FAQ's
What is Acupuncture & How Does it Work?
In Chinese Medicine, we assess imbalances by examining the pulses on each arm and observing the tongue to determine the body's healing priorities. Each session is uniquely tailored to address these priorities, using this information to connect with your mind and body, pinpoint areas of stress and energy blockages, and support your healing journey. A wide range of therapeutic techniques—both manual and non-manual—are used to assist the body in restoring balance.
Acupuncture plays a crucial role in maintaining the body's equilibrium, which can be disrupted by various factors such as lifestyle, trauma, diet, emotional distress, or injury. In many cases, acupuncture is an effective therapy to help restore harmony, both physically and emotionally.
For nearly every illness recognised in Western medicine, Chinese Medicine offers an interpretation that is specific to the individual. Acupuncture treats the whole person, not just a single condition. As a result, more and more people in the UK are turning to acupuncture to support their well-being.
Emotional, physical, and psychological stresses, along with energy blockages, can manifest in many ways, such as:
Physical aches and pains
Mental Health
Chronic Pain: Whether it’s back pain, headaches, or arthritis, just to name a few causes.
Stress and Anxiety: In today’s fast-paced world, stress has become a pervasive issue that can wreak havoc on both physical and mental health. TCM and Five Element Acupuncture provide a calming antidote by harmonising the body’s energy and promoting relaxation.
Insomnia: Sleep is essential for overall well-being, yet many people struggle with insomnia and other sleep disorders.
Fertility, menstruation and menopause: Currently there are a lot of reported struggles around a female’s cycle. Whether that be from fertility troubles, period pain, PMS to hot flushes, brain fog, or more, acupuncture can support them through it.
Digestive Disorders: From irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to acid reflux, digestive disorders can significantly impact quality of life.
Acupuncture works harmoniously with other therapies, including chiropractic care, naturopathy, myotherapy, and physiotherapy. By helping the body release underlying emotional stresses, acupuncture enhances and supports the positive changes these treatments bring, promoting a deeper sense of balance and well-being.
What does a session involve?
An initial assessment runs for 90 minutes and subsequent session runs for an 45 minutes. We start by having a brief chat with your Acupuncturist about any physical symptoms you've been experiencing and any areas you would like to improve on. After hearing what your priorities are, they will then take your pulses and look at your tongue to gague where the imbalances are and how best to treat you that day. Once your acupuncturist has decided their treatment plan they will use their skillset to either needle you, use other instruments like gua sha, cupping, moxa, auricular acupuncture or acupressure to help harmonise your pulses and energy.
Does acupuncture hurt?
Acupuncture needles are nothing like needles used for injections. They are much thinner and usually cause no pain. More likely, you will feel the needle working once it reaches the acupuncture point. This sensation is often described as a 'tingling', 'dull ache' or a 'warm' feeling.
How many Acupuncture treatments will I need?
It's hard to give a definitive answer, as each person is unique and every treatment is tailored to the individual. Recovery time can vary widely depending on the nature and duration of the issue. Generally, the longer you've had the condition, the longer it may take to resolve. However, most people start to feel the benefits within six sessions.
Would I benefit from Acupuncture?
Absolutely.
Our day to day lives present us with many situations that can cause stress, pain, panic and move us out of alignment and away from how we wish to be feeling and what we wish to be doing. Trying to keep up with a fast pace environment can also lead to injury or unwanted physical or emotional stresses. Acupuncture will help balance your state of mind, body and spiritual balance supporting you to live to your life to the fullest potential.