Acupuncture for Pain and Injury
Over the past ten years I’ve helped hundreds of people with painful conditions, from simple musculoskeletal injuries to complex and chronic issues. Many of them had tried everything else with little or no success, but found acupuncture alongside other techniques like tui na massage and cupping to be beneficial.
I see acupuncture as complementary to conventional medical care, offering a different way of understanding the body, and a natural, drug-free approach to treatment. In some situations I might suggest you talk to your doctor or see another health professional like a physiotherapist or osteopath alongside your acupuncture treatment.
Often there are postural, dietary or other lifestyle factors involved, and I will often make suggestions, tailored to you according to your symptoms, diagnosis and circumstances. I also teach Qigong (Chinese health exercises, similar to tai chi) which can help support your treatment.
My Approach
Over the years, I’ve learnt and experimented with a variety of acupuncture styles and treatment techniques. This has given me quite a wide range of approaches to select from when giving treatments, but this will give you an idea of what you might expect:
For pain, I’ll usually start by releasing tension using tui na massage, cupping and/or gua sha. I don’t use many needles (usually between 2–10 per session) – most of the time you won’t feel them at all as they’re inserted but they may feel sore or achy for a short time as they start to work. Sometimes they’ll be around the area that hurts and sometimes they’ll be further away, maybe even on the opposite limb.
Treatment may be strong or very gentle depending on what you need and how physically robust you are, but people generally find treatment to be very relaxing and often even fall asleep.
I may look at your posture and suggest exercises or other lifestyle modifications that can help support your treatment. If I feel like you might benefit from another practitioner’s expertise, I’ll make a recommendation to see them, either alongside your acupuncture treatment or instead.
What to expect
Initial Consultation (£75)
Your initial consultation will last around 90 minutes. Most of the time will be spent discussing your main complaint as well as all other aspects of your health. In addition to asking questions, I’ll undertake a physical examination which will vary according to your health complaints, but may include abdominal, postural and joint examinations, and will usually include an examination of the pulses (taken at both wrists) and the tongue. Your initial consultation will also include a treatment.
Treatment is aimed at the root of your condition as well as your main symptoms. This approach helps with resolving your problem and enhancing your feeling of wellbeing. You may notice other niggling problems resolve as your main health complaint improves.
Subsequent Treatments (£55)
Acupuncture works best as a course of treatment. I will recommend you come weekly, or sometimes twice weekly to start with. As your condition improves, you can expect your treatments to be spaced further apart. Each treatment will last around 45 minutes to one hour.
It is difficult to predict how many treatments will be needed or how soon treatments can be spaced further apart, as each case will be different. As a guideline, people typically see significant improvements within the first three to five treatments, but complex or long-standing conditions may take longer to respond.
Depending on the problem and the points to be used, you may be asked to take off items of clothing, but I’ll offer you blankets or a gown and leave the room while you change. I try to choose points that require as little undressing as possible and tui na massage is normally performed through clothing.