Abdominal pain
Acne
Adverse reactions to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy
Alcohol and Drug dependence and detoxification
Allergies
Anxiety
Asthma
Back Pain
Bell’s palsy
Cancer pain
Common cold
Constipation
Dental pain
Depression
Diabetes mellitus
Diarrohea
Dysmenorrhoea

Earache
Eye pain
Facial pain
Facial spasm
Fibromyalgia
Gastritis
Hay Fever
Headache
Herpes zoster
Hyperlipaemia
Hypertension
Hypotension

Infertility (Male and Female)
Insomnia
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Knee pain
Lactation deficiency
Lower back pain
Male sexual dysfunction
Ménière disease
Morning sickness

Nausea and vomiting
Neck pain
Neurodermatitis
Obesity
Osteoarthritic pain
Peptic ulcer
Polycystic ovaries
Postoperative pain
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Prostatitis

Rheumatoid arthritis
Sciatica
Shoulder pain
Sore throat (including tonsillitis)
Sprains
Stiff neck
Stroke
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ)  dysfunction
Tennis elbow
Tobacco dependence (smoking cessation)
Urinary Tract Infection

Ultra thin stainless steel needles are inserted into the skin at chosen locations (acupoints) along the body’s energy pathways to help restore its natural balance.

Sometimes the needles are stimulated using an electro-acupuncture machine, similar to a tens machine.   This allows a gentle electrical stimulation to be applied to acupoints in order to reduce total treatment time.

Specially designed glass cups are placed on bare skin, and then a vacuum created within the cups using a pump.  As a result, the cup is held firmly on the skin with the aim of encouraging the flow of blood and qi to the area beneath the cup.

Cupping can be used to treat many conditions including digestive problems, respiratory conditions such as the common cold, and musculoskeletal pain of the neck shoulder and back .

Pre-sterilised disposable heads containing seven short needles are attached securely to a plastic handle and then tapped along specific regions of the body for ‘plum blossom needling’.  It can help treat a variety of conditions.  Commonly used to treat insomnia and sleep disturbances.

Natural 2mm diameter Vaccaria  seeds embedded on a 7mm square tan coloured tape are sometimes adhered to acupoints on the ear and body after a treatment.  It is a way of stimulating acupoints outside of the treatment room without inserting any needles.  The effect is enhanced if the seeds are pressed several times a day.

Gua Sha (sometimes called tribo-effleurage) involves using smooth edged massage board (made from natural horn) to apply numerous pressured strokes over an area of lubricated skin. This results in temporary colouration of the skin that will fade in 2-5 days after treatment. The change in colour of the skin (shades of  pink, red, blue or purple) is indicative of  the severity and nature of the ailments.
Gua Sha can be effective in treating many conditions including whiplash, neck and shoulder pain, headaches and lowering blood pressure.

During the first appointment a full consultation is taken.  This involves discussing the main conditions, as well as any secondary and peripheral issues you would like acupuncture to address.  Then we discuss your past medical history, family history, current medications and functions of the systems of your body (eg digestion, appetite, circulation, sleep patterns, and emotions).

Examinations of your Chinese pulses (3 locations on each wrist) and  tongue (coating, markings, colour size and shape) give an extra insight into the nature of the disharmony and help guide the treatment.

From all the information, a treatment plan is developed unique to the individual patient.  Once you have confirmed you are comfortable to start a treatment, needling is started.

This depends on many factors such as the severity of the condition, how long the symptoms have been present, lifestyle, and contributing factors. It depends on your individual condition. Some patients may need long term treatments, and occasionally just one or two sessions are required. Usually some changes are experienced after five sessions.

Because the needles are ultra thin, insertion is hardly felt at all.  There may be a momentary sharpness during needling but most people describe the sensation as a dull ache or a tingling.  It is quite different from a western injection and far less unpleasant.

Yes.  Only the highest quality pre-sterilised, single-use, disposable needles are used. All needles are discarded in a special ‘sharps container’ after use.

If acupuncture is performed by a qualified practitioner, the treatment should be safe and professional.  It is always safer to request treatments from a registered member of the British Acupuncture Council.

There may be a drop of blood on the skin when needles are removed. One dab of a cotton pad is usually enough to clear it.

Some patients feel a little tired or light headed for a short while after treatments, so it’s a good idea not to plan long drives or strenuous physical exercise immediately after a session.

After Cupping or Gua Sha there will be a temporary bruising of the skin that should completely disappear within a few days after treatment.

As a registered member of the British Acupuncture Council, certificates can be issued to any patient wishing to donate blood.   However, the condition for which acupuncture is being given may be a reason for deferral.