What to Expect
Your first appointment
Your first appointment is about getting to know you and understanding what has brought you to acupuncture. We’ll take time to talk through your main concerns, your health history, any medications and your current lifestyle, including things such as sleep, digestion, stress and energy levels. These details help me build a more complete picture of your health and understand how different aspects of your wellbeing may be connected.
BEFORE YOU ARRIVE
Eat a
Light Snack
Wear Loose
Comfy Clothes
Hydrate
Well
Skip Heavy
Caffeine
Arrive a Few
Minutes Early
THE FORMAT OF YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT
As part of your consultation, I’ll also look at your tongue and take your pulse. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, these are important diagnostic tools that can provide further information about how your body is functioning and help guide your treatment.
Once we’ve discussed your needs and you’re comfortable on the treatment table, I’ll explain what I’m going to do before beginning the acupuncture. I use very fine, sterile, single use needles and select points according to your individual presentation. Depending on what you need, I may also incorporate other techniques such as electroacupuncture, cupping, gua sha or moxibustion.
The needles are usually left in place for around 20 minutes, giving you time to relax while the treatment takes effect. Some people notice a sense of calm or relaxation during this time, while others simply enjoy having a quiet pause away from the demands of everyday life.
At the end of your appointment, we’ll discuss a plan and talk through anything we’ve noticed during your treatment. Where appropriate, I may suggest simple ideas around areas such as nutrition, movement or daily routines to support your wellbeing between appointments.
After your ApPointment
Acupuncture works cumulatively, with each treatment building on the last. We’ll work together to create a personalised treatment plan based on your individual needs, including the frequency of your sessions. We can review and adjust the plan together as needed, taking into account your experience of treatment and how you respond to it.
Treatment Modalities
Acupuncture is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practice that has been used for thousands of years. It involves inserting very fine, sterile, single use needles into specific points on the body.
From a TCM perspective, acupuncture works by influencing the flow of Qi through the body and helping to restore balance. From a Western perspective, acupuncture is understood to stimulate the nervous system and can influence processes involved in pain perception, muscle activity, circulation and the body’s stress response. Research also suggests that acupuncture may affect the release of naturally occurring chemicals, including endorphins.
Acupuncture
Electro Acupuncture
Electroacupuncture adds a gentle electrical current to acupuncture treatment. Once the needles are inserted, small electrodes are attached to selected needles to deliver a controlled, low frequency pulse between acupuncture points. This provides continuous stimulation which can influence the nervous system, support circulation and alter the way pain signals are processed. In TCM terms, the additional stimulation can also be used to enhance the movement of Qi and Blood.
Acupuncture
Cupping
Cupping is a TCM technique that uses glass cups to create suction on the skin. With fire cupping, a brief flame is used to create a vacuum inside the cup before it is placed on the skin. The resulting suction lifts the skin and underlying tissues, encouraging local circulation and creating a warming, releasing sensation through the muscles.
In TCM, cupping is used to move Qi and Blood and help release areas of tension and stagnation. The treatment may leave temporary circular marks on the skin, which vary in colour and intensity and usually fade within several days.
Gua sha
Gua Sha is a TCM technique that uses a smooth edged tool to stroke the skin, creating light pressure and stimulating local circulation. It is commonly used over areas such as the neck, shoulders and back to help release muscular tension and areas of tightness.
From a TCM perspective, Gua Sha is used to move Qi and Blood and address areas of stagnation. The treatment produces temporary redness or small red marks on the skin, known as petechiae. These are a normal response to the technique and usually fade within a few days.
Moxibustion (Moxa)
Moxibustion, or moxa, is a TCM technique that uses dried mugwort, a medicinal herb, to create gentle, penetrating warmth. The moxa is burned close to the skin, usually over specific acupuncture points, or along the channels, creating a deeply warming and soothing sensation.
From a TCM perspective, moxibustion is used to warm the body, dispel Cold and support the flow of Qi and Blood. It has traditionally been used to support circulation, immune function and digestive health, as well as for menstrual discomfort and other concerns.
Lifestyle and dietary guidance
In TCM, diet and lifestyle (Yang Sheng) are considered important foundations of health and wellbeing. As part of your treatment, I may offer personalised guidance based on your individual needs, constitution, environment and current health.
This might include simple recommendations around nutrition, eating with the seasons, sleep, movement and daily routines that support your energy and digestion. By looking at these everyday aspects of life alongside your symptoms, we can explore practical ways to support your health and wellbeing between treatments.
