Frequently Asked Questions

These are the questions Dr Painbegone is most frequently asked by his acupuncture patients.

Will it hurt?

When compared to the hypodermic needles used for injections acupuncture needles are very thin and have a rounded end. This makes them very much less traumatic to the body when they are inserted. A very slight prick may be felt as the needles are inserted. A feeling of numbness may be apparent after the needle has been in place for a while. This is entirely normal.

How many needles will be used and how long for?

The number of needles used will depend upon the selection of the acupuncture points applicable to the conditions being treated. In normal conditions four to eight needles are used. A treatment session will usually last ten to fifteen minutes.

How many treatments will I require?

Prior to the start of treatment it is very difficult to say how many treatments will be required. After the first few treatments the picture usually becomes clearer. It may take several treatments to determine which combination of acupuncture points achieves the best results. It is usual to have six to twelve treatments when it appears that the combination of points chosen are having the desired effect.

I don’t live in Happyville, how can I find a local medical acupuncturist?

The British Medical Acupuncture Society (BMAS) can supply a list of their members in your area. Their administrative office in Warrington will send you your area list if you contact them by telephone 01925 730727 or fax 01925 730492.

Where can I find more information about acupuncture?

A great deal of information can be found on the Internet but the quality of information varies and it is very difficult for the untrained eye to separate the good from the bad so please beware of this.

The British Medical Acupuncture Society (BMAS) has a web site with a patient information section http://www.medical-acupuncture.co.uk/

A well written book on acupuncture aimed at the general public is
“Thorsons Introductory Guide To Acupuncture”
by Dr Paul Marcus. ISBN 0-7225-2531-1