Does it hurt?

The experience of receiving acupuncture overall is deeply relaxing, completely comfortable and painless. When needles are initially inserted into points, there may be some momentary tenderness or sharpness. Some points are more sensitive than others, depending on the area of the body and the degree to which the qi is stagnated in that point. Different types of needles are used as appropriate, to minimise any discomfort.

After the initial insertion, there are a few different sensations that might be felt for a few seconds. Most commonly there may be a deep, dull achey feeling, or a slight tingling or moving sensation. This will last for approximately 5-10 seconds, after which it will be completely painless for the remainder of the treatment time.

Is it relaxing?

Receiving acupuncture is remarkably and surprisingly relaxing.

Whereas people automatically assume that a massage will be very relaxing to receive, with some lasting benefit, acupuncture is assumed to have positive after-effects, but not necessarily be nice while it’s happening.

If it’s your first time, prepare to be very pleasantly surprised.

With correct diagnosis, a course of acupuncture treatment will provide ongoing medical improvement and also the experience of receiving it is very pleasant.

Where are the acupoints and what should I wear?

There are acupoints all over the body. However, the transporting points and command points located on the forearms/hands and lower legs/feet are the most used points. There are also important points on the abdomen and back.

You can wear long shorts, loose trousers, or a skirt. You may need to partially undress, but you will be given privacy to do so and towels to cover up. This will always be within your comfort level.

Are the needles safe?

All needles are CE-marked, FDA/MHRA licensed, sterile, single-use and disposable. They are disposed of in standard BS-marked BS7320 sharps containers.

Should I eat before treatment?

You should always eat before coming for acupuncture treatment, no more than 2hrs beforehand. This is especially important if you have any kind of chronic fatigue (including post-surgery or other convalescence), are prone to fainting or low blood sugar.

How many sessions will I need?

At your initial consultation the practitioner will outline an advised treatment plan and a gauge as to what can be expected in terms of health improvement within that time.

Most commonly an initial treatment plan is between 4-8 sessions with a review to see what progress has been made, and whether further treatment would be useful/is needed or not.

Patients are not obligated at any point.

The rate of progress, and the number of sessions required overall, is dependent on many factors including the severity of your condition, the length of time you have had it, your age, your general health overall, your diet and lifestyle, medications etc.

Therefore, the possibility of predicting outcomes varies and is complicated. The practitioner is committed to ethical practice and every effort will always be made to empower the patient with as clear a guide as possible so that they can make informed choices as to whether to proceed with treatment.  

What does it cost?

Initial Consultation + Treatment (1.5hrs): £65

Follow-up treatment (45mins-1hr): £45

What will happen in a usual session?

Please see ‘What to expect’ (long version).

https://www.primarycareacupuncture.uk/what-to-expect

Is it safe and are there any potential adverse effects from acupuncture?

There have been large-scale studies which have shown that acupuncture treatment overall, in the hands of professionals trained to allied health professional (AHP) standard (as British Acupuncture Council members are), is a safe treatment (AACP. (2017). Safe Practice Guidelines for Acupuncture Physiotherapists. Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists. Peterborough).

There are some adverse effects which can occur either occasionally, rarely or extremely rarely. The following information is based on findings within these studies:

• MacPherson H., Thomas K., Walters S., Fitter M. (2001). A prospective survey of adverse events and treatment reactions following 34,000 consultations with professional acupuncturists. Acupuncture in Medicine 19 (2) 93-102

• White A., Hayhoe S., Hart A., Ernst E., Volunteers from BMAS and AACP. (2001). Survey of adverse events following acupuncture (SAFA): A prospective study of 32,000 consultations. Acupuncture in Medicine 19 (2) 84-92

• White A. (2006) The safety of acupuncture - evidence from the UK. Acupuncture in Medicine 24 S53-57

OCCASIONAL ADVERSE EFFECTS:

• Bleeding or bruising

  This may occur in ~3% of treatments. This may be increased if an individual is prone to bruising very easily, has a clotting disorder or is on anti-coagulation medicine (this will be discussed prior to treatment).

• Mild aggravation of symptoms

  This may occur in ~3% of treatments. However, between 70-85% then show subsequent improvement.

• Drowsiness and Dizziness

  Drowsiness and dizziness may occur following ~1% and 0.6% of treatments respectively. These effects are most common if someone has not eaten within 2hrs prior to receiving treatment.

RARE ADVERSE EFFECTS:

• Nausea

  This can occur in ~0.3% of acupuncture treatments.

• Feeling faint / fainting / needle shock

  This can occur in ~0.3% of acupuncture treatments, most commonly if someone has not eaten prior to treatment.

• Allergy

  This can occur in ~0.2% of acupuncture treatments. Patients may have an as-yet unknown allergy to nickel which is in the surgical grade stainless steel acupuncture needle.

• Stuck or bent needle

  This can occur in ~0.1% of acupuncture treatments and is most likely due to a small muscle spasm. The area will be lightly massaged and the needle can then be removed.

EXTREMELY RARE ADVERSE EFFECTS:

• Pneumothorax

British Acupuncture Council-registered acupuncturists and other AHP level acupuncturists are thoroughly trained to safely work with points which lie over the pleural cavity (where the lungs are). Therefore, the risk of a pneumothorax occurring is effectively eliminated. However overall, according to worldwide safety data, this adverse effect has been seen in 0.0002% of treatments (2 in a million).

Is acupuncture treatment covered by health insurance?

Please see https://acupuncture.org.uk/about-acupuncture/private-healthcare/ for a list of companies who provide some level of cover. Policy terms vary. PCA is in the process of becoming BUPA-recognised. Please get in touch if you want to investigate further.

Can I have acupuncture if I’ve had lymph nodes removed?

Yes - in general with some precautions. If one of your limbs or a certain area is currently oedematous (swollen), this will not be needled into or adjacent to. However, clearing fluid retention can be one of acupuncture’s great strengths and there are various acupoints in different locations that will address this systemically. So if you are prone to oedema due to missing lymph nodes, acupuncture may greatly help.

Regarding any risk of reduced capacity to fight infection, acupuncture is done with single-use, sterile, disposable needles which are only removed from sealed blister packs at the time of use. Infection-control measures are of course in place to ensure entirely safe use of the needles (thorough hand washing, strict protocols for handling of needles, maintenance of clean field of work etc.).

This will be subject to the guidance of medical professionals, and if in doubt please take advice from your doctor.

Are there other health conditions that mean I can’t have acupuncture?

Uncontrolled epilepsy or another seizure condition, and uncontrolled diabetes would make receiving acupuncture unsafe. A known nickel allergy would also prevent a patient from receiving acupuncture with regular needles (they are made from surgical grade stainless steel which contains nickel).

Other conditions requiring discussion and caution, and potentially doctors’ advice prior to proceeding, include being on anticoagulation therapy or having any blood clotting disorder.

A patient intake screening form and thorough initial consultation mean that any issues requiring caution are identified prior to treatment.

What are the rules around blood donation after acupuncture treatment?

Currently there is a 4 month ‘deferral period’ between receiving acupuncture and being able to give blood.

Licensed acupuncturists have the same training in safe needling and infection control, and are applying the same protocols as the doctors, nurses and physiotherapists using acupuncture (for whom the deferral period does not apply). Therefore British Acupuncture Council is lobbying for this to be changed but as things stand, it is still in place.

The difference in regulations is actually between anyone who is a doctor or any other Allied Health Professional on the one hand, and anyone else performing acupuncture (including those who did a full degree in Chinese Medical Acupuncture) on the other.

This leads to the strange situation that an art therapist, or a speech therapist (without any needling or infection-control training) could perform acupuncture on you, and you could then go straightaway and give blood. In contrast, if a fully trained/licensed acupuncturist with hundreds of hours of acupuncture clinical practice, and 4years full time training gives you acupuncture, you cannot then give blood for 4 months.

Is training and professional development maintained and developed?

British Acupuncture Council membership requires 30 formal and documented hours of CPD (continuous professional development) per year.

Are acupuncturists audited and legally compliant?

The British Acupuncture Council do spot checks on their members to ensure that they are compliant with all relevant legislation including licensing, Health and Safety, and GDPR data protection.