Overview

This information is intended to answer some of your questions about having acupuncture. 

Acupuncture involves putting fine needles into different parts of your body. This helps to stimulate or relax the body.

There are different types of acupuncture:

• Traditional Chinese medicine, which can be traced back as far as 1,000BC. This is based on the idea of energy flow or Qi.
• Western acupuncture, which is based on the release of chemicals in the nervous system. Some of these chemicals can ease pain and encourage healing. This type of acupuncture also involves relaxing specific groups of muscles (trigger point acupuncture).

Research supports the idea that acupuncture helps to manage pain. For this reason, your therapist may use acupuncture as part of your treatment plan.

The information covers:

• what acupuncture treatment involves
• when acupuncture should not be used
• when acupuncture should be used with caution
• possible side effects of acupuncture
• how many treatments you are likely to need
• working with your therapist

If you have any questions that are not covered in this information, please speak to your therapist.

What acupuncture treatment involves

During acupuncture treatment, your therapist selects points on your body that are close to the painful area or away from it. These points may be on your

• hands
• feet
• head
• ears

In some cases, the therapist chooses points on the opposite sides of your body.

The needles are sterile and thrown away after use. Your therapist puts them in the soft tissues of the body at specific points. 

When the therapist puts in the needle, you may feel:

• a mild ache
• numbness
• warmth
• heaviness

This feeling is called De Qi. It is a sign that your body is reacting positively to the acupuncture.

Your therapist may stimulate the needles using a twisting movement at regular intervals throughout the treatment.

Acupuncture treatment can last up to 30 minutes. The number of needles that the therapist uses depends on your condition and symptoms.

When acupuncture should not be used

Although acupuncture is proven to be an effective treatment for pain, it is not suitable for everyone.

Your therapist completes a checklist with you to confirm whether acupuncture is a suitable treatment. 

You should not have acupuncture if you:

• are allergic to metal (specifically stainless steel)
• have an extreme needle phobia (deep fear of medical procedures that involve needles or injections)
• have a known infection or poor skin condition in the area to be treated

In these cases, you need to speak to your therapist about other treatment options.

When acupuncture should be used with caution

It is important that you tell your therapist if:

• you have haemophilia (a condition that affects the blood's ability to clot)
• you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant
• you have epilepsy and get seizures or fits
• your immune system does not work properly or is weakened
• you have a heart pacemaker
• you take an anticoagulant medicine to help prevent blood clots
• you have diabetes

Most of the time, these conditions do not stop you having acupuncture but they affect your treatment.

Possible side effects

Acupuncture is safer than many medicine treatments, but sometimes it does have side effects. These may include:

• feeling drowsy (sleepy) after treatment
• a small amount of bleeding and bruising
• mild pain during and after treatment (your therapist explains about this)
• a temporary increase in your symptoms (this is often a sign that acupuncture is having a good effect)
• feeling faint or dizzy

Here are a few tips to help with any side effects:

Number of treatments

The number of acupuncture treatment sessions that you need depends on your condition. Your therapist talks to you about this.

Working with your therapist

Your therapist may offer you acupuncture as part of your treatment plan. Depending on what therapies are available and your individual needs, the therapist may combine acupuncture with other treatment methods. Examples include:

• exercise
• manual therapy (where the therapist uses their hands to manipulate, mobilise and massage the body tissues)
• relaxation techniques

Our therapists regularly update their skills. They maintain high acupuncture safety and quality standards.