Acupuncture & Alternative Medicine Center

Acupuncture & Alternative Medicine Center of Phuket International Hospital provide our new dimension of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) service by Licensed Acupuncturists.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is the ancient Chinese method of healing. Herbal therapies may be combined with acupuncture treatment. By combining Western knowledge and techniques, acupuncture has become an acceptable and sought after treatment for many disorders. Acupuncture improves blood circulation and energy flow in the body to balance bodily functions (yin and yang) and gradually eliminate aches and pains. Although the aches and pains are located at specific points in the body, this holistic approach to treatment does not concentrate on any one particular area of pain because it regards the different parts of the body as a whole. This makes the treatment effective on the entire system. Acupuncture needles and their positioning must be suited to each patient’s physiology. It's also important that the needles be sterile and disposable to ensure the patient’s total safety.

Diseases and disorders

• Weight loss program
• Cosmetic acupuncture
• Menstrual cramps
• Tennis elbow
• Myofascial pain
• Stroke rehabilitation (CVD, Paralysis)
• Headaches (Migraines, Tension headaches)
• Fibromyalgia
• Dementia (Alzheimer’s, Pakinson’s)
• Insomnia
• Erectile dysfunction
• Diseases relating to the face, such as numbness of the face or one-sided facial palsy
• Illnesses relating to tendons, joints and bones and numbness of distal nerves, muscle atrophy, muscle weakness, rheumatoid arthritis, numbness of the extremities, cramp, back pain, numbness of the toes, knee pain, ankle pain
• Asthma
• Allergy

Chinese Herbal Medicine

The use of Chinese herbal medicine is often combined with acupuncture to assist the balance of body functions and improve blood circulation. An Acupuncturists will choose the most appropriate combination of acupuncture, acupressure, moxibustion, and ancient Chinese herbal medicine based on each patient’s unique mental and physical conditions.

Tui Na  

Tui Na is an Oriental Bodywork Therapy that has been used in China for 2,000 years. Tui Na uses the traditional Chinese medical theory of the flow of Qi through the meridians as its basic therapeutic orientation. Through the application of massage and manipulation techniques. Tui Na methods include the use of hand techniques to massage the soft tissue (muscles and tendons) of the body, acupressure techniques to directly affect the flow of Qi , and manipulation techniques to realign the musculoskeletal and ligamentous relationships (bone-setting). External herbal poultices, compresses, liniments, and salves are also used to enhance the other therapeutic methods.

Cupping

Cupping is an ancient technique used in traditional Chinese medicine to stimulate acupuncture points or larger areas of the body. The technique involves creating a vacuum inside round glass cup by inserting a naked flame and removing it, then placing the cup quickly onto the area to be treated before the vacuum is lost. The cups are then left in place for anything up to 20 minutes. Cupping is not painful but can leave slightly red patches on the skin, like circular bruises. The redness on the skin indicates that there has been movement in the circulation of blood under and around the cups. Not all cupping treatments will result in redness as this depends on the complaint being addressed.