acupuncture
Acupuncture in Gloucester
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a treatment where fine, sterile needles are placed painlessly on the body to activate and encourage the immune system’s own healing responses. The holistic style of traditional acupuncture means that treatment is unique for each person. The focus is on the root cause of the problem rather than the symptoms.
Who has acupuncture?
Because traditional acupuncture aims to treat the whole person rather than specific symptoms in isolation, it can be effective for a wide range of conditions. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends acupuncture for chronic pain, back and neck pain, knee pain, migraine, and headaches.
Some people turn to acupuncture to address a specific symptom or condition. Others chose to have treatment to help maintain good health, as a preventive measure, or to improve their general sense of wellbeing.
What happens in an acupuncture treatment?
The first appointment usually lasts for 90 minutes, and a full history is taken. This could include details about any immediate health problems you’re facing, your general health, lifestyle and family history, and some detail about your daily routine such as eating, drinking and sleeping.
You’ll also need a physical examination including checking your pulse and tongue examination, and may require partial undressing to gain access to the affected area.
Then a personal treatment plan is prepared with specific suggestions to help you recover.
I aim to provide a safe, comfortable, confidential space where you can relax and gain the most benefit from your appointment.
Acupuncture works best as a series of appointments, at regular intervals as agreed between client and practitioner. It is also a part of a Nourishing Life programme that looks at lifestyle and gentle exercise interventions which can make a significant difference to your health.
My priority is your wellbeing – offering assistance through acupuncture to help you get back to feeling yourself again.
I am grateful to my friend Ni Smith of Stopmo animations for kindly preparing this testimonial from a longstanding client
What does acupuncture feel like?
Acupuncture needles are very fine and unintrusive. Any prior experience you may have with vaccinations won’t be that similar! Most people find acupuncture very relaxing. Patients often describe the sensation as a tingling or a dull ache, and some people don’t notice the needles at all.
Is acupuncture safe?
Acupuncture is very safe. The results of two independent surveys published in the British Medical Journal in 2001 concluded that the risk of serious adverse reactions to acupuncture is less than 1 in 10,000.
“I can feel a warmth of relaxation gently enfolding and soothing though me”
Do I tell my doctor?
Acupuncture is very complementary to general Western medicine, and it might be helpful for your doctor to know you are receiving acupuncture. At your appointment I usually ask permission to share any significant findings with your doctor which you can accept or decline as freedom of choice. If you’re a regular blood donor, at the moment you will need to factor acupuncture treatment into your plans, but blood transfusion services may be changing their approach in coming months.
How many sessions will I need?
How many sessions needed depends on your individual condition. You will likely see improvements within 3-6 treatments, though this can depend on how long you have had the symptoms. Sometimes just one or two treatments are enough to see a benefit. Some people choose to come weekly or monthly at first, and then seasonally to stay well, since they notice improvements to general immune system and wellbeing that it brings.
What happens if I am also working with other practitioners?
Often clients find acupuncture works well in combination with other therapies such as physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic and pilates.
I am training in using several accessory techniques in practice which include tui na – a form of light massage – cupping, gua sha, and moxa therapy – which gently warms the acupuncture point to aid healing. If you’re interested in any of these techniques and would like to learn more about them, please ask. Alternatively I can suggest them as we work together.