Acupuncture should not be painful. You might feel a dull ache or a tingling when the needle is inserted or adjusted. This is a sensation known as deqi. If you are uncomfortable at any point during treatment, let me know and I can adjust or remove the needle. Very often, people do not feel the needle upon insertion because they are so fine. Once the needles have been inserted, most people find acupuncture to be a very restful experience.

Whilst many of my patients come to me for help reliving specific conditions, such as pain, autoimmune conditions or gynaecological and fertility issues. I tailor my treatments specifically for each patient and their body’s needs. As such, you may find that you feel improvement in an array of symptoms and niggling issues that were not necessarily your main complaint.

The main focus and benefit of acupuncture is a feeling of balance and peacefulness.

There are acupuncture points all across the body. All of which are located along interconnected pathways (also known as channels or meridians) that map the whole body.

Most commonly in treatment, points on the lower arms and legs are used.

Each acupuncture point has a variety of functions and due to the channel pathways, points selected may not be adjacent to the main complaint.

Acupuncture involves the insertion of needles and as such, there will sometimes be a small bruise where the needle was. Very occasionally, people can feel dizzy, but this passes quickly. More often than not, people leave treatment feeling tired and/or relaxed.

I always ask my patients about what medications they are taking so that we can avoid any unwanted side effects.

This is different from person to person. We will discuss this following our initial consultation.

Acupuncture takes commitment from both practitioner and patient; most people who choose acupuncture have exhausted a lot of other treatment options and because of this, we are treating conditions that have taken a long time to manifest, which can take time to resolve.

Unlike our conventional medical colleagues, we do not have a series of diagnostic tests which we can refer a patient to so I perform a number of diagnostic treatments with each new patient I meet. Because of this, not everybody will feel the benefits of acupuncture immediately. It is important that patients do not lose heart if their healing journey is slow to start. It is equally important that we know what doesn’t work as well as what does.

I allow up to one hour with my patients, though it is not always necessary to use all of this time.

In most sessions, I will leave needles in for 20-30 minutes. There will be times, however, when it is not necessary to retain any needles and our treatment will be over quickly. This does not mean you are getting ‘less’ of a treatment, it simply means that I am using a different approach for treatment.

The short answer to this question is no. Of course, there are certain areas which I gravitate towards (such as the treatment of trauma and gynaecological issues). But I choose to remain a general practitioner so that I am able to gain as much experience as possible and to meet/treat as many different people as possible.

Moxibustion is an essential part of Chinese medicine and a part of my practice that I love. Moxa can be placed directly on the skin, held just above it or placed onto a needle. The herb is lit and smoulders, heating specific areas, benefiting the flow of Qi and blood in the area being treated.

Moxa is always removed as soon as a patient feels heat.

Yes, I am a full member of the British Acupuncture Council. This means that I am a fully licensed and insured practitioner. It also means that I make an annual commitment to my continuous professional development and learning.

You can find out more about the British Acupuncture Council at: www.acupuncture.org.uk

Fire cupping is an excellent treatment to combat sore, tense muscles in spasm. It provides pain relief, improves range of motion and encourages both blood flow and healing.

Guasha has become incredibly popular for cosmetic reasons, but it is in fact a traditional Chinese healing method.

Guasha is the practice of using a smooth edged tool to rub against skin. It will leave a red rash-esque marks on the skin, known as petechiae.

It can be used for a number of conditions, most frequently, in my practice, it is mostly used to combat colds or chronic pain.

Tuina is an ancient form of Chinese massage, which much like acupuncture, focuses on rebalancing a patient’s energies.

In my practice, I use it to enhance the therapeutic effect of my needling, rather than a stand alone treatment.