Is Acupuncture safe?

Acupuncture is one of the safest medical treatments, both conventional and complementary, on offer in the UK.

Two surveys conducted independently of each other and published in the British Medical Journal in 2001 concluded that the risk of a serious adverse reaction to acupuncture is less than 1 in 10,000. This is far less than many orthodox medical treatments.

One survey was of traditional acupuncturists and the other of doctors who practise acupuncture. A total of 66,000 treatments were reviewed altogether, with only a handful of minor and transient side effects recorded.

Does Acupuncture hurt?

Acupuncture rarely 'hurts'. The most that people experience is a dull ache around the base of the inserted needle, or a slight tingling feeling when the needle is inserted. Points at the extremities, like toe or finger ends, can sometimes be a little sharp, but the sensation is usually brief.

There are very few side effects from acupuncture when practised by a fully qualified practitioner of traditional acupuncture. Any minor side effects that do occur, such as dizziness or bruising around needle points, are mild and self-correcting.

Source BaAC

How long would my first appointment take?

Your first consultation:

During your first visit a thorough understanding of your main complaint and your general health and lifestyle, this can take upto 2 hours. This involves asking questions about your current symptoms and your medical history, as well as such things as your sleeping pattern, your appetite and digestion, and your emotional well-being. Women are also asked about their menstrual cycle and any past pregnancies and childbirth.

You might feel that some questions appear unrelated to your condition but the information you give helps to form a more complete picture of your health and lifestyle. As your acupuncturist I will also take your pulse on both wrists and may examine your tongue and feel for areas of muscular tension or pain.

Follow up treatments 

Your follow up treatments usually last upto an hour, ultra-fine Acupuncture needles are used, moxa a fine herb is usually used to stimulate the energy in the Acupuncture point, most patients feel relaxed after their treatment.