Frequently Asked Questions

How can I pay?

I accept payment of cash, cheque or bank transfer with payment required at the end of the treatment.

If you have private or business medical insurance, you may be able to claim back the cost of your treatment from your provider (many patients do!). Please check with your provider before committing to any treatment.

Here is a link to our list of private health insurers.

Do I need to prepare in any way for the treatment?

It’s important to make sure you’ve eaten on the day of your treatment but try to leave at least an hour of going without food before your treatment. It’s best not to drink alcohol, coffee, or any caffeine drinks before or after your treatment. Ideally wear loose fitting clothing that will allow easy access to the body, especially the abdomen, neck, back, feet and the legs and arms below the knees and elbows. Please only wear a minimal amount of jewellery as all wrist and neck jewellery including wristwatches will need to be removed.

What sort of needles do you use?

I only practice clean needle technique and only use the highest quality surgical steel sterile, single use acupuncture needles for all inserted needle techniques. Once a needle has been used it is immediately disposed of in a sharps box.

Is it painful?

Japanese acupuncture is a very gentle style of acupuncture. It uses many non-invasive techniques and when we do insert a needle, we use the thinnest needles and usually only just into the skin. The majority of patients do not realise the needle is there. Japanese acupuncture invented the guide tube over 400 years ago to make the needling experience as pain free as possible when compared to Chinese acupuncture who use thicker needles and much more needle stimulation.

Unfortunately, sometimes a strong sensation is felt but it should never be painful, more of a dull ache that passes as the Qi flows.

Is acupuncture safe?

Acupuncture is one of the safest therapies in the world when applied by a professionally trained and experienced practitioner. Its why we train for over three years with many practical assessments and exams before we can get licensed to practice. Failure at any stage of training means retaking that year including all the exams and assessments. This strict regime is why acupuncture is so safe and why in the UK we only require voluntary regulation as a profession.

With any intervention that pierces the skin there is always a risk which is why I only practice clean needle techniques and ensure every treatment is as risk free as is physically possible under both local authority and governing body regulations.

How will I feel after my treatment?

Treatment is designed to stimulate the body’s own healing mechanism and to get all the internal organs working together in harmony. This can have a very therapeutic effect with patients feeling very relaxed and rejuvenated after treatment.

It may also at times instigate what is commonly called a ‘ healing crisis’ as the body’s immune system tries to naturally heal itself. This is a normal bodily response to treatment, especially for long term conditions and doesn’t last for very long. It is always advisable to drink plenty of fluid after treatment and to have a more relaxed day so that full benefit of the treatment can be achieved.