Frequently Asked Questions

Acupuncture is a form of healthcare that originated in ancient China some 2,500 years ago, which is now widely practiced across the world.
The focus is on the whole individual rather than on a single ailment, since the emotional, mental, and physical aspects of a person are understood to be interconnected.
Acupuncturists use a range of diagnostic approaches including observing the tongue, taking the pulse, cupping, guasha and moxibustion, but treatment predominantly involves the insertion of fine, single-use, disposable needles under the skin.

There are two ways in which this question can be answered.

The first is to use the traditional theory of acupuncture to explain how acupuncture works.

It is this theory which a traditional acupuncturist will use to understand your condition and to select the appropriate points. This theory uses the concept of qi (pronounced chee) which means energy/life force. For example, when somebody is in pain, there is considered to be a blockage in the flow of qi. A traditional acupuncturist will select points along the meridian that is affected in order to encourage the qi to flow more freely.

The overall aim is to direct the flow of qi to trigger your body’s natural healing response and to restore physical, emotional and mental equilibrium. Treatment is designed to affect your whole being as well as your symptoms so, as the condition being treated improves, you may notice other health problems resolve and it's common to experience an increased feeling of wellbeing.

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The second way to answer the question is to explain how  acupuncture works in terms of modern science. One of the first potential mechanisms and probably the most famous is the release of endorphins. However, it is unlikely that the effects of acupuncture can be attributed to a single mechanism. There are a number of possibilities which include:

1.     peripheral effects (release of adenosine and nitric oxide by axonal and dorsal root reflexes)

2.     spinal effects (modulation of sympathetic tone and motor reflexes)

3.     modulation of endogenous descending paying inhibitory and facilitatory systems

4.     changing the functional connectivity of the brain. Activation deactivation of

​a.     limbic structures involved in stress/ illness responses

b.     the hypothalamus pituitary adrenal axis

c.     the prefrontal and frontal cortices

5.     restoration of the default mode state

6.     modulation of parasympathetic activity

7.     activation of the reward and mirror systems

8.     modulation of activation of the immune system

9.     expectation, attention, conditioning an extinction of conditioned response

Before any course of acupuncture, I will conduct a comprehensive consultation taking your full medical history. In addition, I may use other traditional East Asian diagnostic techniques such as taking your pulse, looking at your tongue, palpating your abdomen and observing your face. This will provide me with the information I need to formulate the complete Chinese medical diagnosis and create an effective treatment plan tailored just for you. The consultation involves an element of physical examination, including any tender or problem areas. This diagnosis is relevant whatever your health issues may be, as it informs me about the way your individual system works and how I can best help you.

It is important that you share with me if you:

• Are taking any anticoagulants, immunosuppressants or any other medication

• Have a damaged heart or any risk of infection

• Have ever had a seizure, fainted or felt dizzy

• Have a pacemaker or any other electrical implant

Extensive research has shown that reported adverse events following acupuncture are incredibly rare and that most side effects are mild and pass very quickly. 

The most common mild side effects include

• Minor bleeding

• Bruising

• Mild pain at the site of needling

• Occasionally a short period of aggravation of symptoms before improvement - what I call a healing crisis

• Drowsiness, tiredness, feeling relaxed

• Fainting during treatment, although this is very rare and usually only on the first treatment

Most people feel pleasantly relaxed and experience no side effects at all.

This really depends and varies on how long you have had your condition. Usually the longer you've had the complaint the more treatment you will need, however, I have achieved significant improvement in lower back pain within a few treatments even though the patient had the pain for 40 years. As a general rule of thumb, its best to start a course of treatment by having 3-4 treatments weekly and then we start to space the treatments out because acupuncture has an accumulative effect.

I use fine, sterilised, single-use needles for your treatment. The needles I use are mostly under a quarter of a millimetre in diameter, similar to a hair thickness. Most people notice a slight tingling with the initial insertion, this quickly passes and then they find the whole experience very relaxing.

This varies on the patient, age and standard of health are a factor but it averages at around 20 minutes. Sometimes I will insert and remove the needles within a few seconds or only leave them in for 5 mins. This will also depend of the style of acupuncture and needle technique I'll be using.

The first session is 90 minutes (£80) as I need to ask you a lot of questions, some which may seem unrelated to your main complaint but are essential for me to understand your constitution and energy. Then I can formulate a full diagnosis and therefore choose the most relevant acupuncture points for you. Subsequent treatments are an hour (£55).

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is often thought of as what is taught in China, but this reality is uncertain because the Chinese medicine practiced in China can be incredibly diverse. This is the real strength of Chinese medicine, as it has so many different techniques that can treat our ailments. There is not just one treatment for all, but many different avenues that can be taken. It is part of the practitioners job to correctly diagnose what works for each individual patient. TCM encompasses many of these different techniques and uses a modality of differentiation of disease in order to pursue which is the correct form of treatment for every person.

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​Five Element acupuncture encompasses the ancient Chinese understanding of the relationship of the five elements (or phases) and how these relationships bring about the world we inhabit. The five elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water, all of which encompass different aspects of us and the world. An example of this can be seen in the seasons;

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Spring is the energy of the Wood element, summer is Fire, late summer is Earth, autumn is Metal and winter is Water.

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As the relationship of these seasons gives us a harmonious year, so too is this relationship seen in our bodies to give us health. These elements also correspond to the flow of our emotions;

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Joy is our Fire energy, Anger is Wood, Sympathy is Earth, Grief is Metal and Fear is Water.

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Five Element theory explains that at times it is appropriate to show these emotions. However, how appropriately and smoothly we flow through these emotions, without getting stuck in any one particular emotion, shows how balanced the elements are within us.

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Five Element acupuncture works to balance these elements by enabling us to become more appropriate in ourselves. Working on the emotional, mental and spiritual level, this form of acupuncture can be revolutionary and have fantastic results for people who may not be able to explain how or what they are feeling or feel generally unwell and tired but have no obvious diagnosis.

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Using both TCM and Five Element acupuncture together clears blockages that manifest on all four levels, (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.) Enabling us to get to the root cause of the problem and treat the individual as a whole.

Master Tung's acupuncture is a distinct and renowned system of acupuncture originating from Master Tung Ching-Chang, a highly skilled acupuncturist in Taiwan during the 20th century. This system is celebrated for its simplicity, effectiveness, and unique set of points that differ significantly from traditional Chinese acupuncture.

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Key features of Tung acupuncture:

1. Unique Points:

   • Master Tung's system uses a set of acupuncture points that are often located away from the area of pain or dysfunction. These points are not commonly found in traditional meridian-based acupuncture and are referred to as "extra points."

   • The system includes approximately 740 unique points, organized in a simple and logical manner.

2. Systemic Approach:

   • Unlike TCM, which often focuses on local needling, Master Tung's acupuncture emphasizes distal points, which can influence corresponding areas of the body through energetic pathways.

3. Three Regions and Five Zones:

   • Points are categorized into regions and zones, making diagnosis and treatment more efficient.

4. Immediate Results:

   • Practitioners often report that Tung's points provide quick relief from pain and other symptoms.

5. Minimal Needling:

   • It typically involves fewer needles compared to traditional Chinese acupuncture, with a focus on achieving maximum results with minimal intervention.

6. Balancing Systems:

   • The system integrates principles like yin-yang balance and the five elements, but with a unique interpretation distinct from traditional TCM.

I trained at the prestigious College Of Integrated Chinese Medicine in Reading, UK from 2014-2017 for 3.5 years and gained a Licentiate and BSc(Hons) from Kingston University in Acupuncture. These are two highly recognised qualifications in Acupuncture. I have also completed Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in Paediatric acupuncture, Chinese Medicine Face Reading and I am a qualified Ayurvedic Lifestyle Advisor from the Ayurveda Academy. Since 2017 I have worked in my own busy clinic 4 days a week seeing a huge range of conditions. If you would like to know about my experience with a certain complaint feel free to email me.

A few conditions I find particularly satisfying to treat (because we can get such fast and dramatic results) are neck/lower back/sciatica pain, Migraines and TMJ/jaw issues.

Acupuncture is an evidence-based medicine that can be used to help with a variety of ailments, and these include but are not limited to:

Post-operative and chronic pain 

Anxiety
Depression
Sciatica / lower back pain

Neck pain
Irritable bowel syndrome
Cancer-related fatigue

Cancer treatment side effects
Insomnia
Fertility Issues
Chronic tension type headaches / migraines

TMJ/Jaw Issues

Peri-menopausal symptoms

Atrial Fibrillation

Early onset Macular Degeneration (please contact me for more information about this)
A more extensive list is available at the Evidence Based Acupuncture website.

See above, 'How much experience do you have?'

Loose clothing so you can roll up your sleeves and trousers easily. If you wear a bra its helpful if the clasp opens at the back so If I need to needle the back I can without you having to remove it.

It is always helpful to keep hydrated but the main thing I'd like you to do is just keep a few mental notes of how you feel after treatment, pay particular attention to how you feel straight away, any changes to your symptoms, if so how have they changed? And for how long did it last? Without this information you won't get the most out of treatment because the only way I know I am on the right track with your diagnosis is from hearing how you respond to treatment. Also please note there is the possibility you might feel sleepy after your first few treatments this is usually only on the day of treatment and the next day you feel more energised! (This is more common if you have not had any form of energy medicine before).

I currently practice in Marlborough & Salisbury, Wiltshire. Both locations have free onsite parking

Marlborough Clinic (Mondays, Tuesday mornings, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays)

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Elcot Park, Alton West

Elcot Lane,

Marlborough,

SN8 2BG

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Salisbury Clinic (Tuesdays)

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Edwardian Lodge,

59 Castle Road,

Salisbury,

SP1 3RH

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Before booking your appointment it is important to check with your private health insurer to confirm that your treatment will be covered by your policy as this can be subject to change but as a member of the Association of Acupuncture Clinicians (AAC) I should be recognised by the following private health insurers...

Ayurveda is an ancient system of medicine from India that focuses on balancing the body, mind, and spirit. It uses natural methods such as diet, herbal remedies, and lifestyle adjustments tailored to an individual’s unique constitution (dosha).

Ayurveda can help you by promoting overall well-being, improving digestion, reducing stress, managing chronic conditions, and enhancing vitality. It treats the root causes of health issues rather than just symptoms, aiming for long-term health and harmony.

Face reading is an ancient practice, primarily rooted in Chinese medicine, that interprets facial features to understand a person’s physical, emotional, and psychological state. By examining characteristics like facial lines, skin tone, and the structure of facial features, face reading can provide insights into a person's health, personality, and even life experiences.

This technique can help you gain a deeper understanding of your own emotional well-being, uncover imbalances in your health, and support personalised treatment plans in conjunction with therapies like acupuncture. It’s a holistic approach that aims to bring awareness to how emotional and physical health and symptoms are interconnected.