27/04/2026
Our Acupuncturist, Caroline Crowther, is using Manaka Style Japanese Acupuncture. Caroline achieved a BSc (hons) in Classical Chinese Acupuncture in 2019. In July 2025 she completed a course in Manaka Acupuncture.
It was developed by Western trained, Japanese surgeon, turned acupuncturist Dr Yoshio Manaka from the 1950s and refined until his death decades later. The system differs from Chinese acupuncture. It stems from a merge of scientific and traditional knowledge, to give a greater effect, whilst being gentler to receive. Super fine needles are used; with very shallow (1-2mm) insertion, to avoid pain.
Treatment involves at least two stages, to support the body’s natural restorative rhythm and to balance meridian energy. This facilitates the body’s natural recovery process. Your acupuncture session will be directed towards treating you holistically, as an individual. Root causes are addressed as well as symptom control.
What to expect during a session.
Stage 1: involves palpation of various areas of the abdomen for responses, such as tender points, leading to a diagnosis for treatment. 2 to 4 needles are then inserted in the wrists or feet/ankles. Ion pumping cords are then connected to the needles. They have a unidirectional, very low current, to ‘pump’ concentrations of ions (electrically charged particles). This amplifies the treatment, promoting deeper energetic stimulation without strong needle stimulation. Practitioners then check abdominal responses again, which should be released within a couple of minutes. Stage 1 lasts up to 10 minutes and is performed with the patient lying on their back.
Stage 2: involves palpation of the patients back, then shallow needling of tender points. Tiny rice grain sized pieces of moxa (a fluffy substance created from dried mugwort) are applied directly to the skin at the base of the needles. These are set alight and extinguished as soon as the patient feels the heat. Moxa may also be applied to the top of the needle and lit.
Further stages of treatment will only be performed if the patient is deemed strong enough, or may be carried out after a few appointments. Overtreatment in weaker or very sensitive patients can lead to undesirable side effects, such as extreme tiredness.
Stage 3: Sotai. This is a form of exceptionally gentle structural adjustment. It addresses remaining tension arising from musculoskeletal misalignment, which can affect the health of the internal body. A mobility examination is performed to identify the direction and angle of the reduction in various ranges of movement. The patient is guided through a series of slow, natural and easy movements, whilst lying down or sitting.
Stage 4: Symptom control. Any remaining symptoms are addressed at this stage. It may be done instead of stage 3. Various techniques are used, such as further needling or moxa, cupping or Gua Sha.
Gua Sha: press stroking oiled skin with a blunt instrument to reduce muscular pain, increase range of movement, and reduce inflammation. Sha is the name for the expected red or purple rash that usually appears. It can look like the skin has been scalded, but should not hurt and fades in a few days.
Cupping: silicone cups are placed on the skin, suction is created by squeezing the cup to expel air, which pulls the skin and underlying tissues upwards. Benefits: increases blood flow, promotes lymphatic drainage, relieves muscle tension, and reduces pain and inflammation. Bruising is expected at the cup sites.
Bloodletting: piercing the skin with a diabetic lancet and allowing a few drops of blood to emerge. This helps improve blood flow, reduces local pain, swelling and inflammation
