About

Acupuncture

Who has acupuncture?

Many people come to acupuncture for help with specific symptoms or to relieve specific pains like osteoarthritis of the knee. Some use acupuncture because they feel generally unwell but have no obvious diagnosis. Others choose acupuncture simply to enhance their feeling of wellbeing. Acupuncture is considered suitable for all ages including babies and children. It can be used effectively alongside conventional medicine.

What can it do for me?

Some people turn to acupuncture for help with a specific symptom or condition. Others choose to have treatment to help maintain good health, as a preventive measure, or simply to improve their general sense of wellbeing. Because traditional acupuncture aims to treat the whole person rather than specific symptoms in isolation, it can be effective for a range of conditions.

Remember that acupuncturists treat the person, not just the condition which they have, so each patient's treatment plan will be different. However, you can always ask your practitioner about other patients' experiences, to give you an idea of what to expect. Many people return to acupuncture again and again because they find it so beneficial and relaxing.

In 2009 the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommended that acupuncture should be made available on the NHS, as a cost-effective short-term treatment for the management of early, persistent non-specific lower back pain.

You can get more information on current scientific research into the effectiveness of acupuncture by visiting The British Acupuncture Association @ www.britishacupunctureassociation.co.uk or by Contacting Matt who is a registered BAA Acupuncturist.

Herbal Medicine

Who has Herbal Medicine?

Many people choose Herbal Medicine as an alternative or complimentary treatment to standard medical interventions. Patients' report positive results they've achieved using Chinese Herbal Medicine in helping with chronic conditions as well as minor ailments, plus an increasing number of encouraging scientific studies into its effectiveness, are also winning a growing respect for Chinese Herbal Medicine

What can it do for me?

Herbal Formulas and Acupuncture in particular are now commonly used to treat a wide range of medical issues, including pain and musculoskeletal conditions, digestive disorders, skin problems, allergies, stress and infertility.

Remember that like Acupuncturists, Chinese medicine Practitioners treat the person, not just the condition which they have, so each patient's treatment plan will be different, whether this is using Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture or just one of these to help with your condition.

In contrast to Western-style medicine, the treatments of Chinese Medicine are always tailored to the individual, and in response to the whole person (the mind and spirit as well as the body). Practitioners diagnose on the basis of not only a medical history and physical observations – including looking at someone's skin, taking their pulse, and checking the condition and colour of their tongue – but also on answers to questions about how their patient is feeling. According to individual needs, a single Chinese Medicine practice or combination of practices (e.g. a course of herbal medicine that runs alongside a series of acupuncture sessions) is used in treatments, with symptoms viewed as indications of an underlying condition rather than something to be dealt with in isolation. (From the RCHM)

You can get more information on current scientific research into the effectiveness of acupuncture by visiting the Register Chinese Herbal Medicine @ www.rchm.co.uk or by Contacting Matt who is a registered RCHM Herbalist.

About Matt Symonds

I graduated from the Northern College of Acupuncture in York with a bachelors of science in Acupuncture (Bsc Acu (hons)) in 2016, I am a fully accredited member of the British acupuncture Association (BAA) and a registrant of the British acupuncture Federation BAF. This means every patient I see can feel confident that I am fully insured and all treatments comply with the high standards of the BAA and BAF codes of practice.

I have also completed a Professional diploma in Chinese Herbal Medicine (PDip CHM) from the Northern College of Acupuncture in 2021. So I am now able to offer Chinese Herbal Medicine in conjunction with acupuncture to help patients to achieve the most from their journey to health with me. I am a full member of the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM) which means all patients can feel confident that all herbs used and supplied comply to EU and UK laws and I comply with the high professional and regulator standards of the RCHM.

What drew me to learn acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine?

In my early teens I had acupuncture to help me with asthma, I later had treatment to help with sports injury recovery and lower back pain. Through having treatments I found acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine helped me and want to be able to offer that same help, and be able to share this medicine with others.

I have lived in Harrogate all my life, so it is naturally where I wanted to practice and offer treatments to those in the area. I feel that Harrogate has a lot of healing energy, which started with the spring water all those years ago, and is enhanced by the large, open spaces within the town. Harrogate offers a great location to offer Chinese Medicine by connecting to that healing energy.

During my 5 years in practise I have used acupuncture to help with mental, emotional and physical conditions, to cope with day to day stresses in life and to maintain health and wellbeing. Using what I have learnt from Chinese Medicine in day to day life has helped me grow stronger as a person. Through my practice, I would like to share this, to help you achieve your aims for better health and wellbeing.

Whether you are new to Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine or have experienced it before, I look forward to meeting you and helping you on your healing journey.