Frequently asked questions
If you have any queries which are not answered below, Sandry will be happy to discuss these with you. For a free no-obligation chat, call Sandry on 07748 751 344.
What happens at the initial consultation?
The first appointment lasts 90 minutes. It involves a detailed discussion covering your current symptoms and state of health, medical history, diet, lifestyle and personal history.
The practitioner will feel your pulses and ask to look at your tongue (important that you do not clean it before the appointment!). Your individual diagnosis and treatment strategy is then formulated and you will have an initial treatment if there is sufficient time.
Subsequent appointments last up to 60 minutes, consisting of a 10-minute consultation and a ~50-minute treatment.
How many treatments will I need?
An initial course of 4-6 weekly treatments is recommended until symptoms show signs of improvement, although occasionally only one or two treatments are required. For severe or and chronic conditions, subsequent bi-weekly or monthly treatments may be suggested by your practitioner to further improve and maintain health.
Your practitioner can advise further on your specific case and answer any queries.
Patients often then choose to continue regular monthly / bi-annual treatments to maintain well-being.
What does it feel like?
The treatment involves insertion of fine sterile disposable needles into acupuncture points. As the patient breathes in and out with the insertion, there is a small sensation likened to firmly pressing onto the skin with a fingertip. The practitioner then manipulates the needle to make contact with the patient's energy in the Channels in the body. Patients describe this sensation as "dull ache / warm tingling / gentle tugging".
Depending on the purpose of the treatment, needles are either left in the body for up to 20 minutes, or removed instantly.
Immediately after treatment patients report feeling "like my eyes have opened", "refreshed and vibrant", "relaxed".
In the days after treatment, as the body adjusts to the energy changes that have been made, patients can "feel better in themselves" and start to see changes in their symptoms, the effects of which accumulate as regular treatment progresses.
How does acupuncture work?
Acupuncture is a system of medicine, over 2500 years old, which restores, promotes and maintains good health.
Our body's health is dependent on the smooth flow of energy in Channels which run throughout the body. Over 500 acupuncture points lie on these Channels.
Disease occurs when this energy becomes imbalanced or blocked, affecting a person physically, mentally or spiritually. These imbalances can be caused by emotions, lifestyle, physical trauma, weather conditions and many other factors.
Acupuncture uses fine sterile single-use needles to manipulate this energy, stimulating the body's own healing response, rebalancing and boosting energy levels.
Some systems of medicine separate the emotional from the physical health. However, Chinese Medicine views a person's spiritual, emotional and physical health as functions of the organs, so change can be effected at all three levels by the manipulation of the organs' energy through acupuncture.
For example, the Liver energy can easily become stagnant from alcohol or repressed anger amongst other causes. This can lead to such symptoms as
- painful periods, nausea, poor appetite, headaches (physical)
- melancholy, mood swings (emotional)
- lacking direction, purpose in life (spiritual)
Treatment of the Liver energy can effect an improvement of these symptoms at all three levels.
In feeling your pulses, your practitioner will take her time to assess the qualities to ascertain the state of each organ. She will then look at your tongue's shape, colour, other characteristics and importantly the coating, which reveals more information about your state of health. Combined with the discussions during consultation, this information is used to diagnose and plan your treatments.
What other Chinese Medicine techniques might be used?
In addition to needling acupuncture points, your practitioner may also choose to use other Chinese medicine techniques, depending on your condition, such as:
Moxibustion:
application of indirect heat using moxa, a therapeutic herb known for its warming and nourishing qualities.
Electro-acupuncture:
a very low frequency electrical current is applied to the needle to increase blood flow, relax muscle tissue and clear stagnant Qi
Cupping:
glass cups with a vacuum seal are placed on the skin to stimulate blood flow and clear stagnant Qi.
Guasha:
vigorous rubbing of the skin to increase blood flow and clear stagnant Qi. Also used in cosmetic acupuncture to increase the blood flow to the face but in a less vigorous manner.
Are there any side effects?
Most people find acupuncture relaxing and often feel very calm after a treatment. You may feel tired or sleepy and should take this into account if you are planning to drive or use machinery straight after your treatment.
Acupuncture has very few side effects and any that do occur are usually mild and self-correcting. Cupping and guasha can sometimes temporarily mark the skin. Such bruising is painless and generally clears within a day or two.
What about COVID-safe practices?
We will be continuing with COVID-safe practices.
These include cleaning high touch surfaces between appointments, ensuring a well ventilated clinic room, and wearing a mask for close work.
Patients can wear masks if they feel comfortable doing so.
