resources - Resources for Patients
If you have not been for acupuncture treatment before you will probably want to know what happens in an acupuncture session. You may want to know how it feels to have acupuncture treatment. This page will answer some of the common questions that patients have before going to see an acupuncturist.
These are some of the most frequent questions that I have been asked.
My mother is 93 years old. Will acupuncture be effective for her?
I have treated people aged 3 months of age to 95 years of age and both gained huge benefits from acupuncture treatment.
My condition is not listed anywhere on your site. Could acupuncture work for my condition?
- Acupuncture is a medical system that has been used for over 2,000 years up to the present day. It is currently used in the most advanced medical establishments world wide, such as
I have a bleeding disorder/take medication that causes a bleeding disorder. Is it safe for me to have acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an extremely safe medicine and there have been research studies to back this claim. I have treated many people who are taking warfarin and other blood thinners and have encountered absolutely no mishaps in 25 years. As long as you go to a fully trained professional acupuncturist, especially one, such as myself, who is a member of and governed by the British Acupuncture Council, you will be treated safely as well as effectively. The British Acupuncture Council sets very high standards of training, codes of safe practice and codes of ethics. Members who do not comply with these codes can and have been expelled from the British Acupuncture council. I have been awarded a special certificate, in addition to the standard membership certificate, commending me for maintaining “the council’s high standards of professional conduct and safe practice.”
I am pregnant. Is acupuncture safe for me and my baby?
The answer to this is the same as above. In addition I would add that I have been treating fertility and pregnancy, including women who have suffered recurrent miscarriages, and have had fantastic success in dealing with this.
My lymph nodes have been removed. Is acupuncture safe for me?
This is an area that cancer nurses are very concerned about. The truth is that there has been no reported cases of acupuncture causing infection in patients who have had their lymph nodes removed. However, as a precaution, the majority of acupuncturists, including myself, can easily avoid using limbs where the lymph nodes that drain for these have been removed. It is perfectly possible to treat pain on a limb without having to use that particular side of the body.
I want to find an acupuncturist who is expert in my particular condition. How do I find one?
This is a question that is top of people’s minds when they have a condition that is most often treated as a discreet symptom unconnected to the rest of the body by Western medics. The truth is that acupuncture is a holistic system and the majority of practitioners like to hone their skills by continually seeing as much variety as possible. It is true that some people have a particular interest in certain areas. For instance over half of my practice is in gynaecological conditions / fertility. In addition I have undertaken extra study by attending teaching clinics at various neurological hospitals in
What is the most important thing to consider in choosing an acupuncturist?
I am going to focus on the practical aspects to this, rather than the obvious ‘they should be nice people and easy to communicate with’. I really believe that in-depth training is really important. If your acupuncturist claims that they have trained over a certain number of years then ask them directly whether this was part time or full time – for some claim many years training when they have done little more than to attend a few week-end trainings and read a few books over several years.
- Training should be a minimum of three years full time – and four years is better.
- They should be a member of the British Acupuncture Council. They will usually put the initials MBAcC after their name.
- Experience counts for a lot with acupuncture. It takes many years to refine diagnostic as well as treatment skills.
How many treatments will I need?
A course of acupuncture is normally six to ten treatments. However, there is wide variation in the required number of visits. Some, even with long standing chronic conditions can respond in two or three sessions, while others require three to six months of treatment.
How often do I need to come for treatment?
At the beginning you may need to come for treatment once a week then quickly change to a fortnightly or in some cases once every three, four or even six weeks. It often depends on how acute the trouble is, what kind of natural cycle affects the condition, or whether the problem is deep-seated and therefore both mind and body need time to adjust.
There are also some long term chronic conditions which may not be curable yet the patient may benefit from general health treatments that maximise their potential for well being. These treatments are generally once every two to three months (after a few weekly sessions to begin with).
How many needles will be used?
Most often two to six super-fine needles will be used. These are nothing like hypodermic needles, and nothing is injected into the points. Using few needles often means a more focused and therefore effective acupuncture treatment. Only the highest quality sterile disposable needles are used. These gold, silver or stainless steel needles are the finest available to ensure a gentle and relaxing experience. Each sterile needle is taken from an unopened pack and disposed of immediately after treatment.
What will acupuncture feel like?
You are likely to experience a deep relaxation while the needles are in. Some other sensations, such as heaviness in the limb being needled or a temporary numbness is common. Some people fall asleep for ten to twenty minutes while the needles are in and wake up refreshed and relaxed. Acupuncture sessions can be quiet and reflective, or they may be relaxing and provide space for you to talk or to laugh or cry. Many people remark that acupuncture is the most relaxing treatment they have ever had!
What is moxibustion?
Moxibustion, or moxa, is commonly used in traditional acupuncture treatment. This is a Chinese herb which smolders either on the acupuncture point or on the needle. It is really part of acupuncture rather than, strictly speaking, Chinese herbal medicine.
Do you use Chinese Herbal Medicine?
Yes, I use Chinese herbal medicine when needed. I trained in Traditional Chinese Herbal medicine (pre-formulated) in 1990. All drugs, whether Chinese or Western, have strong physiological effects and neither is as safe a treatment as acupuncture. However, when I do recommend that Chinese Herbs might be a useful adjunct to acupuncture, then these are prescribed in either pill form or easy-to-take coffee-like granules. There are no animal or heavy-metal content in any of the formulae that I use. However, it is not necessary to take Chinese Herbs and you will never be asked to take these if you prefer not to.
[Note: EU Regulations enforcable from April 2011 prevent the use of unlisenced herbal medicine, vitamin supplements etc. Chinese herbal medicines are unlisenced and will no longer be available]
Do I need a Western diagnosis before I have acupuncture treatment?
No, that is not necessary. For example, you may be awaiting blood test results or x-ray results to establish whether your joint problems are caused by rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, Lupus, Reiter's syndrome, or a host of other diseases. However, we are interested in how your disease process affects you in particular and treat according to acupuncture diagnosis.
But, as fully trained acupuncturists and members of the British Acupuncture Council (MBAcC) we are trained to recognise critical symptoms which require further investigation. We will know when to refer you to a doctor if we suspect a previously undiagnosed condition. This is to allow you to be fully informed about choices you might like to make. However, all decisions about treatment and indeed whether or not to contact your doctor, remain in your hands.
How do acupuncturists diagnose a condition?
Acupuncture practitioners are interested in you as an individual and not just in isolated symptoms. We therefore ask about your sleep and lifestyle as well as other, seemingly unrelated, symptoms. We ask many questions and take the pulse and look at the tongue. I may also palpate your abdomen for signs such as hardness or weakness in specific areas.
Apart from these simple tests, acupuncture diagnosis is largely an intellectual process. It requires the knowledge and ability to access and process information about many physiological, energetic, emotional and mental functions in each individual. It requires the ability to recognize the underlying pattern of imbalance. And lastly it requires the acupuncturist to reach a diagnosis and treatment plan. This requires time, concentration and stillness.
Why do acupuncturists check the pulse?
According to Chinese medical theory qi energy moves the blood, and for that reason we take several minutes assessing how blood flow and qi interact. We do this by checking the pulse at the wrist. Most patients are very surprised at the amount of information we are able to garner from the pulse. For some more explanation on pulse diagnosis check out the page on acupuncture terminology.
What do you look for on the tongue?
I will look at your tongue for signs of dehydration or poor digestive function. Your tongue may exhibit different colours such as pale pink, dark red, or purple. It may have a variety of coatings, or have cracks, bumps or toothmarks. This, along with the other information we have garnered, will help inform our diagnosis and treatment.
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