Home/Your visit & FAQ
Your visit, and frequently asked questions
What to expect when you come for acupuncture, and answers to the questions I’m asked most often.
Your first appointment
Your first appointment lasts about 75 minutes. I’ll ask about your current symptoms and how they affect your day-to-day life, the treatment you’ve had so far, and your medical history. I’ll also ask about things that may seem unrelated, such as your sleep, digestion, energy, diet and mood, because in Chinese medicine they help build a picture of your overall health. I’ll feel your pulses on both wrists, which is a traditional guide to diagnosis.
Once I have a clear picture, I’ll explain what I’d suggest and why, and treatment begins in that same session.
You stay dressed throughout. You’ll lie on a comfortable treatment couch, and most of the points I use can be reached by rolling up a sleeve or trouser leg. If I need to work on another area, such as your back or abdomen, I’ll explain first and uncover only that small area.
What does acupuncture feel like?
An acupuncture needle bears no resemblance to the needles used for injections or blood tests. It is about as fine as a hair, and solid rather than hollow. As it goes in you may feel a dull ache, a tingle, warmth or heaviness, and some people feel nothing at all. It shouldn’t feel sharp or painful, and if it ever does, I’ll adjust it.
Needles usually stay in for 20 to 30 minutes while you rest. Most people find treatment very relaxing, and many fall asleep.
“I had never had acupuncture before and was a bit sceptical. I found it very relaxing and not at all painful or uncomfortable.”
Frequently asked questions
I’m nervous of needles. Can I still have acupuncture?
Yes. Many of my patients are. I’m trained in a range of gentle techniques that use very few needles, and we can go at your pace.
Is acupuncture safe?
Acupuncture is very safe in the hands of a qualified practitioner. I use single-use, sterile, disposable needles and follow the British Acupuncture Council’s code of safe practice. Side effects are uncommon and usually minor, such as slight bruising or feeling tired after treatment.
Please tell me about any medicines you take and any medical conditions, especially if you are pregnant, take blood-thinning medication or have a bleeding disorder.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on what you’re coming for and how long you’ve had it. Most people start with weekly sessions. As a rough guide, a problem you’ve had for a few months often needs a similar number of weekly treatments. For longer-standing conditions I usually suggest a course of six to ten weekly sessions, after which some people come every four to six weeks to keep things on track.
Acupuncture is usually given as a course, because its effects tend to build from one session to the next. I’ll review progress with you regularly.
How long are sessions, and how much do they cost?
First appointments last about 75 minutes, and follow-up sessions 50 to 60 minutes. Please get in touch for current prices.
Can I have acupuncture alongside my medical treatment?
What should I wear, and should I eat beforehand?
Loose, comfortable clothing that rolls up easily at the arms and legs is best. Have a light meal an hour or two before, rather than arriving hungry or straight after a large meal, and avoid alcohol on the day of treatment.
Where are you?
I practise from a quiet, private treatment room in Highgate, London N6, well served by the Northern line and local buses. I’ll send you the full address and directions when you book.
Can I claim on my health insurance?
I don’t bill insurance companies directly. If your private or workplace health insurance covers acupuncture, you can pay for your sessions as usual and claim the cost back from your insurer yourself. I’m happy to give you an invoice or receipt to send them.
What if I need to cancel?
I keep your appointment time free for you, so if you need to cancel or rearrange, please give me at least 24 hours’ notice. With less notice than that, I’ll ask you to pay for the session.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture has been developed and refined in China and East Asia over more than 2,000 years. In traditional Chinese medicine, good health depends on the smooth flow of qi, the energy that animates us, through a network of channels known as meridians, and on a balance between yin and yang. Along these channels lie points where qi is said to gather, each with its own particular action. By stimulating carefully chosen points, an acupuncturist aims to restore that flow and balance.
From a modern scientific perspective, research suggests that acupuncture works largely through the nervous system. Stimulating nerves in the skin and muscle appears to change the way pain signals travel to the brain, and to prompt the release of endorphins, the body’s own natural painkillers. Brain-imaging studies have also shown measurable changes in brain activity during acupuncture.
Acupuncture in the UK
Acupuncture is widely used in the UK, by traditional acupuncturists and by doctors, physiotherapists and other health professionals. It is offered in some NHS pain clinics, and NICE guidance includes acupuncture as an option for chronic primary pain and for preventing chronic tension-type headaches and migraine.