FAQs

Acupuncture’s FAQs

Will l I have treatment during my first consultation?

Yes. Our main concern is on reducing your pain or discomfort as soon as possible. We will however take a detailed case history also during your consultation.

How long do appointments last?

Appointments vary from approx. 30 – 45 minutes but allow up to 1  hour for your first visit. The Appointment time is made up of 2 parts. The first is the client treatment time, approx 20-25 minutes for acupuncture. The second part is the the time the therapist allows to do any administration ie. recording notes, taking payment, scheduling future appointments and preparing the room for the next client etc. This time varies depending on whether the therapis wants to work at a fast or slower pace depending on their own individual requirements, or, if they decide to do their work with the client present or after they leave. 

Regardless of the length of the overall time the client is in the treatment room, one will always receive the full treatment time that is necessary and that they are paying for.

Do I need to be referred by a GP?

No GP referrals are necessary but please give us a copy of any medication that you are taking.

I have Private Medical Insurance – am I covered with you?
Yes. We are recognised by all the major insurance companies. Just check your own policy for its terms and conditions.

I have a Medical Card – am I covered with you?
Unfortunately not. However we do offer discounts for those with a medical card but please bring the card with you on your first consulation.

Will I be given exercises / Advice?

We will always give advice on the management of conditions and appropriate exercises to do in between treatments to optimise the recovery process when safe to do so.

What about payment?

Payment must be made after each consultation. We accept Cash or Credit Card.

Receipts are given at the end of your treatment plan for tax or health insurance companies.

How many treatments will I need?

Let me explain to you how acupuncture works.

Acupuncture is a “Process” and not a “Procedure”. It works over a series of treatments.  You can never have acupuncture treatments too close together, but you can have them too far apart.  It works cumulatively, each treatment building on the previous, and we want to continue building on your progress.

If we treat you today but your symptoms return before your next appointment, then we went too far between appointments, we’re back at square one! If you continue like this you will be stuck in a “See Saw” position of your symptoms improving, then getting worse, then improving, and getting worse.

We don’t want this for you, we want your symptoms to slowly improve, and improve, and improve.

In order to accomplish this, I’ll need to see you twice a week for the first 1-2 weeks.

After that as long as your symptoms are improving and staying at that level of improvement between appointments, then we’ll back off to once per week.

As long as your symptoms continue to stay stable between appointments we’ll keep treating you once per week, but if they start to creep back in during that week then I want you to contact me and we’ll get you back in again ASAP for an appointment so we don’t lose ground on all of your progress.

Once your symptoms are basically gone, then we’ll go into Tune Up Mode where I’ll see you every 2-3 weeks for a period and thereafter at least once per month and so on for a tune up treatment.

Can I have my appointment after work hours?

Yes. Our clinic has late evening appointments available, so you can have an appointment from 9.30am – 9.00pm (Last appointment, when available).

What is the difference between Acupuncture & “Dry-Needling”?

Both techniques use Acupuncture needles now. However “Dry Needling” originally used hypodermic needles with no solution inside hence the “Dry” part of the name.

Acupuncture is a Traditional Chinese Medicine using channels in the body and acupuncture points. However, in acupuncture, “Ashi” points (a point anywhere on the body which is tender/sore or causes sensation referral, same as trigger points) are also acupuncture points. Therefore an acupuncturist is not limited to just the points on the channels. The acupuncture “channels” are like lines of longitude and latitude on a map, they serve as our navigation system.  Whereas, dry needling uses muscle trigger points which are the same as “Ashi” points in acupuncture. It’s just a different language!

Furthermore, acupuncture is a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine and can treat the whole person – mind-body-spirit. Therefore it treats musculo-skeletal problems, fertility, stress, anxiety, digestive disorders, addictions and so on, very often during the same treatment. “Dry Needling” treats musculo-skeletal problems.

Finally, an acupuncturist will spend up to 4 years training and once qualified a further time period working in a hospital, usually in China gaining clinical experience under the guidance of experienced doctors. A course in “Dry Needling” is usually completed over a period of 2 weekends training.

Useful Links

Washington Court Bans Physical Therapists practicing Dry Needling

Dry Needling Demonstration causes Pneumothorax (punctured Lung – medical emergency) Live on Video