Harnessing the potential of ancient healing wisdom, with the help of modern science.
Whether it’s your first acupuncture treatment or you’ve been treated for years, my goal is to support you in reaching your health and wellness goals and allow you to feel completely at ease in the treatment room.
Here’s an idea of what you can expect when you come for treatment, and answers to some common questions.
What to Expect During Treatment
Initial Consultation.
Your initial consultation is where we build a comprehensive picture of your health and medical history to inform your treatment. You will be asked to complete some short questions prior to your appointment via an easy-to-use online form, and during our consultation I will ask you a series of questions about your general health, symptoms and wellness goals. The aim is to build a rich view of your whole health picture and allow for the best possible assessment of what underlying disharmony might be at the root of your symptoms.
Making a Personalised Plan.
With a clear picture of your health and your goals established, a customised acupuncture treatment plan will be created for you. Together we can discuss your Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis and how your treatment plan puts your health goals at its core. You will typically be recommended a series of treatments best suited to make progress to your goals - many patients might come weekly for 6 to 10 treatments, but depending on your unique health picture we may vary the number and frequency to optimise your treatment. Your treatment plan may include dietary, lifestyle or self-help advice from within the Chinese Medicine framework to support your goals.
First Treatment.
The clinic environment at Life + Lemons in Sharrow Vale provides the ultimate calming and healing space for your treatment, providing best in class provision for both your safety and comfort. We’ll start with a quick review including evaluation of your tongue and pulse which provide invaluable insight into your internal health. Once comfortable on the couch, ultra-fine needles are inserted at specific points on the body selected to meet your needs. Needles are left in for around 20 minutes, during which time you can totally relax and restore. Additional treatments like cupping, moxa and gua sha can also be used before or after acupuncture if appropriate to your needs.
Getting Results.
Following treatment, most people report feeling very calm and relaxed. You may feel a little tired directly after treatment and may wish to plan accordingly. While the effects of acupuncture are cumulative, most patients can expect to feel initial improvement after the first treatment - you may notice shifts in your energy, digestion, sleep or mood as well as primary symptoms. Your treatment is kept under continual review to ensure we are progressing to your goals; we can make adjustments to optimise your results and provide bespoke advice and referrals if called for. You can expect your treatment to be a space where you are fully consulted, informed and heard and where restoring your best self is at the heart of all we do.
"Chinese medicine is big on prevention alongside cure. Once they are well, many clients continue to combine regular acupuncture with mindful living to maintain balance and health."
— VOGUE MAGAZINE, 2019
FAQs
Am I a good candidate for acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a fantastic modality for treating a whole range of conditions. Feel free to contact me for a free initial conversation to discuss whether acupuncture is a good match for your needs.
When can I come for treatment?
I am currently practising at the Fiveways Therapy Centre on Thursdays only from 10am to 9pm.
Initial consultations (virtual) also available on other days by arrangement - use the booking form or contact me.
Will it hurt?
Patients often feel the sensation of the needle being inserted but this is typically not unpleasant and rarely described as painful. Acupuncture needles are ultra-fine - one study of acupuncture in the treatment of infants found that even when sleeping during treatment, babies rarely woke up!
Is your clinic COVID-19 safe?
Absolutely - the health and safety of patients and our community is paramount. As the external environment evolves, you can trust that your treatment is following the highest standards and latest guidance from government and our professional bodies, and procedures in clinic are regularly reviewed to ensure best practice is followed.
In turn, I ask that patients remain mindful and get in touch at the earliest opportunity prior to your appointment if you have become unwell and cannot attend.
How does it work?
There are some fascinating and continually evolving answers to this question; medical research helps us understand more all the time about the underlying mechanism of acupuncture. Insertion of needles at specific points, put simply, prompts your body to direct its attention to the imbalance - whether through direct musculoskeletal effects, promoting blood flow, or prompting a shift in your nervous system responses and hormone balance.
Can I have acupuncture alongside other medical treatment?
Typically, yes - and more than that acupuncture has been proven as an effective adjunct treatment in many conditions that helps improve the outcomes of usual care.
Be sure to tell me of any existing conditions and medications during your initial consultation, and I can advise appropriately and consult with your clinician if needed to coordinate your care.