Are you a registered practitioner? 

I am a fully qualified acupuncturist (Licentiate In Acupuncture – LicAc) and herbalist (Licentiate in Oriental Herbal Medicine – LicOHM). I belong to the regulatory bodies for these professions – I am a Fellow of the British Acupuncture Council (FBAcC), the British Medical Acupuncture Society (BMAS), and the Register for Chinese Herbal Medicine (MRCHM). Members of these bodies uphold a strict code of ethics and accountability.

I am also registered with Waverly Borough Council – Certificates of Registration numbers 125 (practitioner) and 126 (premises).

Is acupuncture safe? 

Yes. As long as you are being treated by a practitioner who is a member of the British Acupuncture Council (MBAcC), you can be sure that your therapist has completed a thorough training in Traditional Acupuncture and appropriate Western Medical Sciences. Look for the letters MBAcC after a practitioner’s name. I am a Fellow, which makes my title FBAcC.

Does acupuncture hurt? 

No. Acupuncture needles are so fine that the prick of the needle as it goes through the skin is barely felt. As the needle begins to affect the Qi (energy) of the body an unusual sensation may be felt – like numbness or a tingling sensation.

Will I need to get completely undressed? 

No. You will only need to expose certain parts of your body. Some needles may need to be inserted into the abdomen or back, but your underwear will always stay on and you will be covered by drapes so that only the part of the body to be worked on is visible.

It is best to wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes when coming for treatment.

What happens on the first visit?

Initial consultations with me usually take about one hour and fifteen minutes.

For the first half hour I will ask you detailed questions about your medical history, menstrual cycle, previous pregnancies, miscarriages, terminations, and use of the contraceptive pill. Traditional Chinese Medicine is quite different from Western medicine in that rather than just focusing on the area in need of treatment, it looks at the person holistically to try and ascertain why that particular person has the problem they do. I will collect detailed information on your lifestyle, diet, energy levels, sleep patterns, and emotional life.

If you have undergone any Western medical tests of your hormone levels or sperm, please bring the results along. If you are taking any medication (either in relation to your cycle, IVF, or any other medical condition), please bring a list of it them your first consultation. Your pulse will be taken and you tongue examined.

Once there is enough information to make a diagnosis, I will be asked to lie on the bed and the treatment will get underway. Please be sure to wear loose and comfortable clothing to enable easy access to the acupuncture points on your arms and legs.

What does acupuncture feel like?

Acupuncture needles are extremely fine – so fine that the prick of the needle as it goes through the skin is barely felt. As the needle begins to have an effect on your energy, you may feel an unusual sensation – like numbness or tingling.

Needles are frequently left in place for up to twenty minutes, depending upon the effect required. The needles come sealed in sterile, individual packs and are used once only, then disposed of.

Will I have to take herbs?

Not necessarily; this will depend on your diagnosis.

Is Chinese Herbal Medicine safe? 

Chinese Herbal Medicine is completely safe when prescribed properly by a fully qualified practitioner. Herbalists have an unbroken tradition dating back over thousands of years, and great emphasis has always been placed on making sure that treatments are safe and effective. Given these safeguards, serious adverse reactions are extremely rare occurrences. Make sure that you only accept Chinese herbs from a member of the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine.