What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a part of the traditional medicine of China and the Far East, where it has been developed and practised for several thousand years. It is a branch of a complete system of healthcare with a continous history of detailed clinical observations. Acupuncture has traditionally been used to treat a range of health related symptoms and conditions and as preventive treatment to maintain and promote mental and physical wellbeing. Today traditional acupuncture is practised all around the world, both as stand alone treatment and alongside mainstream healthcare.

How does acupuncture work?

Traditional Chinese Medicine understands and defines health as the body’s energetic balance. Many factors can affect this state of healthy balance. These include physical trauma or injuries, emotional states such as stress, anger and anxiety, as well as nutritional and lifestyle factors. By inserting fine needles into specific points on the body, acupuncture aims to stimulate the body’s own healing responses and restore it to a state of healthy balance. Traditional acupuncture also includes the use of moxibustion, which uses gentle heat to stimulate acupuncture points.

What style of acupuncture do you use?

I have trained in TCM, Dr Tan’s Balance Method (with Adi Fromm and Guy Polak, of the ITC-Israeli Tan Center), Master Tung style (Philip Weeks), and Sa-am 4 Needle 5 Element style (Toby Daley)

What can acupuncture help with?

Acupuncture can be beneficial for a wide range of illnesses and symptoms, from clearly defined complaints, such as headaches, migraine, back ache, asthma, arthritis, IBS, cystitis, period pain, through to more general feelings of ill health, such as nausea, tiredness, insomnia or low mood. It can also be used to support recovery from illness or used preventively to maintain good health.

Conditions commonly treated fall into the following categories of disorder; eye, ear, nose and throat; circulatory; gastrointestinal; gynaecological; genito-urinary; immune; musculo-skeletal; neurological; respiratory; emotional and psychological (including addiction).

For further patient information please go to https://aac-org.uk/acupuncture-for-patients/. You can also contact me directly to discuss how acupuncture might be able to help you.

What happens when I go for treatment?

You will be asked about your current symptoms, what treatment you have received, you medical history, and aspects of general health such as your diet, digestive system, sleeping patterns, lifestyle and emotional state.

Each treatment is tailored to the client’s individual needs, identified through a detailed consultation, explored at the first session and from which a thorough diagnosis is made.

Ultra-fine, sterile, single-use needles are carefully inserted into specific points on the body which have the effect of stimulating the body’s natural healing mechanism.

How does it differ from Western acupuncture/dry needling?

Some Physiotherapists, Osteopaths and Chiropractioners use acupuncture needles as part of their treatment. This use of needles, however, is not based on chinese medical theory and strictly speaking should be reference to as ‘dry needling’ rather than acupuncture.

How many sessions will I need?

This depends on a number of factors including:

• the type of condition
• how long it has been present
• lifestyle factors etc

Occasionally acute conditions can respond well after a few sessions, but generally acupuncture requires more time to work. For chronic conditions, the change required to resolve the causing imbalance can take time. A treatment plan will be discussed after the initial consultation. Regarding treatment frequency, twice a week is recommended, at least initially.

Treatment Costs

• First treatment including initial consultation 75 minutes - £60, to be paid in advance.
• Follow up treatments generally last 45-60 minutes - £45
• 6 treatment package - £240 (saving £30) (non-transferable, valid for 12 months)

Do you take Private Health Insurance?

To see which Private Health Insurance providers currently accept AAC members, check on the AAC website. In order for you to claim, I can issue you with an invoice with which you can claim directly with you Health Insurance provider.

Cancellations/Rescheduling

A minimum of 24 hours notice is required otherwise, unfortunately, the cost of a full treatment is payable.