Acupuncturist gives talk on pain and anxiety

Alex Gilmartin is an Acupuncturist and former NHS Physiotherapist.

Having recently given a talk about acupressure for chronic pain and anxiety for a Fibromyalgia group, she suggested to Outreach Officer for Scotland Emma Gration that her knowledge around acupressure could be useful to our Membership, and could be adapted to the needs of our Members, particularly surrounding those who experience Phantom Limb Pain.

The online talk was well attended, with Members from a few different regions tuning in. Alex asked some of the group for a bit of background surrounding their injuries and then talked about acupressure and the theory behind it.

During the talk she provided practical demonstrations, as well as encouraging members to find the acupressure points themselves.

After the Zoom call Alex shared an online e-book that she had written for a previous group which includes charts showing acupressure points as well as videos giving further practical demonstrations. Alex kindly gave her time and these resources for free to Blesma, and has also put Emma in contact with another organisation who may be able to run a more formal training package, if Members are keen to find out more about the benefits of Acupressure.

Thought provoking acupressure talk. Explored the possibility of rapid pain relief without the necessity of visiting a therapist. It was very helpful for me personally as I have had fibromyalgia for many years and am always seeking fresh ways to alleviate pain.

Widow Member, Lorraine Anderson

Alex Gilmartin said;
"My background is in physiotherapy and also in traditional acupuncture, which brings both the western medical and the oriental hats into the treatment room. I find the blend excellent for treating both the physical and the mental conditions that we see in clinic. As registered acupuncturist at Dumfries House Centre for Well-Being I am part of the team delivering complementary therapies to the programmes which include Chronic Pain, Health and Well-Being, Menopause and Fertility.

When lockdown happened we were forced to go virtual and all presentations were delivered by zoom. All acupuncture treatments stopped too. Now more than ever, when folks are unable to access therapists or the NHS clinics, we need tools that we can use ourselves to manage our conditions. "