Does acupuncture hurt?

Acupuncture needles are very fine and the sensation is usually mild and lasts only for a moment. You may not feel some of the needles at all.

How many treatments will I need?

A set of between four and six sessions will allow us to assess the benefit of acupuncture for you. After this, sessions will be more spaced out, to ensure continuing benefit for you. Once you are feeling better, you may decide to have two or three treatments a year for maintenance.

What qualifications do the acupuncturists have?

Helen Smallwood, Michelle Spicer and Philip Rose-Neil all qualified with Licentiates in Acupuncture from the College of Traditional Acupuncture (Warwickshire) after three years’ training.

They each have an honours degree (BA) in Traditional Acupuncture accredited by Oxford Brookes.

They are all members of the British Acupuncture Council and are therefore bound by their codes of safety and ethics. They each carry full professional indemnity, and public liability insurance cover.

What can acupuncture do for my condition?

The benefits of acupuncture are wide-ranging from pain relief, to helping with emotional problems and stress, to supporting fertility and even giving up smoking.
Regardless of the condition you are being treated for, you may also experience effects of increased energy, motivation, better sleep and calmer/better mood. Please contact us for more information on how we can help you.

I am a blood donor, can I still give blood if I have acupuncture?

Unfortunately, recent retrictions mean that you now have to wait 6 months after a course of acupunture before donating blood again.

Does acupuncture interfere with the treatment my GP or the hospital is giving me?

Acupuncture is complementary, and can be used alongside treatment you receive from your GP or hospital doctors, without interfering with other drug or treatment you are receiving. However, we advise that you do tell your GP that you are using it, so they can be fully informed.

Does acupuncture conflict with my religious beliefs?

Acupuncture is based on the ancient Chinese people’s views of the body and the rhythms of nature, and is not based on religious or spiritual beliefs. Therefore using acupuncture does not conflict with your own personal religious beliefs.

I have a healthcare plan – can I clam back the cost of acupuncture?

If you have a healthcare plan, it may reimburse you the cost, or some of the cost of acupuncture as long as the practitioner is a member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC).

• Helen Smallwood’s BAcC number is 958662
• Michelle Spicer’s BAcC number is 958902
• Philip Rose-Neil BAcC number is 959362

The following healthcare companies and cash plans reimburse for acupuncture: This list was last updated May 2012, and policies can change, so please check with your provider. A general list, and contact details for many of the below organisations can be accessed by Click here