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Claudia Smith

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a system of medicine which is over 2,000 years old.
Acupuncture works by using fine stainless steel needles which are inserted very lightly into the skin just behind the surface.
The needles are inserted into Acupuncture points.
The Chinese discovered that the body has twelve channels of energy flowing through it.

These are called Meridians. Along these channels lie various points which can be stimulated to encourage the energy to flow. We call this Qi energy - it can be called life energy or even the life force.

How can Acupuncture help?

Life's stresses can easily disrupt or deplete these energy channels. There can be too much energy going to one place or too little going to another. The body's energy revitalizes the organs' tissues and keeps everything running smoothly.

The Acupuncture Practitioner finds out if there is an imbalance in any of these channels by feeling the 'pulses' on both wrists. This will show the Practitioner where the person's imbalance lies along with other indicators.
The Practitioner is then able to stimulate the stagnant, depleted or blocked energy by putting needles in the appropriate points..

What can Acupuncture help with?

Acupuncture is a holistic system of medicine so theoretically it can help with any kind of symptom e.g. back ache, headaches, asthma, eczema, fertility problems, hormonal problems and stress.
It encourages the body to heal itself through 'tuning the energy'. The responses to treatment can be very dramatic indeed with the symptom disappearing overnight; conversely it can all take longer.

The Five Element System of Acupuncture

Claudia Smith was trained in the Five Element System of Acupuncture. This system is based on the idea that all our symptoms, however physical, will usually come from an emotional cause.
The five emotions which can cause disease are anger, grief, lack of joy, fear, worry, or a combination of all of them. Her job is to take an initial diagnosis which will take 1½ hours during which time a very detailed case history will be taken. Also, a short physical ex-amination of the pulses, the back and the abdomen will be taken.

Claudia predominantly uses the Five Element System but will also give life-style advice. Many people come to her just because they don't have any energy or they don't feel right in themselves. Putting those meridians back into balance will usually improve the person's feeling of well-being.

Claudia completed her training in 1989 at The College of Traditional Chinese Acupuncture, Royal Leamington Spa where she received her Licenciate of Acupuncture. She is a Member of the British Acupuncure Council and has pursued further studies at The College of Integrated Chinese Medicine, Reading.