heal your body, find your balance
What To Expect When You Come For Acupuncture
During your first session no needling takes place. This is because the time is used to take detailed case notes about your health including medical background, treatment history, evaluation of tests / medical reports etc.
Further to detailed physiological and pathopysiolgical assessments you will be prescribed a course of acupuncture treatment that is tailored specifically to your individual needs. All subsequent sessions will start with a brief health assessment followed by a bespoke acupuncture treatment.
Sterile, single use, disposable needles are used for all sessions.
Further to detailed physiological and pathopysiolgical assessments you will be prescribed a course of acupuncture treatment that is tailored specifically to your individual needs. All subsequent sessions will start with a brief health assessment followed by a bespoke acupuncture treatment.
Sterile, single use, disposable needles are used for all sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are your needles and other equipment disposable or reusable and how is everything sanitised?
My needles are all single use, disposable needles and imported from the UK (thus conforming to UK quality standards of safety, sterility etc). As they are single use only I also make it a point to purchase a brand of needle that focuses on environmentally friendly manufacturing and packaging to offset the environmental impact of disposal. All other non invasive, reusable equipment e.g. cups or rollers for acupuncture related massage, forceps, guide tubes etc are washed with antibacterial soap and then surgical spirit as is the couch, surfaces and floor.
What do I need to wear when I come for acupuncture?
When you come for acupuncture it is best to wear loose, comfortable clothing. Skirts or trousers and tops are better than dresses as they can be moved around rather than you having to take everything off (although there are cases where you may have to undress regardless). In any case no matter how you are dressed I always provide sheets and blankets for modesty and comfort in the event that some items of clothing need to be removed in order to access the acupuncture points.
When I came for my consultation you recommended some diet and lifestyle changes. Do I need to implement these immediately?
I think you should start focusing on diet and lifestyle changes immediately and would encourage you to persevere even after you finish treatment or if you decide not to continue with acupuncture - the idea is to do it in a sustainable way rather than going to extremes so that you can cultivate healthy habits that will have a long term impact on your health and wellbeing.
Should I eat / can I drink alcohol before acupuncture?
It is best to have eaten before you come for a session rather than coming on an empty stomach. It will help you to focus on treatment rather than on your growing hunger. You should also refrain from taking alcohol and stimulants prior to treatment.
Does acupuncture hurt?
Although acupuncture treatment utilises needles, these are not like injections. They are very thin and not painful when inserted. After the needles are inserted you may feel some pressure or throbbing but it does not feel like an injection and most people perceive it as a very minor discomfort.
Why do you charge for your initial consultation?
The initial consultation is the most important part of your acupuncture treatment. During your consultation I will take a detailed case history and based on my findings and what you present with, I will create a customised treatment plan just for you. This means that you will get the best possible treatment for your needs rather than a standardised, "one size fits all" approach. In order to offer this level of quality care and attention to detail, I need to charge for my time as otherwise the service I provide would be unsustainable.
Is acupuncture satanic / voodoo / magic / against my religion?
The answer to this question is a categorical NO! There is no magic and mystery surrounding acupuncture and it is not satanic or evil in any way. It is a comprehensive system of diagnosis and treatment that has been in use for over 3000 years and which is backed by modern scientific evidence. The human body is so amazing and acupuncture simply offers a gentle way of triggering natural healing responses within bodily systems as opposed to taking medication or undergoing surgery which can often have harmful side effects.
Does acupuncture only work on a placebo basis?
Again the answer to this is no. There is a strong body of evidence showing that acupuncture works, though more research is needed into exactly how it works. I have posted a link to an interesting article discussing this question in more detail below.
http://www.abetterwaytohealth.com/acupuncture-scientific-evidence/
My needles are all single use, disposable needles and imported from the UK (thus conforming to UK quality standards of safety, sterility etc). As they are single use only I also make it a point to purchase a brand of needle that focuses on environmentally friendly manufacturing and packaging to offset the environmental impact of disposal. All other non invasive, reusable equipment e.g. cups or rollers for acupuncture related massage, forceps, guide tubes etc are washed with antibacterial soap and then surgical spirit as is the couch, surfaces and floor.
What do I need to wear when I come for acupuncture?
When you come for acupuncture it is best to wear loose, comfortable clothing. Skirts or trousers and tops are better than dresses as they can be moved around rather than you having to take everything off (although there are cases where you may have to undress regardless). In any case no matter how you are dressed I always provide sheets and blankets for modesty and comfort in the event that some items of clothing need to be removed in order to access the acupuncture points.
When I came for my consultation you recommended some diet and lifestyle changes. Do I need to implement these immediately?
I think you should start focusing on diet and lifestyle changes immediately and would encourage you to persevere even after you finish treatment or if you decide not to continue with acupuncture - the idea is to do it in a sustainable way rather than going to extremes so that you can cultivate healthy habits that will have a long term impact on your health and wellbeing.
Should I eat / can I drink alcohol before acupuncture?
It is best to have eaten before you come for a session rather than coming on an empty stomach. It will help you to focus on treatment rather than on your growing hunger. You should also refrain from taking alcohol and stimulants prior to treatment.
Does acupuncture hurt?
Although acupuncture treatment utilises needles, these are not like injections. They are very thin and not painful when inserted. After the needles are inserted you may feel some pressure or throbbing but it does not feel like an injection and most people perceive it as a very minor discomfort.
Why do you charge for your initial consultation?
The initial consultation is the most important part of your acupuncture treatment. During your consultation I will take a detailed case history and based on my findings and what you present with, I will create a customised treatment plan just for you. This means that you will get the best possible treatment for your needs rather than a standardised, "one size fits all" approach. In order to offer this level of quality care and attention to detail, I need to charge for my time as otherwise the service I provide would be unsustainable.
Is acupuncture satanic / voodoo / magic / against my religion?
The answer to this question is a categorical NO! There is no magic and mystery surrounding acupuncture and it is not satanic or evil in any way. It is a comprehensive system of diagnosis and treatment that has been in use for over 3000 years and which is backed by modern scientific evidence. The human body is so amazing and acupuncture simply offers a gentle way of triggering natural healing responses within bodily systems as opposed to taking medication or undergoing surgery which can often have harmful side effects.
Does acupuncture only work on a placebo basis?
Again the answer to this is no. There is a strong body of evidence showing that acupuncture works, though more research is needed into exactly how it works. I have posted a link to an interesting article discussing this question in more detail below.
http://www.abetterwaytohealth.com/acupuncture-scientific-evidence/
Tara Manji, MBAcC
Kenya Ministry of Health Authorised Practitioner |
© Aculibrium Acupuncture 2016