a time when I was sick, and I wanted to benefit others in the same way. I also have a fascination with anatomy, physiology and the human body, so naturally I was driven to learn more about it.
There’s a lot more to acupuncture than simply inserting needles; each point has a purpose, and as a practitioner, I look much deeper than the surface. If a patient is in pain or they’re stressed, I look to find the root cause and treat that rather than merely focusing on the symptoms that present themselves.
I start by listening to the patient’s concerns, what’s bothering them and any symptoms they’ve noticed. Then, we listen to the body. As an acupuncturist, I’m trained to read what the tongue is showing, the pulses and the face. Every line, every wrinkle, every discolouration in the face tells a story of something that’s out of balance in the body.
We all have vital, or core, energy, it’s called our Chi in Chinese medicine, and our Chi flows through us. When we’re stressed or injured, and our body becomes tense, the energy can no longer flow freely, resulting in aches and pains. Acupuncture can release blockages and kickstart the flow of energy again. Just think of a hosepipe with a kink in it; the flow of water is no longer possible, but when we find and treat the source of the blockage, we’re able to get the water flowing again.
Once our vital energy is flowing freely, our bodies are back in balance, and the tell-tale signs and symptoms of the original cause begin to fade away.
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