Those interested in studying acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine (or seeking treatment) often ask us what the beneficial effects can be. Our graduates are skilled in the comprehensive use of acupuncture and Chinese herbs to restore and enhance health in a variety of ways described below.

Acupuncture and herbs can treat people who have no labelled complaint but who, nevertheless, feel 'not right' as evidenced by physical, mental or spiritual distress. Acupuncture diagnosis goes to the root cause of the problem and does not focus solely on physical symptoms at the expense of mental or spiritual distress.

A typical result of such treatment is that patients feel better in themselves: abilities, talents or areas of life which the person has put to one side are activated and people shed limitations and break new ground, whether in their personal lives, relationships, families or work. Frequently, they also find that an apparently unrelated group of symptoms improve together.

Acupuncture and herbs can also treat many chronic complaints or symptoms including breathing and lung problems, circulatory problems, digestive and bowel complaints, ear, eye, nose, mouth and throat disorders, gynaecological problems, joint problems and pain, skin conditions, urinary and infertility problems. The line between these kinds of complaints and those mentioned above is not always clear.

Chinese medical research literature contains many accounts of the treatment of specific complaints. For more information visit the Acupuncture Research Resource Centre website acupunctureresearch.org.uk.

Additionally, acupuncture and herbs can also treat short-term acute problems such as the common cold, flu, mumps, back sprains, and sports injuries. These complaints are commonly treated in China, in outpatient clinics.

In the last few years there has been a huge increase in public interest in acupuncture. This has largely been due to more high quality research being published that shows that acupuncture is a very effective therapy for a wide range of illnesses. Large scale studies in Europe and the US have shown how effective acupuncture can be for conditions such as headaches and arthritis, and also for improving the chances of conception for women using IVF.

Many patients are attracted to acupuncture for its ability to help people feel better in themselves. In the College's own audit and outcome study 93% of patients treated using acupuncture in the student clinic reported an improvement in their main complaint. The growth in popularity of acupuncture in the UK has been steady over the last forty years and this trend looks set to continue.

Graduates of the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine gain the valuable theoretical understanding and clinical expertise necessary to help in whichever way is most appropriate for each individual patient.