Is acupuncture safe?

Yes, acupuncture is safe. Acupuncture needles are made from sterile stainless steel and are single use so that the risk of contamination or infection is eliminated. Claire Watkins Acupuncture follows the safe practice guidelines outlined by The British Acupuncture Council and has an operating licence from Durham County Council which ensures that the highest standards of hygiene are upheld. 

The York acupuncture safety study (MacPherson et al., 2001) was published in the British Medical Journal in 2001 and reviews the safety of acupuncture. This prospective survey of 34 000 treatments by traditional acupuncturists, concluded that “Comparison of this adverse event rate for acupuncture with those of drugs routinely prescribed in primary care suggests that acupuncture is a relatively safe form of treatment”.

Does acupuncture hurt?

Acupuncture needles are very fine and you don’t usually feel them as they are inserted. This is because some acupuncture needles are as fine as a human hair. Some patients have described needle insertion feeling like a small nip in more sensitive locations.

Once the needles are inserted you may feel a warmth, tingling or a dull ache, this is a therapeutic feeling and described in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as ‘De-Qi’. Deeply rooted in ancient Chinese literature is the concept of the “arrival of energy” or Qi during acupuncture, also known as De-Qi. This sensation can be obtained by various needle manipulation methods, bringing Qi to the needle.

Classical texts state that acupuncture is not effective until De-Qi is obtained. Both practitioner and patient can feel De-Qi sensations, however, their experiences of De-Qi are very different. Patients may feel a strong dullness, warmth, or heaviness where the needle has been manipulated, and the practitioner can feel a grasp on the needle like a fish taking bait from a hook.

Since the mid 1980s, researchers have tried to capture De-Qi sensations with a variety of patient sensation questionnaires. But the question of ‘does obtaining De-Qi improve the effectiveness of acupuncture?’ has not been definitively answered with research.

What will happen at my first appointment?

• You will be asked to read through some information and if happy, sign a consent form for acupuncture and other complementary treatments.
• The first appointment is longer, and includes a consultation where I will ask questions to gain an insight into why you would like treatment.
• I have trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Acupuncture and will therefore ask to see your tongue and take your pulse. Please refrain from removing the coating of your tongue with your toothbrush or other items on the day of your appointment.
• Complementary treatments may include massage, cupping, moxibustion (moxa) and Gua Sha. If I believe that these treatments will benefit you, we will thoroughly discuss these beforehand, and a consent form will be provided prior to treatment.
• Once the consultation is over, I will let you know which areas I will needle. Before we start, this is a good time to go to the toilet. You may see me writing down your acupuncture “prescription”.
• Once on the treatment couch, I will begin the acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture involves insertion of single-use, sterile, fine needles at acupuncture points. There are hundreds of acupuncture points all over the body. The most commonly used are on the abdomen, arms, below the elbow, and on the legs, below the knee.
• You must remain relatively still for the duration of the treatment. Please let me know if you are unable to remain still in advance, and we can discuss how best to manage this.
• Once all of your needles have been inserted, I will dim the lights and give you an alarm button which you can press if you feel unwell or in any way uncomfortable. The needles can either be adjusted to make you comfortable, or if necessary, removed quickly.
• Most patients are very relaxed during a treatment and some even fall asleep. If you prefer that the lights are not dimmed, please let me know.

Are there any side effects?

• As acupuncture involves the insertion of needles, sometimes you might have a small bruise or bleeding afterwards. Approximately 6% of people who have ten acupuncture sessions will report a bruise or minor bleeding.
• Sometimes people feel tired after a treatment or experience headaches, nausea, or local muscle pain. These side effects are classed as ‘uncommon’ and could affect up to 10 of every 1,000 people treated.
• The above effects are, to some extent, an unavoidable part of acupuncture. However, the risk of experiencing these side effects can still be minimised. Please let me know if you feel hot, the room feels stuffy, if you are hungry or thirsty, or you are especially nervous. Please also let me know about any medications that you are taking, such as anti-coagulants.
• Both cupping and guasha can lead to dark or purple patches on the skin. This is often an expected part of treatment. You may have seen dark rings from cupping on elite athletes such as swimmers. These marks disappear after a few days. You can see photographs of what this looks like here.

Do I need to remember anything before my appointment?

• Please make sure you have eaten and had something to drink before your appointment.
• Avoid applying lotions or moisturisers to your skin prior to your appointment, if this is necessary, please let me know when you arrive.
• Avoid alcohol on the day of your appointment.
• Please bring shorts and a vest or wear loose clothing to allow access to arms, legs, and abdomen. Towels can be provided for modesty if needed.
• Please avoid consuming any nuts before your treatment as some of our practitioners have severe nut allergies. This applies mostly to nuts which are eaten by hand. If you forget, this is not a problem, please make sure you let me know when you arrive. I may ask you to wash your hands.
• Let me know if you think you may be unwell.
• Keep me updated about any changes to medications, test results, hospital appointments and referrals.
• Please allow enough time for traffic and other delays. Patients who arrive more than 15 minutes late will not be treated and will be marked as not attending, which incurs a full charge. If you know you are going to be late for your appointment please contact me as soon as possible on the telephone number provided.

How many appointments will I need?

• Every person is different and the amount of sessions required differs from person to person. For most conditions, we would suggest weekly acupuncture sessions for four to six weeks. You may notice improvements before this time, and in that case you may cease treatment early.
• For chronic or long term health conditions, you may find that four to six sessions are required initially, and then maintenance acupuncture every fortnight or once a month is enough to keep you feeling well.
• For fertility acupuncture prior to egg retrieval, 12 sessions is the gold standard. This allows us enough time to improve the egg quality.
• For a frozen egg transfer, four sessions over a month are required to increase the womb lining prior to implantation.

How much do you charge?

• The Booking and Prices page has more information regarding individual treatments.

Should I avoid anything after acupuncture?

• Keep hydrated and drink plenty of water and please avoid caffeine and alcohol.
• If you intend to exercise after your treatment, stick to light exercise such as a gentle walk, light yoga or QiGong. Do not participate in strenuous exercise activities after acupuncture.
• Some people find that acupuncture raises emotions which were not previously at the surface. Not everyone will experience this, but it can happen. Please get in touch with me if this happens, and keep me updated with your progress. If in doubt, please seek the help of your GP or NHS services and let me know so that I can review your treatment.
• Stay warm and rest.
• Eat healthy regular meals, taking note of any Chinese Medicine dietary advice your practitioner may have given you.
• If you have a sauna or ice bath session planned after your acupuncture please let me know, I may discourage it on the day depending on your treatment.
• Do not book additional treatments such as a massage on the same day.
• Practice meditation, mindfulness and have a relaxing day.

What should I wear for my appointment?

• Please wear loose clothing such as wide legged jogging bottoms or linen trousers, a t-shirt or vest is also advisable to ensure I have access to acupuncture points. You can bring shorts and get changed at your appointment.
• We have towels which can be used for modesty.

Should I eat before my appointment?

• Yes please! Make sure you have eaten something within the last three hours. If you have a morning appointment, please make sure that you eat breakfast or a small snack, this is to reduce the risk of adverse events such as a drop in blood pressure.

Can I cancel my appointment?

• Appointments which are cancelled less than 24 hours before the scheduled appointment will incur a full charge. For more information please see Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.