The initial consultation will begin with questions about your main concern, along with some details about your overall health and medical history. If necessary, this may be followed by an assessment or test focused on the affected area. The consultation also includes taking your pulse and observing your tongue, which helps the practitioner gather more information about your body's overall condition. Your personalised treatment plan and approach will be carefully explained to you.

The number of treatments will vary from person to person but it is usual to visit once or twice a week to start with. Progress often depends on how long you have been unwell, your age and condition.  Most people have a course of treatment and usually notice changes after four to six sessions. Your practitioner will review your progress with you, and carefully monitor your treatment to ensure that it matches your needs. 

BAcC members undergo extensive training in acupuncture (up to an undergraduate degree level) and in biomedical sciences relevant to the practice of acupuncture in the UK. In addition to being fully covered by Medical Malpractice and Public/Products Liability Insurance, BAcC members are bound by codes of professional conduct and safe practice.

Yes, at least until you have discussed this with your doctor or the practitioner who prescribed the medication. Many people seek the help of an acupuncturist because of dissatisfaction with drug treatment, because it does not seem to be working or because the side effects are unacceptable. DO NOT stop taking any medication without professional guidance. 

If you are receiving treatment from your doctor then it is sensible to mention that you plan to have acupuncture. The acupuncture treatment may enable you to reduce or even stop taking some forms of medication, but you should always consult your doctor regarding any change of prescription. Your acupuncturist needs to know about any medication you are taking as this may affect your response to the acupuncture treatment. 

Very often, you may feel rather relaxed and calm. Occasionally you could feel a little tired or drowsy for a few hours, and you should take this into account if you are planning to drive or use machinery. In rare cases, there may be a short-term flair-up of your symptoms as your qi clears and resettles itself. 

You should try not to have a large meal within an hour of your appointment as the process of digestion will alter the pattern of your pulse. You should also avoid alcohol, and food or drinks which colour your tongue, such as coffee, immediately prior to treatment. 

Acupuncture is generally very safe. The needles we used are presterilised with top quality, and used once only, before being disposed of safely. There have been three surveys in the last six years which have shown that acupuncture is amongst the safest therapies in use in the UK today. Out of 68,000 recorded treatments in two of the 2001 surveys, there were only 14 minor (bruising, feeling nauseous) adverse events.