Acupuncture - Questions and Answers

Will I need to get undressed during treatment?
Why have acupuncture treatment?
What is acupuncture?
Does acupuncture hurt?
How does acupuncture work?
Does acupuncture really work?
What can acupuncture treat?
What determines a course of acupuncture?
Is acupuncture safe?
Do I have to believe in acupuncture?
Does everyone practice acupuncture the same?
Will my insurance pay for acupuncture?
What do I expect during the first consultation?
Do you visit people at home?
Is acupuncture just for pain relief?

Will I need to get undressed during treatment?

Most of the acupuncture points are located between the elbow & hand, and the knee & foot. Therefore, for a lot of conditions it is only necessary to roll up trousers & shirtsleeves - provided the clothes are loose enough!

Obviously, there are occasions when it is necessary to remove clothing down to underwear, such as when treating back pain. Although the pain may be located in the lower back, it is often necessary to treat the whole spine especially if there is a long history of back problems. For women, it is often necessary to unclip the bra when lying face down on the couch so that I can feel the muscles & acupuncture points on the back. The clip is refastened after treatment, and I will leave the treatment room to allow the patient to redress.

I am very respectful of patients’ modesty and only the necessary clothes are moved for each treatment. I will always get your verbal consent when treating more intimate areas, and I will explain what I am going to do beforehand.

Why have acupuncture treatment?

There are many possible reasons for considering acupuncture treatment and of course everyone has their own motivations. I will list a few of these reasons.

Acupuncture is a safe and effective form of medicine.
Acupuncture is holistic and aims to regulate the energetics of the body and bring it back into balance.
Acupuncture treats both the symptoms and the root of an illness.
Traditional Chinese Acupuncture can identify imbalances in the body at a very early stage.
Acupuncture can treat signs and symptoms that may not have a clear Western medical diagnosis.
Traditional Chinese medicine has been practised over 2000 years, offering a well-established medical system which has developed from observation and practice.
Acupuncture can help you come off certain prescription drugs (with your GP's consent).
Acupuncture can be a useful alternative if you do not wish to take prescription drugs for whatever personal or medical reasons.
Offers a unique perspective of how we view the body and therefore can often give more understanding about a disease process and how it may have developed.
Lastly, acupuncture may be the last alternative after trying everything else! It is not uncommon for patients to come to the clinic as a 'last measure'.

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an ancient system of healing developed over thousands of years as part of the traditional medicine of China, Japan, and other Eastern countries. The earliest records of acupuncture date back over 3,000 years and today there are over 3 million practitioners worldwide.

Traditional acupuncture is based on on the principle that our health depends on the balanced functioning of the body s energy, known as Qi. When we are in perfect health all the energy runs harmoniously throughout our body. When an illness arises the flow of energy becomes disturbed and this can manifest in a diverse array of symptoms. Using very fine needles acupuncture aims to correct the flow of energy and by doing this the symptoms will be resolved.

Blocked Qi (energy) may relate to areas on the body that are tender to touch, particularly cold or warm, or a different colour. These clues help practitioners decide which points need to be treated in order to bring the body back into balance.

Acupuncture isn t just about using needles, and some patients prefer not to have needles. Other techniques may also be used such as acupressure, cupping or moxibustion.

Does acupuncture hurt?

Some people will tell you that acupuncture is a sublimely relaxing event and you don’t feel the needles at all, and others will tell a completely different story! So, does acupuncture hurt?

When many people think of needles, what comes to mind are the big syringes used for taking blood, or perhaps painful memories of being in hospital and having tests done for this, that and the other. I haven’t met anyone yet who likes needles, but I have treated many patients who have real fears of needles yet get lots of benefit from acupuncture treatment. Very young babies have acupuncture for digestive problems, and my eldest patient is 90 years old! In many respects, if you have a real needle phobia then you wouldn’t be reading this website!Acupuncture needles are very fine, and they are often described as being not much thicker than a human hair. Insertion of the needle is usually completely painless, although occasionally you do feel something. Depending on what is being treated and the needle technique involved, you may feel a mild ache, numbness, or an ‘alive sensation’ at the needle. This isn’t unpleasant and is a sign that the acupuncture is doing it’s stuff.

Having acupuncture treatment is no big deal, and bear in mind that if you don’t want acupuncture treatment then we can always try massage, cupping or moxibustion. Please refer to the relevant sections on the site for more information about these methods.

How does acupuncture work?

There is no simple answer to this question. In the orient it is sufficient to say that acupuncture stimulates and regulates our energy (or Qi). Within the West we are always looking for another explanation that more easily fits into our concept of what medicine is and how medicine works. Unfortunately no-one can firmly say, acupuncture works by such and such method.... The problem is that there are many different styles and techniques of acupuncture and they don t fit any one particular model. We do have some understand about how acupuncture works, but we don¹t have the complete picture.

For example, when acupuncture is used as an analgesic for operations in China it is understood that the insertion and manipulation of acupuncture needles stimulates the production of the body s own natural painkillers - endorphins. At the other end of the scale, very gentle stimulation of the small toe of a 34 week pregnant woman, can cause the baby to turn into the correct position if it is lying in a breech position. This would not stimulate the body s endorphins. Instead other theories have emerged about the effect it has on the adrenal glands... another model for another type of acupuncture.

In short, there are many theories about how acupuncture works but there are is no one conclusive answer.

There has been a recent study in Germany involving 40,000 patients and their experience with acupuncture. Please click on study to see the full details of this report.

Does acupuncture really work?

Yes is the simple answer! Thousands of people can testify to the very dramatic results that can often be obtained through acupuncture. Within the UK most people have either experienced acupuncture or know of someone who has had acupuncture... so ask them! For example, the pain relief from muscle spasm can be instantaneous after one treatment. Illnesses such as asthma or sinusitis are deeper-seated and take longer to treat. Success depends on many factors such as the general health of the patient, the severity and duration of the illness, and how their condition has been managed in the past. No two people are the same and it is one of the big strengths of acupuncture that we treat people individually to get better results. There is no single blanket treatment for asthma for example, treatment is always individualised. This is something often overlooked in acupuncture research since there is a tendency for the medical establishment to treat symptoms and not the individual, and this goes against the grain of what acupuncture is all about.

What can acupuncture treat?

The list is huge! If you click on treatment in the left menu of the home page you will see a list of conditions commonly treated in the acupuncture clinic. This list could go on for ever! It is also interesting to note that acupuncture can treat conditions that may not have a western diagnosis. It is not unusual for people to visit their GP for a general feeling of unwellness but they do not have a specify diagnosis. This can be frustrating since the patient feels unwell but does not have any direction in terms of diagnosis. Acupuncture is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine and offers a different outlook to Western medicine. Chinese medicine identifies patterns of disharmony that explain what is going on from a Chinese Medical perspective. In cases, it may be possible to identify a disharmony and correct it before it develops into something more serious that is identifiable within Western medicine. This is the essence of preventable medicine.

What determines a course of acupuncture?

When you come for the initial consultation I can give you an idea of how many treatments you will need. This will give you an indication of what commitment you will need in terms of visits to the clinic and financial outlay. This will be a guideline and is not definite. Some conditions are more predicable to treat than others. For example, a recent shoulder injury would need around 3-4 treatments, and you would feel an improvement after each acupuncture session. In contrast, when I have treated stroke victims the results can be dramatic, or it can be very stubborn and difficult to treat. As a practitioner, and as a general rule, I aim to see a change after every treatment. It has been my experience that if we can see progress after every acupuncture treatment, then the number of treatments required becomes less of a concern.

Is acupuncture safe?

There was a recent paper in the British Medical Journal entitled, The York acupuncture safety study: prospective survey of 34 000 treatments by traditionalists . For those who are particularly interested, please click on the text to have a look at the paper.

The paper looked at the type and frequency of reactions that can occur with acupuncture over a total of 34 407 treatments performed within the UK by professional acupuncturists. The most commonly reported mild transient reactions were feeling relaxed , and feeling energised , and these symptoms often indicate an encouraging response to treatment.

In addition, I abide by the strict hygiene procedures set by the British Acupuncture Council and only use sterile disposable needles.

Do I have to believe in acupuncture?

Quite simply, no! Of course, a positive attitude and state of mind will help any healing process but it is certainly not necessary that you believe in acupuncture for the treatment to be successful. Acupuncture is also used successfully on animals such as horses and dogs.

Does everyone practice acupuncture the same?

There is a huge diversity of acupuncture practice all over the world. Within the UK there are different groups of individuals practising acupuncture such as GPs, physiotherapists, nurses, and professional acupuncturists. The amount of training can differ considerably and the approach can be quite different between groups.

The British Acupuncture Council is one of the largest self-regulatory bodies in the UK for Traditional Chinese Acupuncture and there is a minimum requirement of two years study in order to be a fully-fledged member. Within this group of professional acupuncturists there is also a large diversity of acupuncture practice due to personal styles, further postgraduate training that individuals may have undertaken, and personal clinical experience and influence.

Will my insurance pay for acupuncture?

You need to give them a phone, or ask your acupuncturist to do so on your behalf. Most insurance policies now often a limited sum of money for complementary medicine that has proven to be effective, such as osteopathy and acupuncture. Some insurance companies require a referral from your GP in order to qualify. If your GP is abiding then this can be arranged. I am happy to write to your GP with your consent.

What do I expect during the first consultation

Acupuncture is an holistic medicine and aims to discover the roots of any particular illness. I will discuss the main problem in detail and then ask other relevant questions about aspects of your health to help build up a complete picture and to put your illness into holistic context. After the discussion I will take your pulse and examine your tongue. Taking the pulse is Chinese Medicine differs enormously from Western medicine as it is an important pillar of diagnosis which helps give information about the state of your Qi and the status quo of your internal organs. A physical examination will be performed for any muscular-skeletal problems and it is common practise to palpate along acupuncture channels for a wide range of ailments.

Each treatment is tailored according to the individual s presenting condition.

The initial consultation will last approximately 1 to 1/2 hours. Often I spend just an hour on first visit.

Do you visit people at home?

Yes. Sometimes it is not possible for patients to come to the clinic for various reasons which may include; too much pain, travelling difficulties, or reduced mobility.

It is important to have a well-heated area where you will not be disturbed.

Is acupuncture just for pain relief?

It is a common misconception that acupuncture is just about pain relief. It is true that acupuncture can be used in this way, however when it is performed well, it can cause both structural and functional changes in our bodies. For example, in the treatment of back pain,acupuncture needles are inserted into problematic areas and will cause the muscles to relax. As the muscle relaxes there will be a subtle change in the spinal vertebrae since the muscle is no longer pulling it out of alignment. As the spine moves, another area in the back may tighten up and this is treated accordingly. Thus it is possible to unravel a ‘holding pattern’ that will have formed due to a combination of poor posture, stress, injuries, etc. This is an example of acupuncture causing structural changes.

A good example of a functional disorder is dysmenorrhoea (painful periods). Some women suffer from very painful periods that arise for a variety of reasons. If they are particularly severe then your doctor may prescribe The Pill. This treatment may be very successful as the symptoms subside, however the periods are being artificially regulated and this does have its inherent dangers. Acupuncture aims to restore the correct movement of menstrual blood by regulating the flow of energy in the acupuncture channels. This is an example of a functional change. It is interesting that within Traditional Chinese acupuncture there is no notion of the hormonal system, yet treating the acupuncture channels can have a very dramatic influence on the hormones.