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Damon Fewster
Damon Fewster has been an established practitioner of traditional
Acupuncture since 1996. He studied at the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine in Reading, where he learnt the disciplines of Traditional Chinese medicine and five-element Acupuncture.
Damon is married with two young children. Previous to his Acupuncture Damon worked in Social Services with adults and
children with learning disabilities.
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Who has acupuncture?
Many people come to acupuncture for help with specific symptoms or conditions. These might include: anxiety states, arthritis, asthma, back pain, circulatory problems, depression, facial paralysis, fibrositis, high blood pressure, indeterminate aches and pains, infertility, menstrual problems, migraines, rheumatism, sciatica, skin conditions or ulcers.
Acupuncture is a safe treatment for all. It has proved to be effective in pregnancy management and for the relief of pain in childbirth. Acupuncture is also helpful for people trying to overcome addictions such as those related to smoking, alcohol, food or drugs.
Some people may have acupuncture as a preventative measure to strengthen their constitution, or because they feel unwell in themselves without being ill in the western sense. It can also be used alongside conventional medicine in the treatment of both acute and chronic disease. As with any therapy, the response can vary from one person to another.
The benefits of acupuncture frequently include more that just relief from a particular condition. Many people find that it can also lead to increased energy levels, better appetite and sleep as well as an enhanced sense of well being.
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What does it feel like?
Nothing like having an injection! Acupuncture needle are very fine and the experience is not unpleasant.
What will happen on my first visit?
Your first consultation may be longer than subsequent sessions. Damon needs to asses your general state of health, in order to identify the underlying pattern of disharmony and give you the most effective treatment.
You will be asked about your current symptoms and what treatment you have received so far; your medical history and that of you close family, your diet, digestive system, sleeping patterns and emotional state. To discover how the energies are flowing in your body, the acupuncturist is likely to feel your pulses on both wrists, noting their quality, rhythm and strength. The structure, colour and coating of your tongue also give a good guide to your physical health.
Once enough information has been gathered to determinate the likely cause of your problems, Damon can select the most appropriate treatment. The aim is to discover which energy channels need adjusting for your specific complaint to improve, and which require treatment to boost your overall energy and vitality.
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How often will I need treatment?
In traditional acupuncture philosophy each person is considered as unique, and therefore the number of treatments required depends on the individual. Some change is usually felt after five treatments. Normally you are recommended to visit your acupuncturist once or twice a week at first, although some conditions may need less frequent attention.
Sometimes the effects of the treatment are dramatic, and only one or two treatments are required. With other patients, the effects are more subtle and they may need treatment over several months.
Should my doctor know?
If you are receiving treatment from your doctor then it makes sense to tell him or her about your plans to have acupuncture. The acupuncture treatment may enable you to reduce or even stop taking some forms of medication, but your doctor should be consulted regarding any change of prescription.
You should always tell your acupuncturist about any medication you are taking as this may affect your response to the acupuncture treatment.
Is it safe?
Damon is a member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) whose members observe a Code of Safe Practice, which includes stringent standards of hygiene and requires the use of sterile disposable needles.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a system of healing which has been practiced in China and other Eastern countries for thousands of years. Although often described as a means of relief, it is in fact used to treat people with a wide range of illnesses. Its focus is on improving the overall well being of the patient, rather than the isolated treatment of specific symptoms.
According to traditional Chinese philosophy, our health is dependent on the body's motivating energy - known as Qi - moving in a smooth and balanced way through a series of channels beneath the skin. Qi consists of equal and opposite qualities- Yin and Yang - and when these become unbalanced, illness may result. By inserting fine needles into the channels of energy, an acupuncturist can stimulate the body's own healing response and help restore its natural balance. The flow of Qi can be disturbed by a number of factors. These include emotional states such as anxiety, stress, anger, fear or grief, poor nutrition, weather conditions, hereditary factors, infections, poisons and trauma.
The principal aim of acupuncture in treating the whole person is to recover the equilibrium between the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of the individual.
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