FAQs

  • Education

  Acupuncture training is a minimum of 3 years, which results in a degree or licentiate. All acupuncture practitioners then embrace life-long learning. The British Acupuncture Council is their professional body and a strict Code of Ethics binds all members. Acupuncturists are also registered with Environmental Health and all needles are sterile and disposable after one use.

 

  • Should my Doctor know?

  I prefer patients to tell their doctors’ from a professional courtesy point of view, but also as many patients will have had medication prescribed for them your doctor does need to know that you are planning to have acupuncture. BAcC acupuncturists are trained to recognise underlying conditions and may refer you to you GP, if appropriate. 

 

  • How can Acupuncture help me?

  Many people have acupuncture as a preventative health treatment. Others use it for specific conditions, or to improve their sense of well being. Because traditional acupuncture treats the whole person it can be effective for a range of symptoms. This means that everyone’s treatment will be individually planned. Many people find they feel so relaxed that they return regularly and some people build it in to their overall health plan for life. 

 

  • What happens when I go for treatment?

  The acupuncturist will take an in-depth medical history, read your pulses and look at your tongue. Based on this information she will be able to diagnose the cause of the problem and choose the appropriate points to use. Very fine needles (0.2mm) are then inserted and left for a second or sometimes 20 minutes depending on the effect required. 

 

  • How long does overall treatment take?

  This depends on how long you have had the complaint and how severe it is. Very often a person will start to feel better within themselves, sleep better and have more energy. As this energy accumulates symptoms will begin to disappear and people feel more able to relax and cope with their lives. Initially treatment is once a week, which then drops down to 2 weekly and monthly. Some people return with the seasons for a check up.