How can Acupuncture help me?
Acupuncture works holistically meaning it treats the body as a whole rather than just focusing on one symptom, it is designed to treat the cause of the problem.
Progress and recovery can vary from person to person depending on their problem and medical history. People often use acupuncture to help manage chronic conditions or to support recovery from an illness or injury, it is also used in the treatment of pain and stress management.
Do I need to inform my doctor?
If you are under the care of your doctor or a consultant, it makes sense to inform them that you are receiving acupuncture. In some cases, acupuncture enables people to reduce or come off medication, however this should always be discussed with your GP beforehand.
What does an acupuncture treatment feel like?
Acupuncture should never be painful; it is a gentle treatment and will often induce a deep state of relaxation. What you may feel is sensation, this is often described as a dull ache after the point has been inserted, sometimes people feel tingling, heaviness, or a very quick electrical sensation either away or directly at the point, these sensations occur when the point is activated, and then gradually fade.
How many sessions will I need?
There is no rule as to how often you can have acupuncture. Usually for an acute condition a short course of 4 sessions may be required. For long-standing conditions more sessions are usually needed. Acupuncture is also used for health maintenance where people may choose to have treatments anywhere between 8-12 weeks apart. Rest assured that you will be given a good indication of how may sessions you may need at your initial appointment.
Does Acupuncture have side effects?
Acupuncture isn’t putting anything into your body in terms of medicine it works by triggering the body’s own healing mechanisms, because of this you may experience mild tiredness, or headache following your session depending on the nature of your problem, this is where things are clearing and trying to rebalance. Occasionally there may be a short flare up of your condition for similar reasons. It is unlikely but sometimes you can bruise at an acupuncture point, this is nothing to worry about and will heal naturally.
Are there different kinds of Acupuncture?
- Traditional acupuncture (what I do):
Traditional acupuncture requires lengthy training to degree level, it will involve a full diagnosis including tongue and pulse, the practitioner will have extensive knowledge of the 361 points on the body and be well versed in different needle techniques and treating a wide range of conditions. With in traditional practice practitioners may vary in the style of acupuncture they use. Some of these styles you may have heard of, 5 element, TCM, Stems & Branches.
-Dry needling:
This is a modern treatment requiring a short course of training, it uses needles to relieve muscular pain by inserting the needles into trigger points. This particular technique is usually used as an adjunct to other physical therapies such as physiotherapy, chiropractic, or osteopathy.
- Western acupuncture:
Western acupuncture is a type of acupuncture used as an adjunct to treatment by another medical professional such a GP, nurse, or physical therapist. It requires a short course of training and will not include traditional diagnosis or full use of the channel system. Points will normally be used for a select range of conditions.
Is Acupuncture safe?
I am a member of the British acupuncture council (BAC); this is the main governing body for acupuncturist in the UK. As a member I abide by a strict code of ethics and safe practice. The hygiene procedures followed by members of the BAC are approved by the department of health and currently include new measures for safe practice in regard to Covid-19.
What measures are in place to safe guard against Covid-19?
I am following government guidelines and new measures provided by the British Acupuncture Council in regards to safe practice and Covid-19.
