Welcome to Acu & Co.
Acu & Co. was established by Lucia Rodger, offering acupuncture and a range of other complementary naturopathic therapies on White Hart Lane in Barnes, South West London.
​
Below in short are details on the many benefits naturopathy, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offer in addressing a wide range of conditions. Lucia Miksadova
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture is a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) - a medical system that can be traced back for more than 2,500 years.
​
Whereas Western medicine typically deals with the symptoms of a disease and specific treatments, TCM adopts a holistic approach, with the aim of maintaining health by restoring the balance of bodily functions. In doing so, it takes into account the mind, emotions and spirit, as well as the physical body, placing equal emphasis on the importance of each. Together these form a very complex, interrelated system, powered by a life force or energy, referred to as chi (Qi).
Qi runs throughout our bodies with TCM treatments focusing on ways to promote and maintain its flow. The qualities of Qi are described through the ever-changing and ever-transforming and complimentary opposites of Yin and Yang.
​
The main pillars of TCM
​
-
Acupuncture: very fine needles inserted into the skin
-
Cupping: cups applied to the skin using suction
-
Moxibustion: a dried herb (mugwort) burnt near to the skin
-
Herbs: the consumption of herbs through teas, powders, and/ or capsules
-
Meditation: the use of certain techniques to calm the mind
-
Tai Chi & Qi Gong: the adoption of certain postures or use of gentle movements to support mental focus, breathing and relaxation. Lucia Miksadova
Naturopathy
"The body has a capacity to heal itself if given the right conditions and naturopathy, along with acupuncture, homoeopathy, herbal medicine, and most other holistic modalities subscribes to this basic understanding of the body’s own innate intelligence." Steven Langley, The Naturopathy Workbook
​
The principles of Naturopathy were first used by the Hippocratic School of Medicine in about 400 BC. The Greek philosopher Hippocrates believed in assessing the whole person to determine causation, and using the laws of nature to induce cure. It is from this original school of thought that Naturopathy takes its principles.
Key principles of naturopathy​
​
-
The healing power of nature – nature has the innate ability to heal
-
Identify and treat the cause – there is always an underlying cause, be it physical or emotional
-
Do no harm – a naturopath will never use treatments that may create other conditions
-
Treat the whole person – when preparing a treatment plan, all aspects of a person’s being are taken into consideration
-
The naturopath as a teacher – a naturopath empowers the patient to take responsibility for their own health by teaching self-care
-
Prevention is better than cure – a naturopath may remove toxic substances and situations from a patient’s lifestyle to prevent the onset of further disease
​
Naturopathy, or Nature Cure, is underpinned by a fundamental principle – vis medicatrix naturae – the healing power of nature. This was made clear twenty-five centuries ago when Hippocrates described health as the expression of a harmonious balance between various components of man’s nature, the environment and way of life – nature is the physician of disease.
​
Man was part of nature and the universe, and health was achieved by living in accordance with this principle. Harmony was fostered with proper nutrition, water treatments, rest, sunshine and fasting. Medicine, religion and science were intimately related and man was seen as a whole – a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual being.
​
The same vital force or chi (Qi) that made up the universe and nature flowed through humans and it was dislocation from this source that caused illness. Early naturopaths realised that if you could restore Qi to the patient, the body would naturally heal itself.
Lucia Miksadova