he practice of traditional acupuncture involves more than the insertion of needles.
The Chinese word for acupuncture is zhenjiu (针灸). The first character ‘zhen’ means needle, the second character ‘jiu’ means moxibustion. Moxibustion is the burning of a herb called moxa (Chinese mugwort) to warm specific parts of the body, including acupuncture points.
▫ Other techniques such as cupping, guasha and tuina massage have also been used alongside acupuncture for thousands of years. During treatments, acupuncturists may make dietary recommendations or suggest specific exercises such as taijiquan and qigong.
▫ During winter our bodies can struggle with the cold on both an emotional and physical level. Warming techniques and the practice of Chinese medicine can help. Reach out to your local practitioner for ways acupuncture and Chinese medicine can support you.