Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you might want to know about acupuncture, my approach, and visiting the clinics in Wallingford and Woodley.
About Acupuncture
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Acupuncture is a complete system of medicine with over 2,000 years of history, rooted in Chinese Medicine. In a session, we assess imbalances by examining the pulses on each arm and observing the tongue to determine the body's healing priorities. Each session is uniquely tailored to address these priorities — using this information to connect with your mind and body, pinpoint areas of stress and energy blockages, and support your healing journey.
Very fine, sterile, single-use needles are inserted at specific points on the body. From a Chinese Medicine perspective, this restores the flow of Qi (vital energy) along pathways called meridians. From a modern scientific viewpoint, it stimulates the nervous system, releases endorphins, modulates pain pathways, reduces inflammation, and improves blood flow.
The body's equilibrium can be disrupted by lifestyle, trauma, diet, emotional distress, or injury — and acupuncture is an effective therapy to help restore harmony, both physically and emotionally.
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Acupuncture needles are very different from those used for injections — they are about the width of a human hair, roughly 30–40 times thinner than the hypodermic needles used for blood tests. They usually cause little or no pain on insertion. You may feel a sensation once the needle reaches the acupuncture point, often described as a "tingling," "dull ache," or "warm" feeling. This is considered a sign that the treatment is working. Most patients find the experience deeply relaxing, and many fall asleep during their session.
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Yes. When performed by a properly trained and registered practitioner, acupuncture is exceptionally safe. Serious adverse events are estimated at fewer than 1 in 10,000 treatments. All needles used are single-use, pre-sterilised, individually packaged, and disposed of safely in clinical sharps containers immediately after use.
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Yes. NICE (the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) recommends acupuncture for chronic primary pain, chronic tension-type headaches, and migraine prevention. The World Health Organization recognises over 50 conditions that respond well to acupuncture, and there is a growing body of clinical research supporting its use for musculoskeletal pain, anxiety, fertility, and many other conditions.
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Almost certainly. Our daily lives present many situations that can cause stress, pain, panic, and move us out of alignment with how we wish to feel and live. Keeping up with a fast-paced environment can also lead to injury or unwanted physical and emotional stresses. Acupuncture helps balance your mind, body, and spirit — supporting you to live your life to its fullest potential.
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Yes — beautifully. Acupuncture works harmoniously with other therapies including chiropractic care, naturopathy, myotherapy, and physiotherapy. By helping the body release underlying emotional stresses, acupuncture enhances and supports the positive changes these treatments bring, promoting a deeper sense of balance and well-being. It also works safely alongside conventional medical treatment and is not affected by most medications.
What conditions acupuncture can help with
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For nearly every illness recognised in Western medicine, Chinese Medicine offers an individualised interpretation. Acupuncture treats the whole person, not just a single condition. Common issues acupuncture can help with include:
Physical aches and pains — back pain, neck and shoulder pain, sciatica, joint pain, and arthritis
Chronic pain — including persistent pain that hasn't responded well to other treatments
Headaches and migraines
Stress and anxiety — in today's fast-paced world, stress is pervasive and can impact both physical and mental health
Mental health concerns — including low mood and emotional overwhelm
Insomnia and sleep difficulties
Fertility, menstruation and menopause — fertility challenges, period pain, PMS, hot flushes, and brain fog
Pregnancy support and birth preparation
Digestive disorders — including IBS and acid reflux
Supporting you through cancer treatment — managing the emotional and mental load of treatment, while also alleviating many side effects caused by medications
Fatigue and post-viral recovery (including long Covid)
General wellbeing and preventative care
Every patient is assessed individually — at your first consultation we'll discuss whether acupuncture is the right option for your situation.
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Yes. NICE recommends acupuncture as a treatment option for chronic primary pain, including persistent low back pain. It works by relaxing tight muscles, improving blood flow to the affected area, and modulating the nervous system's pain response. A typical course of treatment is 5–6 weekly sessions, after which we reassess.
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Yes. NICE recommends acupuncture for both chronic tension-type headaches and migraine prevention. Multiple Cochrane reviews have found acupuncture to be at least as effective as preventative medication for many patients, with fewer side effects. Most patients see meaningful improvement after 6–8 weekly sessions.
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Yes — acupuncture is one of the most widely used complementary approaches for stress and emotional wellbeing. Traditional Chinese Medicine and Five Element Acupuncture provide a calming antidote by harmonising the body's energy and promoting relaxation. It activates the parasympathetic ("rest and digest") nervous system, lowering cortisol and helping the body shift out of fight-or-flight mode. Many patients report feeling calmer after the very first session, with improved sleep and emotional balance over a course of treatment.
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Yes. Many women face challenges such as fertility issues, period pain, PMS, hot flushes, and brain fog — acupuncture can offer supportive relief throughout these stages. It can help regulate menstrual cycles, balance hormones, improve blood flow to the reproductive organs, and reduce stress.
For natural conception, a course of weekly treatments over around 3 months is typically recommended (to align with the egg maturation cycle). For IVF or IUI support, treatments are timed around key stages including stimulation, embryo transfer, and the two-week wait.
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Acupuncture can be a valuable supportive therapy during cancer treatment. It helps manage the emotional and mental load that comes with diagnosis and treatment, and can also alleviate many of the side effects caused by chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and other medications — including nausea, fatigue, hot flushes, peripheral neuropathy, and sleep disturbance. Treatments are gentle, individualised, and delivered alongside (not instead of) your conventional medical care.
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Yes. Conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and acid reflux can significantly affect quality of life. Acupuncture works to address both the symptoms and the underlying patterns of imbalance — often combining needling with dietary and lifestyle advice rooted in Chinese Medicine.
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Yes. I'm trained in the NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association) protocol — a standardised 5-point auricular (ear) acupuncture treatment used worldwide to support recovery from addiction, anxiety, PTSD, and stress. It's particularly helpful for anyone reducing or quitting nicotine, alcohol, or other substances, and is often used alongside conventional support.
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Yes. Acupuncture is safe during pregnancy when delivered by a qualified practitioner familiar with prenatal care. It's commonly used to ease morning sickness, manage back and pelvic pain, support emotional wellbeing, prepare the body for labour, and help turn breech babies (typically between weeks 32–36).
Practical: cost, sessions & what to expect
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- Initial consultation and treatment (90 minutes): £85.00
- Follow-up sessions (45 minutes): £65.00
Payment is by cash, or bank transfer. A detailed receipt is provided so you can claim on private health insurance where applicable. -
Many UK insurers — including Bupa, AXA, Aviva, WPA, and Vitality — cover acupuncture when delivered by a registered practitioner. Cover varies by policy, so check with your provider before your appointment. I'll provide a detailed receipt with my registration number for your claim.
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It's difficult to give a definitive answer, as each person is unique and every treatment is tailored individually. Recovery time can vary widely depending on the nature and duration of the issue. Generally, the longer you've had a condition, the longer it may take to resolve. However, most people start to feel benefits within six sessions.
As a guide:
- Acute issues (recent strain, stress flare, acute pain): often 1–3 sessions
- Chronic conditions (back pain, headaches, anxiety): typically 5–6 weekly sessions, then reassess
- Long-standing or complex issues / fertility: usually 8–12+ sessions -
We start with a brief conversation about any physical symptoms and the areas you'd like to improve. I'll then take your pulses on both wrists and examine your tongue to gauge where the imbalances lie and decide on the best treatment approach for that day.
Once a treatment plan is in place, I'll use acupuncture needles and/or other techniques such as gua sha, cupping, moxibustion (moxa), auricular acupuncture, or acupressure to help harmonise your pulses and energy. The first appointment runs for 90 minutes; follow-ups are around 45 minutes. -
Loose, comfortable clothing is ideal so I can easily access points on your arms, lower legs, and back. If your session requires access to other areas, you'll be modestly covered with towels throughout.
Safety & medication
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In almost all cases, yes. Acupuncture works well alongside conventional medical treatment and is not affected by most medications. Please bring a list of any prescription or over-the-counter medicines to your first appointment.
If you take blood-thinning medication (e.g., warfarin, rivaroxaban, apixaban, clopidogrel), please let me know in advance — acupuncture is still possible but I'll take additional precautions. -
Yes — many people with mild needle anxiety find acupuncture surprisingly comfortable because the needles are so much finer than medical injection needles. If you're nervous, tell me before your treatment so we can go slowly, start with just one or two needles, or use non-needle techniques such as acupressure to begin with.
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Acupuncture is suitable for most people, but a small number of conditions require modified treatment. Pacemakers, certain implants, severe bleeding disorders, and some other conditions mean I'll adjust the techniques used. Please mention any medical conditions, surgeries, or implants at your first consultation so I can plan a safe treatment for you.
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Yes. All needles are sterile, single-use, individually packaged, and disposed of safely in clinical sharps containers immediately after use. Needles are never reused between patients or between sessions.
About the practitioner
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Yes. I hold a BSc (Hons) in Acupuncture, and am a registered member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC). This means I've completed degree-level training, hold full professional indemnity insurance, and adhere to the BAcC Code of Professional Conduct and recognised standards of safety and hygiene.
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Traditional acupuncture is a complete system of medicine practised by a degree-trained acupuncturist. It treats the whole person and addresses the underlying patterns behind symptoms, not just the symptom itself. "Dry needling" or "Western medical acupuncture" is typically a shorter modular qualification added to a physiotherapy or osteopathy practice, focused mainly on releasing muscular trigger points. Both can be helpful — but they aren't equivalent training paths.
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Five Element Acupuncture is a specialised tradition within Chinese Medicine that focuses on the constitutional and emotional patterns underlying physical symptoms. It views each person through the lens of the five elements — Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water — and uses this to address the root cause of imbalance, not just the surface symptom. It's particularly powerful for stress, anxiety, low mood, and patterns of "feeling stuck" that haven't responded to other approaches.