Everything you need to know about acupuncture
1 hr 15 min
70 British pounds
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese health treatment that dates back many thousands of years. It works by inserting very fine, sterile needles into specific points on the body, known as acupuncture points, to encourage the body's own natural healing response.
In Chinese medicine, these points sit along channels called meridians, through which Qi, or vital energy, is believed to flow. When this flow becomes blocked or imbalanced, illness or discomfort can follow. Acupuncture aims to restore that balance, supporting the body to heal itself.
Modern research has also shown that acupuncture has measurable physiological effects. It can stimulate the nervous system to release natural pain relieving chemicals, improve blood circulation, and help to regulate hormone levels, which is part of why it has become so widely used alongside conventional medicine today.
What can acupuncture help with?
Acupuncture is used to treat a wide range of health conditions, including:
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Pain, including back pain, joint pain and chronic pain conditions
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Stress and anxiety
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Headaches and migraine
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Digestive health issues such as bloating, IBS and nausea
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Fertility, including natural conception and supporting IVF treatment
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Cancer recovery, including managing treatment side effects such as fatigue and nausea
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Sleep problems and insomnia
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Menopause symptoms
This list isn't exhaustive. Acupuncture is a versatile treatment that can be tailored to support many different aspects of physical and emotional health.
A treatment tailored to you
Each acupuncture treatment is unique to the patient receiving it. No two treatments are ever the same, because each person's body constitution is entirely different.
Your practitioner will look beyond your physical symptoms alone, taking into account your medical history, lifestyle and emotional wellbeing. This whole person approach means that two people with the same condition might receive quite different treatment plans, depending on their individual needs.
How does
it work?
During the treatment, fine needles are inserted into specific acupoints around the body. These points sit along pathways known as meridians, and each one is chosen based on your individual symptoms and the picture your practitioner has built up during your consultation.
Sometimes your practitioner will use a smouldering herb called moxa to warm these points. This technique, known as moxibustion, is thought to boost circulation and encourage a smoother flow of energy through the body, and is particularly useful where cold or stagnation is contributing to your symptoms.
The needles are used to release and rebalance the flow of Qi, the vital energy that flows around the body's meridian pathways, which has become disrupted by illness or disease. When Qi flows freely, the body is better able to heal itself and maintain good health. When it becomes blocked, weak or imbalanced, this can show up as pain, illness or emotional disturbance.
The physiological side
Alongside this traditional understanding, modern research has also looked at what acupuncture does within the body. Inserting needles at specific points is thought to stimulate the nervous system, prompting the release of natural pain relieving chemicals and encouraging blood flow to the treated area. This can help to reduce inflammation, ease muscle tension and support the body's natural healing processes.
Many people find that the two explanations sit comfortably alongside each other. Whether you think of it in terms of Qi and meridians, or in terms of nerves and circulation, the practical effect for most patients is the same: a treatment that helps to restore balance and support the body's own capacity to heal.
A holistic approach
Your consultation may also involve a combination of other therapeutic remedies, tailored to what will support you best. These can include:
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Breathing techniques, to support relaxation and calm the nervous system
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Meditation, to help settle the mind and reduce stress
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Healing sounds, used to support relaxation during treatment
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The tuning fork, a gentle, non-needle technique that can be used on or near acupoints
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Cupping, which uses suction to improve circulation and ease muscle tension
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Moxibustion, as described above, to warm and stimulate specific points
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Nutritional advice, to support your treatment goals through diet and lifestyle
Is acupuncture safe?
Acupuncture is safe and evidence-based. Serious side effects are very rare - in fact, they happen in less than one per 10,000 treatments.
The needles used in acupuncture are extremely fine, sterile, and for single use only. Each needle is opened from its individual packaging in front of you and disposed of safely after your treatment, so there's no risk of infection being passed between patients.
Acupuncture is widely recognised as a safe complementary therapy when delivered by a trained professional, and is used within some NHS services for conditions such as chronic pain. As with any treatment, being open with your practitioner about your health history and any concerns is the best way to ensure your treatment is both safe and effective for you.
Conditions that can be treated with acupuncture
Acupuncture can provide an effective and long-term solution for a wide variety of conditions:
Acupuncture
for fertility and pregnancy
Acupuncture has long been used to successfully and safely treat the causes of infertility and to help expectant mums carry to full term.
Causes of infertility vary. They include reproductive disorder, taking the contraceptive pill for long periods of time and high levels of emotional stress which causes oxidative stress and lowers your chances of getting pregnant.
Acupuncture acts as a mediator by releasing neurotransmitters (the chemicals that send messages from the brain) to prompt the hypothalamus (an area of the brain) to release reproductive hormones to the organs.
Acupuncture also stimulates blood and Qi flow to the uterus. This creates ATP (the primary molecule for storing and transferring energy in cells) production inside the cells and increases the chances of natural conception and makes embryo implantation easier.
How we
support you
In Chinese medicine, we go beyond physical symptoms and always look to balance your mind body and spirit.
Our treatments combine Bodytalk, acupuncture, lymphatic drainage, clinical massage and nutrition to optimise the mitochondrial health in your womb to help you get pregnant naturally.
If you have recurrent miscarriages
or IVF failure
We understand that this is extremely frustrating, and physically and emotionally stressful.
During your consultations, we will fully examine your medical history and current health conditions. As well as providing treatment, we’ll guide you to see the right specialist doctors who are experienced in this field.
If you’re
pregnant
We can help you to reduce pregnancy issues - including morning sickness, nausea, belching, digestive issues, mood swings - maintain a healthy, happy pregnancy and carry your baby full term.
Treating
severe
pain with
acupuncture
For pain management, if your pain level is 7 out of 10 to 10 out of 10, this is considered a severe pain level.
Your symptoms might include limited movements - such as difficulty walking or lifting your arm - combined with a constant continuous burning pain which affects your rest and sleep.
If this is the case, please lower your expectation of the treatment outcome. One treatment will not be enough to get you back to normal. Getting rid of severe pain takes time.
Initially, you’ll need to come in every day - or every other day - for one to two weeks. We offer block payment, so you won't break the bank getting healthy.
You’ll then need to come back once a week to ensure complete recovery and freedom from pain.
You’ll also need to take pain-killing medication to allow you to rest and numb the pain before you come for treatment.
What to expect
at your first appointment
To enable a detailed diagnosis, your first consultation will take around an hour and a half. Follow-up treatments last an hour.
Before your treatment begins, your practitioner will take your pulse, examine the point of your symptoms and look at your tongue.
Some clients worry that acupuncture is painful but in fact, it rarely hurts.
You may experience a dull ache at the base of the inserted needle, or a slight tingling feeling when the needle is inserted. These feelings don’t often last long.
We usually recommend a course of treatment and will discuss this with you.
After the treatment
Potential side effects of acupuncture
Things you
must tell your practitioner
You should feel relaxed and calm at the end of your treatment or you may feel fully alert and energised.
A small number of patients feel drowsy so we recommend that you don’t drive home immediately afterward.
You need to be aware that:
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A small number of patients feel drowsy after their treatment. If you’re affected you’re advised not to drive
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Minor bleeding or bruising after treatment occurs in about 3% of treatments
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Around 1% of patients experience pain during treatment
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Existing symptoms can get worse after treatment (less than 3% of patients). You should tell your acupuncturist about this, but it is usually a good sign
Apart from the usual medical details, it’s important to tell your practitioner:
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If you’ve ever fainted or experienced a fit or funny turn
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If you have a pacemaker or any other electrical implants
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If you have a bleeding disorder
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If you’re taking anticoagulants or any other medication
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If you have damaged heart valves or are at particular risk of infection
Meet your practitioner
Classical Chinese acupuncture, Ophthalmic acupuncture, Cosmetic facial acupuncture clinical massage, lymphatic drainage, Low-Level Laser - Photobiomodulation practitioner
Monica Wing-Yan Bailey is a fully insured, licensed acupuncturist and aromatherapist.
Her training began at home with her mother and grandmother teaching her herbal medicine, Gua Sha and the energetic power of food. With her strong interest in Chinese medicine, Monica retrained as an acupuncturist in her 30s.
Monica specialises in treating women's health, endometriosis, polycystic ovaries, fertility issues, IVF support, and hormonal disorders. She also treats general health issues such as chronic pain, digestive disorders, cancer recovery and mental health issues.
Her passion to help others comes from her own journey of long-term stress, illness caused by the overtime working culture while working as a fashion merchandiser in Hong Kong. That tipping point triggered her to pursue a more meaningful career.
H3: Qualifications:
BSc(Hons) Acupuncture - University of Greenwich
Member of Asia Pacific Aromatherapy
Member of British Acupuncture Council
Touch for Health Kinesiology
TCM post-graduate training
Nutrition for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome with Fiona McCulloch, Dr.Leah Hechtmanm Dr Felicity
Male Fertility with Dr. Olivia Pooje
Nutrition for Fertility with Dr. Carrie Jones
Nutrition for Endometriosis with Dr. Leah Hechtman, Dr Felicity
Acupuncture for endometriosis
Tung’s Acupuncture for fertility
Nutrition for Fertility
Classical acupuncture, aromatherapy and intensive training for reproductive medicine and nutrition with Taoist master Jeffrey C. Yuen
If you’d like Monica to help you, please get in touch for your FREE consultation.
“I was a bit skeptical about acupuncture at first until a friend recommended Monica. She has helped immensely with my sinus problems and also helped with other things as well. She is extremely intuitive and picked up on things I hadn't paid much attention to, but that were causing me issues.”
Jennifer