Lifestyle Advice by Acupuncturists Contributes to UK Healthcare

Lifestyle advice by acupuncturists contributes to UK healthcare. A survey by the University of Southampton of 352 traditional acupuncturists, suggests their work is supporting key UK public health targets for promoting healthy lifestyles. Four key health behaviours – diet, physical activity, smoking and alcohol consumption – are now established as primary causes of ill health in the UK. Large scale surveys have shown patients report making health behaviour changes as a result of complementary medical encounters. Usage of complementary medicine is associated with a belief that health is a result of personal behaviour that may include lifestyle.

This was the first nationwide survey of UK acupuncturists and their provision of lifestyle and behaviour change advice. Almost 58% of most recent patient visits included some such support, rising to 92% for chronic conditions in particular. Physical activity and dietary changes were most widely the targets, followed by sleep hygiene, alcohol and smoking.

(Lifestyle and health behaviour change support in traditional acupuncture: a mixed method survey study of reported practice (UK). BMC Complementary Medicine & Therapies, 21 September 2022.)

Author: Robin Costello

I offer traditional Chinese acupuncture in Exeter, from a tranquil clinic a mile from the city centre, and next to the University of Exeter. I graduated originally from the London School of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine’s 3 year full time Acupuncture Diploma (DipAc) course. I am on the practitioners register of the British Acupuncture Council (MBAcC), a regulatory and professional body with an entry standard of a full three year undergraduate degree level training. I have worked in a hospital in south west China, deepening my knowledge and using acupuncture and Chinese massage (tuina) as the treatment of choice in its country of origin. I have taught Chinese medicine in colleges, the NHS and at university level. I also practise Qi Gong, and Chinese dietary therapy, that is the medicinal use of ordinary foods, chosen to help achieve particular therapeutic effects in different individuals.