In recent weeks, Parliament has witnessed some extraordinary scenes: MPs at loggerheads, arguing bitterly over the state of the nation and, of course, the course of Brexit. But on November 14 the House of Commons will be the backdrop for a very different kind of ‘demonstration’ – as members gather for the publication of a new report by the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) to mark World Acupuncture Day.
You may wonder why the BAcC chose such grand surroundings, but for report author, Rachel Edney, who studied biological sciences and is now herself an acupuncture practitioner, it is relatively simple – to try to raise as much awareness as possible of the benefits of acupuncture.
“People aren’t aware of the huge evidence base out there,” she explains, “or the standard of research, or the amount of research. There is such a large body of evidence, but I still often hear, ‘but does it work?’. People ask ‘is it hocus pocus?’, ‘is it a bit New Age?’, but it isn’t at all. It’s very much a physical medicine.
“We have a big job on our hands but we feel duty-bound to tell people that there is a safe and effective treatment available for lots of conditions.”
Generally, there are two kinds of acupuncture available in the UK: Western medical acupuncture – often used these days by physiotherapists to get to tricky deep-set muscles – and traditional acupuncture. The latter is based on ancient principles – which can be traced back almost 2,000 years; It is a healthcare system, which believes that illness and pain occur when the body’s qi or vital energy cannot flow freely.
This may sound a little ‘hocus pocus’ but today’s practitioners (listed by the BAcC) are highly trained over at least three years to degree level and the treatment has been found to have a number of major benefits: it is ideal for patients who would rather not (or cannot) take medication, though it can be used effectively in conjunction; it is almost painless and non-invasive; it can help children and adults alike; there are very few side effects and it is extremely cheap and risk-free in comparison to surgery.
In fact, its affordability forms a healthy chunk of the report, with hopes that decision-makers will take note and that more acupuncture will become available on the NHS.
“We have included a lot of cost-effectiveness data,” says Rachel. “There are a number of high-level studies which show that acupuncture falls below the NiCE threshold (annual healthcare guidelines set by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence).
And in some cases, acupuncture is even cost-saving as some patients avoid surgery altogether.” There are examples in Rachel’s report that show how acupuncture is already being offered through the NHS. She cites the Gateway Clinic at Guy’s and St Thomas’s in London, where patients are being treated for chronic neurological and musculoskeletal pain, headaches and migraines, as well as conditions associated with HIV such as medication side-effects, anxiety and depression.
And with Brexit looming there may be a greater need to find alternatives to potential shortages in medicine. The press has already been reporting a shortage in HRT medicine, and Rachel reveals she has seen an increase in the numbers of women seeking to relieve symptoms of the menopause. Add to this a growing opioid crisis and a frightening rise in antidepressants prescribed to teenagers, and it seems that there is an increasing number of areas where acupuncture could be the answer.
To find a BAcC registered traditional acupuncturist near you, visit: acupuncture.org.uk. For western, medical acupuncture, visit: medical-acupuncture.co.uk
