What to expect at your appointment
Your first appointment begins with a conversation. We'll take the time to discuss your main health concerns, your medical history, your lifestyle, and your goals for treatment. This helps us gain a complete picture of your health and create a treatment plan that is tailored specifically to you.

As part of your assessment, we'll also use traditional Chinese Medicine diagnostic methods, including checking your pulse, observing your tongue, and using the AcuGraph® system (bioelectrical reading of each Acupuncture meridian)* to provide additional information about your body's internal patterns that may be contributing to your symptoms. As needed, a brief physical assessment may also be performed, such as checking your blood pressure, examining the affected area, or assessing your range of movement.

Once we've gathered this information, we'll explain our findings and discuss the recommended treatment, ensuring you feel informed and comfortable before we begin.

Nervous about needles?
You're not alone!

Acupuncture needles are extremely fine—about the thickness of four human hair—and are sterile, single-use, and designed to minimise discomfort. Most people are pleasantly surprised by how gentle the treatment feels.

As the needles are inserted, you may notice a mild tingling sensation, a feeling of warmth, gentle pressure, or a brief mosquito-bite sensation. Some points may be more sensitive than others, while many are not felt at all. Your comfort is always our priority, so we encourage you to let us know how you're feeling throughout the treatment. We can adjust your treatment at any time.

Acupuncture needles are very powerful but only one of the many tools used in Chinese Medicine.

Depending on your needs and comfort level, your treatment may also include techniques** (which can also be used as alternatives) such as cupping, gua sha, light-therapy, abdominal therapy, infra-red heat, moxibustion, herbal medicine, lifestyle and dietary advice, or other gentle manual approaches. We always work with you to find the treatment that feels right for you.

After your treatment

Many people leave their appointment feeling deeply relaxed, lighter, and with reduced pain or tension. Others notice increased energy, improved mobility, or simply a greater sense of wellbeing. Our goal is always to help you move towards better short, medium and long term health and quality of life.

**Other tools that may be used during the treatment:

• Moxibustion (dried Artemisia herbs): used to warm a painful area or an Acupuncture point

• Infra-red heat: infra-red lamp used to warm an area and accelerate healing

• Cupping therapy & Guasha: used to move the blood, lymph and the energy (Qi), very good to relax muscular tensions and alleviate pain

• Light-therapy patches: they stimulate the chosen acupuncture points by reflecting the body's infrared light back to itself sending different messages via different wavelengths

• Electro-stimulation: gentle electric current directly on the skin or connected via needles, used to reduce pain and move blood and Qi

• Ear Acupuncture: The use of small needles or beads to stimulate points in the ear Ears are highly connected to the nervous system

• Magnets: small magnets can be used to move stagnant energy from one place to another

• Local area massage / tuina / gentle abdominal massage