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Acupuncture Explained:
What to expect from a treatment
Does acupuncture hurt?
Clinical sterile procedure
Acupuncture for anxiety & stress
Acupuncture for fertility and IVF
Acupuncture for facial rejuvenation
Other TCM Therapies:
Our Clinics:
针 灸 Acupuncture
Acupuncture is one of the medical therapies of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
It involves the insertion of very fine needles (less than 0.30mm, stainless steel, sterile and single use) into certain locations in the body (acupuncture points).
Acupuncture has been used widely in China for thousands of years and if you have to visit a hospital or a health centre there, you will find acupuncture and other TCM therapies available and practiced successfully in conjunction with Western medicine in a safe and professional environment.
In simple terms, we can say that acupuncture is based on the concept that living beings have “vital energy” that the Chinese call “Qì” (氣 – pronounced “chee” and sometimes spelt as “chi”).
Qì circulates throughout the whole body in “invisible channels” known in TCM as “Jīng Luò” (經 絡 – acupuncture channels, also called “meridians”). An imbalance in the flow of Qì throughout a Jīng Luò is how disease begins.
The acupuncture needles are inserted in specific points along the Jīng Luò in order to restore the natural flow of Qì and thus restoring the internal balance, helping the person to return to full health.
What to expect from a treatment
The first consultation takes approximately one hour and will consist of an in-dept evaluation of the presenting condition and a full medical history.
Treatments are specific to each individual and therefore similar problems in different people may well require very different treatments.
An examination of the tongue and the pulse will be carried out and a brief physical examination, where necessary.
The entire proceedings are safeguarded by total confidentiality.
The practitioner will then decide on the appropriate treatment method: acupuncture and/or other therapies (if necessary).
Although some people will experience the changes in their condition straight after the initial treatment, it is recommended that you should follow up the initial treatment with at least a few more sessions to achieve longer lasting benefits.
Subsequent treatment sessions will last around 30 minutes.
The condition will be re-evaluated at each treatment and the recovery time will depend on the severity of the presenting condition (acute or chronic), the individual’s response to treatment and the length of time that the complaint has been there for.
Depending on the above, a practitioner would usually see the patient once a week or once a fortnight.
Does acupuncture hurt?
The acupuncture needles themselves are very fine (0.30mm or less), unlike the needles used for injections and blood tests (0.50mm or more).
There is little sensitivity to the insertion of acupuncture needles.
The more relaxed (not tense) the patient is, the less will he or she feel from the insertion of the needle(s).
While some people feel nothing at all, others experience a brief moment of discomfort as the needle penetrates the skin. That can be followed by a mild sensation of tingling, numbness, dull ache, or heaviness.
The needles are left in place for about twenty minutes. Most people find the experience extremely relaxing and some people even fall asleep for the duration of the treatment.
Some sensations might last for a while even after the treatment is over but again, different people will experience this in different ways.
Sterile clinical procedure
All acupuncture needles are for single use (disposable) and pre-sterilised by approved methods.
The use of acupuncture and TCM in the hands of a fully qualified professional practitioner is entirely safe and free of any harmful side effects.
If you have any further questions about acupuncture or TCM, please contact us.