The first treatment is 90 minutes. This involves a full consultation mainly centered around your main complaint. I will also ask about your general health and lifestyle. This involves asking detailed questions about any current symptoms, sleep, appetite, digestion and emotional wellbeing. Some questions may seem unrelated to your condition but the information you give enables me to build a better picture of your health. This in turn helps me to devise the best treatment approach to restore you to a better place with your health.  I will also examine your tongue and take your pulse on both wrists.

Subsequent treatments will be 1 hour.

Acupuncture is the main treatment however I may also use other techniques this may be: Cupping, Guasha, Moxibustion and massage. This of course would only be with your consent. In addition I may include dietary and lifestyle advice.

This is variable for person to person and depends on how long you have had the problem, symptoms. Initially I would recommend 6 weekly treatments. You may feel some benefit sooner or it may take longer. However the aim is to gradually reduce the frequency of visits to a level where the benefits are maintained.

Try not to arrive for acupuncture treatment on an empty stomach or straight after a heavy meal.

Let me know if you are completely new to Acupuncture so that I can take that extra time to explain what happens and that you are comfortable with the process.

It is helpful to wear loose clothing.

Most people find acupuncture incredibly relaxing and report feeling calm and relaxed. You may feel a little sleepy or tired so take this into account when you schedule your acupuncture appointment. There are very few side affects and any that do occur or usually mild. Cupping and gua sha can sometimes temporarily marks the skin similar to the look of a bruise. This usually clears in a day or two.

Two surveys, which were conducted independently of each other and were published in the British Medical Journal in 2001, showed that the risk of a serious adverse reaction to acupuncture is less than 1 in 10,000. This is far less than many orthodox medical treatments.

Acupuncture needles are so fine most people do not feel them go in. However you may feel a tingle or an ache as the acupuncturist adjusts the needle. This is only temporary and once the needles are in place most people feel deeply relaxed which continues even when the needles are removed. It is a lovely feeling!