A very safe, non-pharmacological treatment, acupuncture uses the insertion of fine, sterile needles at specific points in the body - chosen for your specific health picture.
Research shows acupuncture can stimulate the immune system, reduce inflammation, enhance blood and lymphatic flow, and trigger the release of hormones that affect your mood, sleep and digestion.
Through these mechanisms, acupuncture prompts your body’s innate capacity for healing and self-regulation.
Looking for answers to common questions ahead of your booked acupuncture treatment?
Jump to the FAQs here:
Your treatment
What does treatment involve
Using a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) framework, I offer treatment using a range of approaches to get the best outcome for your needs.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture forms the foundation of most treatments and treatment plans: a powerful therapy based on a thorough discussion of your symptoms and health picture and personalised to restore your balance.
Treatment involves the insertion of ultra-fine, single-use needles at specific acupuncture points on the body, tailored to your symptoms and underlying root causes.
We will typically keep the needles in place for around 20 minutes, allowing them to do their work while you enjoy a deeply restorative rest (and sometimes a nap!).
We might sometimes support your treatment with additional treatments based in Chinese medicine, as described below. We’ll agree this together and based on your health needs.
Acupressure
Acupressure on body acupoints or points in the ear (auricular) can be used to gently relieve pain and restore balance.
Acupressure techniques can also be taught to be used anytime, anywhere - supported by 24ct gold-plated ear seeds and basic acupressure aids such as massage balls.
Acupressure, in combination with bodywork and other non-needle treatments, can be an appropriate supportive approach for patients who feel some anxiety about needles.
Cupping, Gua Sha & Moxibustion
Additional therapies utilised alongside acupuncture or alone to release musculoskeletal tension and promote healthy qi and blood flow to ease discomfort and promote free movement.
Cupping therapy uses the application of cups to the body creating suction to promote blood and lymphatic flow and release muscular tension.
Gua shainvolves using a smooth-edged tool in a specific scraping motion on the body to release stagnation and boost circulation. Gua refers to the scraping motion; sha refers to the temporary redness that arises when this technique is used on the body (it is a bit more vigorous than the facial gua sha that we see more in the media).
Moxibustion (or moxa) involves the gentle burning of a herb called mugwort near certain acupuncture points to introduce therapeutic warmth and stimulate the flow of blood and qi.
Personalised TCM Advice
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) takes a whole-person view of your health, including the impact of factors like nutrition, movement, lifestyle, and your emotional landscape.
As part of your treatment I may therefore offer you additional suggestions or strategies to support your health, based on your TCM diagnosis and in alignment with your priorities.
This might range from advice on foods to add or avoid, to supportive strategies around stress or digital hygiene, to a tailored acupressure routine for you to undertake at home.
What can acupuncture help with?
There is an ever-growing body of clinical research confirming acupuncture’s potential to help a wide range of conditions.
The British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) has collated excellent summaries of the evidence for acupuncture in the treatment of a range of conditions that are a great place to start if you would like to find out more, as are the outstanding resources from Evidence Based Acupuncture. Acupuncture is also a powerful tool in preventative health that can be used regularly to maintain your wellbeing.
Chronic Pain
Low Back Pain
Osteoarthritis
Neck Pain
Shoulder Pain
Other Musculoskeletal Conditions
Chronic Pelvic Pain / Prostatitis
Insomnia
Allergic Conditions: Allergic Rhinitis (hayfever), Allergic Asthma
Digestive System: Constipation, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Dyspepsia
Urinary Incontinence
Infertility: Assisted Conception (IVF/ ICSI), Natural Fertility (Female and Male)
Mental Health: Depression, Anxiety, PTSD
Questions before getting started?
Get in touch.
Some favourite and recent acupuncture research findings for the acu-curious…
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"Sleeping babies rarely woke during treatment, and 200 of the 388 treatments given involved no crying at all."
In a study of acupuncture for the relief of colic in 147 healthy babies between two and eight weeks old, published in the journal Acupuncture in Medicine in 2017.
A beautiful illustration of the gentle power of acupuncture, especially for anyone feeling nervous about needles.
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“Acupuncture is generally considered very safe when performed by a qualified, licensed practitioner.”
As described by the NHS, and in landmark papers from Hugh Macpherson et al. back in 2001. The team conducted a large audit of over 34,000 acupuncture treatments to identify how often ‘adverse events’ occurred, and found acupuncture to be relatively safe when compared to routine pharmaceutical treatments with no serious adverse events reported.
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"Clinical trials show that acupuncture improves subjective sleep quality, fatigue, cognitive impairments, and emotional symptoms."
A 2024 review of the evidence for acupuncture in the treatment of insomnia. The review found that acupuncture also positively impacts objective sleep processes, including prolonging total sleep time (hurray!), improving sleep efficiency (more time spent actually sleeping of total time in bed), reducing sleep onset latency (fall asleep more quickly) and wake after sleep onset (fewer wake-ups mid-sleep), and enhancing sleep architecture/structure (cycling better through light sleep, deep sleep and REM).
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“Acupuncture’s evidence is now acknowledged by medical experts and acupuncture is no longer ‘alternative.’ Indeed, this new data illustrates that acupuncture is one of the most widely recommended treatments in modern medicine.”
A review examining clinical guideline recommendations from around the world made by a variety of groups including government health institutions, national guidelines, and medical specialty groups. Over a 27-year period, they found 2189 positive recommendations for acupuncture for 204 health problems, mainly in guidelines published in North America, Europe and Australasia - Evidence Based Acupuncture.
Some frequently asked questions -
coming for acupuncture treatment
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Generally, something loose and comfortable. Acupuncture needles don’t just go where your complaint is; we’ll use ‘distal’ points on your lower arms and lower legs in particular, and sometimes points on the abdomen or back.
But also, if you’re coming straight from work or happen to be wearing skinny jeans, it’s no problem. You’ll be given privacy to get undressed as needed, and a towel to cover up and feel comfortable. -
Please aim to arrive on time so that you can have the full benefit of your appointment time.
If you’re a few minutes early, no problem - I can buzz you in and there is a peaceful waiting room at Fiveways where you can have a calm moment until your appointment time.If you’re running late, let me know if you can; I’ll always try and be flexible, but if there is an appointment booked directly after yours it might be necessary to shorten your appointment.
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Hydrate.
Try to avoid coming for treatment on an empty stomach.
Plan for a restful day/ evening following treatment if you can; avoid or minimise alcohol/ caffeine, get a good night’s sleep.
Things you don’t need to worry about - shaving your legs, having well-manicured nails, anything you might eat/ drink before I ask to look at your tongue.
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Yes - absolutely; and I really encourage this if you can. Acupuncture offers you the greatest benefit when your initial treatment is regular, and consistent.
So - especially if you are trying to ensure you can get the treatment you need around work or other commitments - booking a few appointments ahead helps make sure you have a time slot that works for you.
Just keep looking ahead and if your schedule or needs change, let me know with as much notice as you can and bearing in mind my cancellation policy.
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This one is in honour of a good friend who asked me this question.
Yes - wanting relaxation is a really valid reason to have acupuncture treatment!
Acupuncture calms your nervous system, supports your rest, and gives you a restful space to unwind.
Regular acupuncture treatment is great preventative healthcare, keeping your body in balance and seeing off smaller health niggles before they turn into bigger problems.