FAQ - Frequently asked questions

While acupuncture is a versatile and effective treatment for many conditions, it is not a cure-all. Acupuncture may not be suitable for treating severe or life-threatening conditions such as cancer, serious infections, or major organ failure.

It is also not a replacement for emergency medical care. However, acupuncture can be used as a complementary therapy to support conventional treatments and improve overall well-being.

Always consult with a healthcare professional to determine the best treatment plan for your specific health needs.

Yes, acupuncture can help reduce facial puffiness. Facial acupuncture, also known as cosmetic acupuncture, involves the insertion of fine needles into specific points on the face.

This stimulates blood flow, encourages the production of collagen, and promotes lymphatic drainage, which can help reduce swelling and puffiness.

Additionally, facial acupuncture can improve skin tone and texture, giving you a more youthful and radiant appearance.

All first appointments are a full hour of discussion on your whole health. In all other sessions, your pulse is always taken, and often you will be asked to poke out your tongue. The diagnosis is couched in terms such as deficiencies of yin and yang or imbalances or invasions of dampness or heat. You'll hear terms like "phlegm fire harassing upwards" or "stagnation of liver qi."

After that the needles are inserted into various points. They may be twisted or twirled slightly until you feel the slight "ache" or initial "grab" that goes with the energy being stimulated.

Then you do not know that they are there. Most of the time you will just snooze while the needles do their job. The acupuncturist will not necessarily stay with you the whole time and leave you to rest, though are always a voice call away.

You could stay there for 20 minutes or an hour depending on what your body needs.

When the needles first go in, it can feel more like a tap than a prick as the needles are so thin.

The sensation when the energy is "drawn up" is more like a momentary ache rather than a pain, and is easily tolerable.

Once the needles are in and tweaked (in seconds) you don't feel them.

Possibly the best description about the difference between western medicine and TCM is this from Harriet Beinfield, co author of Between Heaven and Earth:

“Western Doctors are hunters, they identify and isolate sickness, and take it out. Chinese Doctors are gardeners – they nurture the body and help it thrive.”

Acupuncture is safe and natural. Our expertise and sourcing of only high quality patent Chinese Herb formulas means you are in very safe hands.

Yes, acupuncture can be an effective treatment for a sprained ankle. Acupuncture works by stimulating specific points on the body to promote natural healing and reduce inflammation. For a sprained ankle, acupuncture can help to:

Reduce Swelling and Inflammation:

By improving circulation and promoting the flow of blood and oxygen to the affected area, acupuncture can help to lessen swelling and inflammation.

Alleviate Pain:

Acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, which can provide immediate pain relief.

Improve Mobility:

Regular acupuncture sessions can help restore mobility and function to the injured ankle by reducing stiffness and promoting healing.

It’s important to seek medical advice for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Acupuncture can be used alongside conventional treatments such as rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) to enhance recovery.

Always consult with a healthcare professional to determine the best approach for your specific condition.

Yes, acupuncture can be highly effective in helping with both stress and insomnia.

Acupuncture for Stress Relief

Acupuncture works by stimulating specific points on the body, known as acupuncture points, to balance the flow of energy (Qi) and promote relaxation.

By calming the nervous system and reducing stress hormones like cortisol, acupuncture helps alleviate anxiety and tension. This holistic approach not only addresses the physical symptoms of stress but also promotes emotional and mental well-being.

Acupuncture for Insomnia

Acupuncture can also be beneficial for those struggling with insomnia. By targeting specific acupuncture points, the treatment helps regulate the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle and improve sleep quality.

Acupuncture has been shown to increase the production of neurotransmitters such as melatonin and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which play a crucial role in promoting restful sleep.

Regular acupuncture sessions can help reduce the frequency of night wakings, increase total sleep time, and improve overall sleep efficiency.

Acupuncture, which is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is fast becoming part of mainstream medicine.

Acupuncture has been known to work astonishingly well to relieve problems such as pain, fatigue, and depression that Western medicine struggles to find causes or pills for.

How can we explain television footage showing a man sipping orange juice while having part of his lung removed?

How can it be that needles can soothe post-operative pain as well as morphine?

Science is a long way for explaining why it happens.

Researchers have, however, been able to measure an increase in endorphins and anti-inflammatory agents following acupuncture treatment.

New quantum science theories now contradict many of the natural laws we had “evidence” to believe. It would seem that nothing is truly static.

Everything is in a state of “becoming”, everything exists in relationship to other things, and everything is in its basic form, energy.

This is what the ancient Taoist philosophers believed. They called this energy “Qi” (pronounced chee) – the one vital life energy which has many changing forms.

Acupuncture is about moving Qi around, unplugging blocks, balancing it all up. We may not know exactly how it works, but it does.

Tiny, tiny, tiny. They are about as fine as a cat's whisker and almost as flexible. A far cry from the bamboo strips or jade slivers of old - or even the average small hypodermic needle.

Yes, and they tend to react very quickly to treatment.

It has been traced as far back to 1000BC. It has only been known in the West since the 17th Century.