have you got questions about acupuncture?

+ What are the benefits of acupuncture?

Acupuncture has minimal side effects and is very safe when performed by a qualified practitioner. This is especially beneficial during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or when seeking natural treatment options.
It provides holistic and individualised care by addressing underlying patterns rather than just symptoms, which is particularly valuable when conventional medicine hasn't fully addressed your concerns.
Because acupuncture treats the body as an interconnected system, patients often experience improvements in seemingly unrelated areas - better sleep, mood, energy, or relief from other health concerns alongside their primary issue.
Acupuncture also works seamlessly with conventional treatments, providing additional support rather than requiring you to choose between approaches.

+ What does acupuncture treat

Traditional East Asian medicine, like Western medicine, is a comprehensive medical system that addresses countless health conditions – listing them all would be endless. To show some of the conditions it can treat, the World Health Organisation has identified many conditions that respond well to acupuncture including:

Digestive: Gastritis, IBS, Hepatitis, Hemorrhoids, Nausea & morning sickness, Peptic ulcer, Ulcerative colitis
Mental-emotional: Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia, Stress
Genitourinary: Menstrual pain, PCOS, Endometriosis, UTI, Infertility, Sexual dysfunction, PMS, Bladder dysfunction, Irritable bladder, Prostatitis, Renal colic
Musculoskeletal: Arthritis, Sciatica, Back pain, Knee pain, Neck pain, Tennis elbow, Muscle pain and weakness, TMJ, Osteoarthritis, Gout
Neurological: Headaches, Migraines, Bell's palsy, Parkinson's disease, Restless legs syndrome, Stroke, Vascular dementia
Respiratory: Sinusitis, Bronchitis, Rhinitis, Hayfever, Asthma, Tonsillitis, Whooping cough
Pain: Fibromyalgia, Cancer pain, Postoperative pain, Dental pain, Earache
Other conditions: Diabetes, Obesity, Acne, Hyper/Hypotension, Raynaud syndrome, Lactation deficiency, Radiation/chemo reactions

+ How often do I need acupuncture?

The number of treatments varies depending on your condition and how quickly your body responds to acupuncture. Acute conditions often improve within a few sessions, whilst chronic issues may require more time and regular treatment. Many people also use acupuncture for general wellbeing and prevention to maintain their health or to manage chronic conditions.

I typically recommend starting with 4 weekly sessions to assess how your body responds to treatment. The tailored treatment plan can then be adjusted to more weekly sessions, biweekly, monthly, or seasonally, depending on your progress and needs.

Consistent treatment is most effective, as research has shown that acupuncture works cumulatively. To support and make regular treatment more accessible, I provide loyalty cards with cumulative discounts.

If there is no significant improvement during the course of the treatment, I refer patients to other practitioners or treatment modalities better suited to their needs. My priority is ensuring the most appropriate care.

+ How does acupuncture work from a western viewpoint?

Decades of clinical research, randomised controlled trials, and systematic reviews have produced robust evidence supporting acupuncture's effectiveness.

Research shows acupuncture points have unique properties and different points produce distinct physiological effects (1). When needles are inserted at these specific points, they stimulate particular nerve fibres which send targeted signals to the spinal cord and brain. This triggers the release of natural chemicals like endorphins and enkephalins, which can block pain signals and trigger anti-inflammatory responses throughout the body (2). Locally, it also stimulates fascial structures and increases blood flow to enable quicker healing (3).

Acupuncture stimulates neurotransmitters and hormones such as serotonin, dopamine, and cortisol, helping regulate the body's functions to achieve homeostasis, mood and wellbeing (4). Brain imaging shows measurable changes in specific brain regions when needles are inserted, demonstrating that acupuncture influences the autonomic nervous system, controlling heart rate, heart rate variability, blood pressure, and breathing (5). This is why you feel so relaxed after an acupuncture treatment. Research also shows that it can influence brain structure, with changes persisting even after three months (6).

1. Liu S, Wang Z, Su Y, et al (2021). A neuroanatomical basis for electroacupuncture to drive the vagal–adrenal axis. Nature; 598

2. Lund I, Lundeberg T (2016). Mechanisms of acupuncture. Acupunct Relat Ther; 4(4)

3. Reference

4. Reference

+ What happens during a treatment?

Initial consultation – We start with in-depth questions about your health history, lifestyle and current health concern to help develop a working diagnosis. If there are areas you don't wish to discuss, that's fine and we can work around it.
Examination – East Asian medicine diagnostic tools are used, such as pulse taking, palpation, and examining the tongue to confirm diagnosis.
Treatment – As you rest on the treatment bed, needles will be placed at specific points, usually on the arms, legs, abdomen, or back. Any areas you feel uncomfortable having needled will be avoided. You'll then be resting for about 20 minutes whilst the needles do their work.

Additional techniques – Other methods may complement your treatment, such as moxa (warming herbs), cupping (suction therapy), gua sha (gentle scraping technique), or traditional East Asian lifestyle and dietary advice.

+ How does acupuncture feel like?

Most people experience acupuncture as distinctly calming. The sterile acupuncture needles are so fine that approximately 20 could fit inside a hypodermic syringe needle used for injections. You may occasionally feel a dull ache, tingling, or a sensation of warmth when the needles are inserted. These sensations are normal responses and typically indicate that the body is responding to treatment.

+ Is your practice accessible for people with disabilities?

I'm committed to making acupuncture accessible to everyone. Wherever possible, I'll adapt my approach to meet your specific needs - let's discuss any requirements before your appointment so I can prepare accordingly.

Accessibility at the Albany:

Fully accessible via lift with accessible toilets
Step-free public transport: Deptford, New Cross, and Deptford Bridge stations
Disabled parking at the rear of the building
Blue Badge parking spaces in Frankham Street car park
Drop-off point for cars and taxis on Idonia Street
Assistance animals welcome in all spaces

+ How do you ensure ethical and inclusive treatment?

My practice has a strong commitment to offering care that is inclusive and ethical, whilst honouring the cultural origins of this medicine. My aim is to create a welcoming, safe environment for all identities, bodies, and health conditions – acknowledging how race, ethnicity, gender, class, sexuality, disability, and age intersect our experiences. Consent and trauma awareness will always inform my treatment approach. Please get in touch to discuss any specific needs so we can make appropriate arrangements together.

I'm always learning about how to provide better care and welcome conversations about how I can improve accessibility and inclusivity in my practice.

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