A complete diagnosis , taking about two hours, will be made at your first appointment . You will be asked to recall your full medical history , to describe your life habits , but also to talk freely about all your issues of concern , whether you see them directly affecting your health or not. You will also be invited to express your aspirations and plans for the future. Everything you tell will help your practitioner to understand a little who you are and mostly what your energy pattern is, to give the treatment its orientation.

This diagnosis is completed by a short clinical examination , including taking pulse and blood-pressure, and a few tests specific to acupuncture. Please bring the list of any medication you might be taking at that time. The treatment will then be tailored to your own needs .

The treatment in itself starts with the second session which may exceed one hour as it includes one or two protocols aimed at detoxifying your body and replenishing the inner connection to lay the foundations for the coming treatment. This session is somewhat heavier than the following and it is wise not to undertake any intense activity afterwards. Most patients report feeling very relaxed and chilled out after their first treatment and many enjoy a good nap and/or a very sound early sleep.

The subsequent sessions last between 45 and 60 minutes where few points are usually needled.

Different needle techniques will be used: mostly shallow insertion and retention of needles during the first treatment, and moxibustion followed by quick insertion and immediate removal of needle in subsequent sessions. Occasionally, acupressure and hands off techniques are performed.

Haemophilia sufferers should abstain, even though accidental bleeding occurs very rarely when appropriate needling techniques are performed. Thanks to the detailed initial consultation and providing that the patient keeps the practitioner informed of all health related issues, this one will know what precautions need to be taken.

Chemically acupuncture does not conflict with medication , but in some instances it is better to postpone or suspend the treatment, especially in case of heavy courses of medication.

Nevertheless acupuncture has proved very helpful to patients wishing to come off drugs or to reduce the intake of certain medication such as anti-depressants, pain killers, sleeping pills, steroids or hormone replacement therapy. Acupuncture can be also very effective in tackling addiction problems , providing the patient has acknowledged the issue and is willing to act.

Please note that you may be asked to remove body-piercing adornments as they may interfere with the circulation of energy in some places.

There is little to expect and nothing to fear. Feelings of well-being and relaxation often follow a session. Some people have reported brief emotional upsets which are part of a healing mechanism of release and quickly stabilise.

It is nevertheless worth mentioning that some patients go through what is termed in homeopathy as ‘law of cure' . It means that for a short period of time, the symptoms are re-experienced in the reverse order that they appeared, from inside to outside. It is not uncommon for instance, with some skin conditions –especially if they had been treated chemically in the past. After a first phase of significant improvement, the patient sees his condition worsening unexpectedly. It may momentarily flare up and reappear as it was at the time of the first occurrence, possibly years before. Though potentially alarming, not only is this not a bad thing to happen, but it usually means that the healing process is at work and that the problem is being expelled out of the system for good .

Sometimes, some old forgotten or not acknowledged pains may also briefly reoccur and cause temporary distress. More rarely, some patients have reported vivid dreams during the initial stages of the treatment.

The only precaution the patient needs to observe is to avoid any alcohol intake 24 hours before and after the treatment as this would conflict with the therapy and may cause mild to severe ill-feelings.

At most, you may be asked to come twice a week and then quickly once a week and then less and less often. It all depends on the condition. Usually, sessions can be conveniently spread out once a course of four to six sessions has been completed within a month or so. At that point you can expect to already be experiencing significant improvements, though many see dramatic changes after the first or second session.

At a later stage, the patient comes to know her/his own needs and will only receive routine treatment at each change of season or at any major change in life situation. As soon as you show signs of amelioration, the aim of the treatment becomes to re-empower your body healing mechanisms to take over and not to make you dependent on acupuncture. Then, the chances of your symptoms returning will reduce dramatically.