Patient Information & FAQ's
Your Treatment
Acupuncture doesn’t just treat the symptoms of an illness/injury, but also treats the person.
Each patients treatment begins with a comprehensive patient review, designed to understand your health conditions and patterns. An individualized treatment plan is then tailor-made for you. Your results are closely tracked and your treatment plan is and modified as necessary.
Treatment involves inserting very fine needles (about the width of a human hair) into the skin in specific areas (points) of the body These points are said to affect the ‘qi’ or ‘vital energy’ and are located along specific lines along the body called ‘Meridians’ or ‘Channels’.
What should I expect from my first session?
During your first treatment a full medical and personal history will be taken, this will take around 1.5 hours. Subsequent treatments will take around 45 minutes.
Questions will include your main complaint, any other issues, sleep, emotions and dietary habits. This is all relevant in order to diagnose you as an individual and to formulate a treatment plan for you.
You should wear loose, comfortable clothing, so that your lower arms and legs can be accessed.
What is Acupuncture? How does it work?
Acupuncture has been practised in the China and the far east for thousands of years. Since then it has been tested, developed and researched into a treatment option that increasing numbers of patients from the western world have turned to.
Acupuncture (also sometimes called Dry Needling or Trigger Point Therapy) is the insertion of a medical-grade needle about the width of human hair are inserted into the skin, connective tissue (fascia) or muscle, connecting with acupuncture points located along specific lines along the body called meridians.
There is growing evidence based clinical research that is discovering how the body responds to acupuncture and how it can benefit a wide range of common health conditions.
Many people receive acupuncture to relieve aches and pains, such as sports injuries, osteoarthritis of the knee, headaches and low back pain. Also, when they are feeling low, have low energy or ill health, where western medicine pharmaceutical options have been unable to help.
Other’s choose acupuncture when they feel their body is out of ‘balance’ where there is no explanation for this in western medicine and where western medical treatment would not be beneficial.
The British Acupuncture Council have produced a short animated video introduction to traditional acupuncture called Getting to the point of traditional acupuncture please clink on the link to view.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has an official list of diseases and disorders that can be treated with acupuncture and where acupuncture has been proved to be an effective treatment. Acupuncture has been shown to be therapeutic in many more conditions according to WHO. Please click the link to view.
Is it painful?
People generally only feel a slight prick on insertion. Once inserted there may be a feeling of numbness, heat or pulling.
The needles are then removed or left in place for 10-30 minutes depending on desired effect. This is usually a very calming and relaxing feeling.
How many treatments will I need?
For New (acute) problems it may only need a couple of sessions. If you have a longer term/chronic condition it may take more time, generally 6 to 12 weekly sessions before change occurs. As your symptoms improve the length of time between treatments can be extended. The number of treatments you are likely to require based on your complaint will be discussed at your first session.
How does Facial Enhancement Acupuncture work?
Seen as an alternative to BOTOX, cosmetic or facial enhancement acupuncture is becoming very popular, especially with celebrities, as a more holistic treatment to combat the signs of ageing.
Many ultra fine needles are placed into lines on the face, lifting and tightening facial muscles and causing micro trauma, promoting the body to self heal and iron out the wrinkles.
Needles are also placed in acupuncture points in other areas of the body, to ensure the treatment is tailored to the individual so an all round benefit is achieved.
An initial course of treatment is recommended, followed by top ups every few months.
Apart from Acupuncture, what other treatments might I receive?
Moxibustion:
Moxibustion (Moxa) is a Chinese herb.
Moxa is used in many areas of treatment but can be particularly useful for diseases such as osteoarthritis, muscular and joint pain, soft tissue injury, asthma, urinary retention, period pains, diarrhoea, weakness and fatigue. It can also be used to turn a breech baby, or baby in malposition during pregnancy.
Fire and Suction Cupping:
Cupping is a technique that involves applying a vacuum to the skin using a glass or plastic cup. The cup is either left in place for several minutes or moved around the affected body part. Moving cups can feel like pleasant massage.
The cup draws blood to the area, nourishes the muscles, removes stagnation from the area and helps to relieve pain.
The treatment can also be used to aid the immune system and encourage the release of pathogens linked to symptoms such as coughs, colds and a stuffy nose.
Cupping can leave a bruise-like mark on the skin, but this will usually disappear within 3-5 days.
Gua-Sha:
Gua-Sha – Epidermal stimulation using a round-edged tool that improves blood flow to release pain or tension in a localised area.
Gus-Sha can leave a bruise-like mark on the skin, but this will usually disappear within 3-5 days.
Will my health insurance cover sessions?
Being a AAC member means most insurance companies will cover the sessions depending on your plan.
Where can I find more information about acupuncture?
To see more FAQs, please visit our Professional Body AAC website:
AAC – Association of Acupuncture Clinicians (aac-org.uk)
Where can I park?
There is parking nearby at:
Bancroft Gardens West Car Park
Cancellation Policy
Whilst we understand that plans can change, we ask that you provide at least 24hours notice to amend or cancel appointment. Failure to do so may result in a charge of 50% of the fee to cover the cost of the room hire and preparation work already completed prior to your treatment.