Frequently Asked Questions

What is a needle treatment like?

Treatment by acupuncture consists of the insertion of fine needles into a few carefully selected points on the body. The number of needles used varies from two to three to ten or more, and they are left in place for an average of twenty minutes. The total number of treatments required depends on the patient and the condition being treated.

A typical treatment may include moxibustion (warming of the acupuncture needles), acupressure, Chinese herbal medicine and dietary advice and/or Chinese remedial exercise.

There is no age limit for treatment. It is important to advise the practitioner if you are pregnant but pregnancy does not preclude acupuncture or its benefits. Babies and children may be treated with acupressure in lieu of the use of needles.

Will it hurt?

Most new patients are amazed how painless acupuncture can be. However, when the correct stimulus of the needle has been obtained the patient may feel so heaviness, distension, tingling or electric sensation around the needle or travelling up or down the affected energy pathway (or meridian).

What should I do after a treatment?

Acupuncture changes the state of energy of the body and affects nerve and blood vessels as well as the tone within the muscles. For this reason, it is best to avoid heavy physical labour following a treatment. Avoidance of alcohol is also recommended.

Otherwise no specials precautions are necessary. Occasionally patients may notice a brief worsening of the symptoms of the condition prior to an improvement. More commonly there is relief from the first or second treatment and this is consolidated with progressive treatments.