After treatment some patients feel relaxed, others a little tired or drowsy for a short while, especially after the first few treatments. Most feel nothing at all, but your initial response is not a reflection of the effectiveness of the treatment. On rare occasions a worsening of a symptom can occur, eg, a headache getting worse, but this is temporary and seems to be part of the ‘clearing process’ that some people have to go through.
This involves a full traditional diagnosis, where a detailed case history will be taken. Questions will be asked about your main complaint and other aspects of your health and life to build a clear picture of your physical, mental and emotional state.
This takes up to 60 minutes and will include your first treatment. A physical examination may be required depending on your complaint. In all cases your wrist pulses and tongue will be read to assess your energetic state.
The length of treatments can vary, but commonly take between 30 and 40 minutes. Your progress so far will be evaluated and a treatment will be formulated to match your current state. During treatments the pulses may be felt several times as they give an immediate indication as to the effect of the acupuncture. Commonly a herb called moxa will be burnt over an acupuncture point to warm or move Qi and Tui na massage and electro-acupuncture may be used for painful conditions.
The needles used are extremely fine compared to those used for injections or taking blood or even a pin. As a result most people feel very little. Occasionally, a fleeting sharp sensation may be felt on insertion or if the needles need to manipulated during treatment, especially in more sensitive areas of the body such as the hands or feet, or when a muscle is very tense. Sometimes descriptions such as ‘grabbing’, ‘dull’, ‘aching’, ‘tingling’ or ‘electric’ are used by patients.
Sometimes the effects are dramatic and only a few treatments are needed. For some others the effects are more subtle and may require treatments over several months. This is especially so if the complaint has been present for a long time and is chronic in nature. Apart from infertility treatment, some signs of improvement should be noticed within 4 or 5 treatments, otherwise I generally advise patients to stop. Initially treatments should be no more than a week apart, sometimes 2 in the first week, but soon spread out as progress is made.
Used only occasionally in my practice, these are herbs in formulae that are safely and commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and always in conjunction with acupuncture. The herbs are easy to take and do not leave a bitter taste as they are either in pill form (usually small balls called ‘tea pills’) or capsules. Only Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) registered patents are used. This ensures:
1) The herbs are grown with no chemicals or pesticides.
2) The herbs are checked for correct variety and species.
3) Strict storage methods.
4) Strict hygiene requirements.
5) Production methods follow government guidelines.
6) The pills are tested to ensure the active ingredients have remained undamaged and in the correct proportions.
The GMP certification can only be achieved in the USA or Australia and hence production is measured against Western standards.
Adverse affects are rare and mild because only tried and tested formulae are used and in safe doses to suit the individual. The effects of herbal patents are gentle and most need to be taken for several months to gain the full benefit. In this way they are more akin to food supplements than prescribed drugs, which have much stronger actions and hence more adverse effects. Most patent herbal remedies can however be taken safely with other medication. As a qualified practitioner, I will only prescribe when it is safe to do so.
Only single use disposable needles are used.
Moxa burning over an acupuncture point
Q & A’s on the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) website. Also, general info about treatment and a brief history of acupuncture.
