What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a treatment in which very fine, sterile needles are placed at specific points on the body. It has been practised in China and East Asia for over 2,000 years and is now widely used in the UK, including in some NHS settings.
Traditional acupuncture looks at your health as a whole. Rather than focusing only on one symptom, I look at how your body, sleep, energy, digestion and emotions fit together, and choose points to suit you on the day.
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Five Element Acupuncture
I combine two approaches. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) looks for patterns in how your body is working, using signs such as your pulse and tongue. Five Element Acupuncture focuses more on your constitution and emotional wellbeing. Together they let me tailor each treatment closely to you.
What a session is like
Your first appointment lasts up to 90 minutes. We talk through your health history and what you’d like help with, then you lie comfortably on a treatment couch, covered with a towel. Most treatments use a small number of needles, usually left in place for around 20 to 30 minutes while you rest.
The needles are hair-thin. Most people feel a light tingle, warmth or dull ache, and many feel deeply relaxed afterwards.
After your first treatment I send you a written summary of your consultation, explaining what I found in Chinese medicine terms, with a treatment plan.
Where the evidence is strongest
Research into acupuncture is still developing. It supports acupuncture for the short-term relief of:
- Chronic low back pain
- Neck pain
- Tension-type headaches
- Migraine
- Jaw (TMJ) pain
- Knee pain from osteoarthritis, alongside other treatment
- Symptoms of overactive bladder
Many people also report feeling more relaxed, revitalised and positive after treatment.
If you’re coming for something else
People come to me with many other concerns, such as stress, poor sleep, digestive problems, hormonal or menstrual health, fertility, or simply feeling run down. Some come while going through fertility treatment or IVF, wanting time to rest and feel more relaxed. Traditional acupuncture treats the whole person, and in a free chat I’ll give you an honest view of whether it’s worth trying.
Is it safe?
Acupuncture is very safe in the hands of a properly trained practitioner. I use single-use sterile needles and, as a member of the British Acupuncture Council, follow its codes of safe practice. Tell me if you are pregnant, have a pacemaker, take blood-thinning medication or have a bleeding disorder, so treatment can be adapted.
How to find out if it’s right for you
The easiest way is to book a free 15-minute chat. There’s no obligation, and it’s a chance to ask anything you like.