Frequently asked Questions
What can acupuncture treat?
Acupuncture can treat a wide range of conditions including female and male infertility, back pain, headache, anxiety and depression. For fact sheets on research supporting the efficacy of acupuncture on a number of conditions, please visit the British Acupuncture Council's website. The World Health Organisation has also published a list of diseases and disorders that acupuncture has been proven to treat. For more information on what acupuncture can treat please contact us.
Five element acupuncture addresses the underlying cause of an illness rather than just the symptoms, and as such it is often helpful in treating issues that are generally unresponsive to Western drug-oriented treatment. It treats the body, mind and spirit and it is common to experience changes in any, or all, of these areas after regular treatment. You may find that as well as your original complaint, other symptoms or issues also disappear. Most people experience renewed vitality, better sleep, a greater sense of self and well-being, and more able to cope with the stresses of life.
What will happen at my first appointment?
Your first appointment will involve an in-depth consultation, which will take place on the phone in advance of your first appointment, in line with BAcC Covid-19 secure guidelines. The consultation will last approximately 30 minutes and I will ask you lots of questions about your current and past health issues, work, diet, lifestyle, sleep, and relationships.
When you come to the clinic for your first in-person appointment, I will give you a face mask to wear and ask you to wash your hands on arrival, and I will take your temperature. I will then start the treatment with a brief physical exam (e.g. taking your pulses and blood pressure) before moving on to the acupuncture treatment itself. This will take approximately 60-90 minutes. Follow-up treatments take around 45-60 minutes.
In addition to acupuncture I also use moxibustion, a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves the burning of the mugwort herb to facilitate healing. Moxibustion has been used throughout Asia for thousands of years and the Chinese character for acupuncture, translated literally, means "acupuncture-moxibustion". Moxibustion is used to strengthen the blood, stimulate the flow of Qi and maintain general health. A small, cone-shaped amount of moxa is placed on top of an acupuncture point and lit, then removed before it burns the skin. You will experience a pleasant heating sensation that penetrates deep into the skin, but no pain, blistering or scarring.
How many treatments will I need?
This will depend on your condition and progress of the treatment. In the early stages of treatment, the follow-ups are relatively frequent, with weekly treatments for three or four weeks. The aim is to gradually increase the gap between treatments until we reach the ‘maintenance’ stage, when the focus becomes keeping you healthy and preventing further ill health. This generally involves treatments of between 6 weeks and 3 months. Consistent treatment has a cumulative effect. Chronic illness may require treatment for many weeks, while acute problems generally respond much faster. The patient’s attitude and lifestyle will also greatly affect the outcome of the treatment.
Is it safe?
Yes. I use pre-sterilised single-use needles that are safely disposed of immediately after your treatment. All of my treatments are carried out in accordance with the professional standards developed by the British Acupuncture Council, detailed in the BAcC Codes of Safe Practice and Professional Conduct.
In line with Covid secure guidelines I will not be providing any soft furnishings or towels, but will use disposable couch roll to cover the treatment couch. Furthermore I have introduced new room cleaning procedures and will allow more time between patients to minimise any contact and waiting times, and to allow for extra cleaning.
Does it hurt?
The needles I use are ultra fine, about the width of a human hair. The sensation of the needle reaching the point is different for everyone and can be described as a dull ache, or a tugging, pulling or rushing sensation. On the whole the needles are only kept in for a few seconds before they are removed.
Acupuncture can treat a wide range of conditions including female and male infertility, back pain, headache, anxiety and depression. For fact sheets on research supporting the efficacy of acupuncture on a number of conditions, please visit the British Acupuncture Council's website. The World Health Organisation has also published a list of diseases and disorders that acupuncture has been proven to treat. For more information on what acupuncture can treat please contact us.
Five element acupuncture addresses the underlying cause of an illness rather than just the symptoms, and as such it is often helpful in treating issues that are generally unresponsive to Western drug-oriented treatment. It treats the body, mind and spirit and it is common to experience changes in any, or all, of these areas after regular treatment. You may find that as well as your original complaint, other symptoms or issues also disappear. Most people experience renewed vitality, better sleep, a greater sense of self and well-being, and more able to cope with the stresses of life.
What will happen at my first appointment?
Your first appointment will involve an in-depth consultation, which will take place on the phone in advance of your first appointment, in line with BAcC Covid-19 secure guidelines. The consultation will last approximately 30 minutes and I will ask you lots of questions about your current and past health issues, work, diet, lifestyle, sleep, and relationships.
When you come to the clinic for your first in-person appointment, I will give you a face mask to wear and ask you to wash your hands on arrival, and I will take your temperature. I will then start the treatment with a brief physical exam (e.g. taking your pulses and blood pressure) before moving on to the acupuncture treatment itself. This will take approximately 60-90 minutes. Follow-up treatments take around 45-60 minutes.
In addition to acupuncture I also use moxibustion, a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves the burning of the mugwort herb to facilitate healing. Moxibustion has been used throughout Asia for thousands of years and the Chinese character for acupuncture, translated literally, means "acupuncture-moxibustion". Moxibustion is used to strengthen the blood, stimulate the flow of Qi and maintain general health. A small, cone-shaped amount of moxa is placed on top of an acupuncture point and lit, then removed before it burns the skin. You will experience a pleasant heating sensation that penetrates deep into the skin, but no pain, blistering or scarring.
How many treatments will I need?
This will depend on your condition and progress of the treatment. In the early stages of treatment, the follow-ups are relatively frequent, with weekly treatments for three or four weeks. The aim is to gradually increase the gap between treatments until we reach the ‘maintenance’ stage, when the focus becomes keeping you healthy and preventing further ill health. This generally involves treatments of between 6 weeks and 3 months. Consistent treatment has a cumulative effect. Chronic illness may require treatment for many weeks, while acute problems generally respond much faster. The patient’s attitude and lifestyle will also greatly affect the outcome of the treatment.
Is it safe?
Yes. I use pre-sterilised single-use needles that are safely disposed of immediately after your treatment. All of my treatments are carried out in accordance with the professional standards developed by the British Acupuncture Council, detailed in the BAcC Codes of Safe Practice and Professional Conduct.
In line with Covid secure guidelines I will not be providing any soft furnishings or towels, but will use disposable couch roll to cover the treatment couch. Furthermore I have introduced new room cleaning procedures and will allow more time between patients to minimise any contact and waiting times, and to allow for extra cleaning.
Does it hurt?
The needles I use are ultra fine, about the width of a human hair. The sensation of the needle reaching the point is different for everyone and can be described as a dull ache, or a tugging, pulling or rushing sensation. On the whole the needles are only kept in for a few seconds before they are removed.