The Patient
Needles and pain: does it hurt?
Acupuncture needles are quite unlike the needles used in injections and blood tests. They are much finer. Needles are inserted either for a second or two or left in place for an extended period, depending on the effect required. When the needle is inserted the sensation is often described as a tingling or dull ache and sometimes patients feel nothing at all. The Five Element tradition uses very gentle needling techniques and as few needle insertions as possible.
During treatment, patients commonly experience heaviness in the limbs or a pleasant feeling of relaxation.
The treatment experience
The initial consultation takes approximately ninety minutes. It includes taking a full health history, a brief and unintrusive physical examination and discussion of a range of factors which affect our health and wellbeing. Subsequent appointments last approximately forty-five minutes.
The benefits of acupuncture frequently include more than just relief from a particular condition. Many people find that it leads to increased energy levels, better appetite and sleep as well as an enhanced sense of overall wellbeing.