Acupuncture

Many people have acupuncture for help with specific symptoms or to relieve specific pains like osteoarthritis of the knee.

Some use acupuncture because they feel generally unwell but have no obvious diagnosis.

Others choose acupuncture simply to enhance their feeling of wellbeing.

Some people turn to acupuncture for help with a specific symptom or condition.  Others choose to have treatment to help maintain good health, as a preventive measure, or simply to improve their general sense of wellbeing.  Because traditional acupuncture aims to treat the whole person rather than specific symptoms in isolation, it can be effective for a range of conditions.

Remember that acupuncturists treat the person, not just the condition which they have, so each patient’s treatment plan will be different.  However, you can always ask your practitioner about other patients’ experiences, to give you an idea of what to expect.  Many people return to acupuncture again and again because they find it so beneficial and relaxing.

In acupuncture, diagnosis is made through detailed consultation, observation of the tongue and pulses, and sometimes through gentle abdominal examination. On your first visit, a full case history will be taken, covering your medical background and any previous treatment you may have had.

It won’t surprise you to know that you may be asked to undress to expose areas for needles.

Remember, you can ask Sharon questions at any time – it’s really important to us that you are happy with the treatment.

This is probably the most commonly asked question and the hardest to answer! Acupuncture needles are extremely fine (about the thickness of two hairs!) and not usually painful. The most common description of being needled is a dull ache or a tingling sensation.

All acupuncturists need to be registered with the British Acupuncture Council.

All our practitioners are registered with their appropriate governing bodies.

Sharon also lectures and supervises students at The Acupuncture Academy in Lemington Spa.

During the initial consultation you will need to undress down to your underwear but a blanket is provided and only the areas needed are exposed. You are always left in privacy whilst undressing.

During subsequent treatments only the area Sharon is working on will need exposing.

If you’re not sure whether you can claim on your insurance please do call the company in advance and find out.

The most important thing is that you need to check whether you need a GP referral before coming to us.  Most insurance companies don’t require a GP referral, but some do.

Once you’ve got the Ok from your insurance company we ask that you pay us after each appointment and then claim the money back from your insurance company yourself.

Of course you can!   We are very happy for you to have somebody in the treatment room with you.

We are quite used to families coming together or parents bringing kids with them.  In fact Sharon, some of the osteopaths and Gill, the Rythmic Movement Therapist, all work with very young children and babies, so we even have a toy box in most rooms.

This does vary depending on the condition but Sharon’s goal is to carry out as few treatments as possible.

At the start of each session Sharon reviews your progress and together you decide on your next appointment.

Not without discussing it with your GP.

We encourage all patients to tell their GP about any treatment they are having, but it is up to you.

Yes, you can.

Acupuncture is often used during pregnancy and Sharon has undertaken extra training with midwife and acupuncturist Debra Betts on treating through pregnancy.

The needles used are very fine and insertion is usually pain free. Sometimes a sensation is felt after the needle is inserted, but this quickly passes. It can be a dull ache, slight sting or pulling sensation.

How you feel after treatment depends on a lot of things.  Some people feel calm and relaxed, others may feel tired or light headed, but this is usually short-lived.

Sometimes symptoms are worse for a period afterwards but this is temporary and will pass with subsequent treatments.

Initially patients ask for cosmetic acupuncture as they like to look their best. Characteristically, after about seven treatments they start to feel better on the inside and note that there is something far more profound in treatment than wanting to improve their appearance. They very often say that that they feel relaxed and revitalized after a treatment.

A course of between 10-12 weekly treatments is recommended followed by regular monthly top ups to prolong any effect for five to ten years.
It does not aim to replace surgery as it cannot reshape bone but it is a natural alternative to enhance wellbeing.

Needles are inserted below the knees and elbows, as well as targeted areas on the face and neck. They are left in for around 15-20 minutes. This is then followed by a Tui-Na facial massage.

If you are interested in a course of treatment then please consult Sharon and she can advise you of a treatment plan according to your areas of concern.

All acupuncture points on the body can be found on the hand so Korean Hand Therapy is a micro system of acupuncture.

Korean Hand Acupuncture is ideal for patients who may have a needle phobia as acupressure or moxa (stimulating the points with heat) can be used instead of or along side very small needles.

Another advantage is that if you have reduced mobility you do not need to actually get on a couch or undress. So it is suitable for all age groups including children.

Auricular therapy is used for both diagnosis and treatment as it is a very powerful micro system of acupuncture. It can be combined with body acupuncture and Korean Hand Therapy to get optimum results.

Very short needles can be inserted using a special tool that can make it pain free or acupressure is used with ear seeds, magnets or balls for gentle stimulation.

There has been research done into the use of ear acupuncture specifically around drug abuse, obesity, insomnia and acute pain syndromes. In fact some prison officers are trained in basic detox treatments to assist inmates with drug related issues.