Initial Consultation and Treatment: £45 (1.5hr).
Follow-Up Treatments: £35 (1hr).
Cosmetic Acupuncture Treatment: £60 / £55 ( 2hr / 1.5hr ).
Please give 24 hours notice if unable to attend or a late cancellation fee may be charged.
Acupuncture is generally very safe but rare side effects may include: pain or discomfort, minor bleeding or bruising at site of treatment, fainting, dizziness or drowsiness during treatment, worsening of symptoms for a short time (1-3 days) following treatment.
You have the right to stop treatment at any time during a session. Please tell or phone your practitioner if you have any concerns about your treatment.
In 2000, a UK survey of 1848 British Acupuncture Council practitioners recorded adverse events from acupuncture over a one month period, finding some ‘minor’, but no ‘serious’ adverse events. These included mild bruising of the skin, very slight bleeding on removal of needles, feeling nauseas, and feeling faint. Read the full article in the British Medical Journal.
Your first treatment session involves finding out in detail, not only about the problem you are coming with, but also about many other aspects of your health and lifestyle. You will be questioned in detail about your symptoms, general health and medical history.
It’s important to tell your practitioner of any serious medical conditions you have (or have had in the past) or if you are trying to conceive or if you are pregnant as certain techniques and points may be avoided.
As part of the consultation, your pulse and tongue are examined. During an acupuncture session, you will normally lie down on a treatment couch. You may be asked to remove some parts of your clothing to access appropriate acupuncture points.
Fine acupuncture needles are inserted into the skin. Only sterile, stainless steel, disposable acupuncture needles are used.
After the needles are inserted they may be gently manipulated to achieve the desired effect. Usually needling isn’t painful - occasionally they can feel sharp for a few seconds. Most people describe the sensation they feel as a ‘tingling’ or slight ‘dull ache’ feeling.
Needles are usually kept in for between 20-30 minutes. Many people feel deeply relaxed and experience pleasant sensations after having acupuncture. Treatment may also involve other therapies - massage, moxibustion, cupping, electro-acupuncture, Gua Sha, and ear acupuncture.
The first treatment usually lasts 1 hour 30 minutes. Follow up treatments last 1 hour.
Each consultation is confidential and you have the right to refuse or stop treatment at any time.
It is recommended that you eat something before acupuncture treatment and that afterwards you avoid alcohol.
Although everyone responds differently to acupuncture, you will be given an estimate of how many treatments you may need at your first consultation. Treatment effects of acupuncture are cumulative. Generally, acute conditions respond faster within 4-6 sessions whilst recurring or chronic conditions that have lasted a longer time require more sessions.
Usually people have treatment once (or twice) a week to begin with. Appointments have longer intervals in-between them as you improve. Many people like to come for occasional ‘maintenance’ treatments (once every 4-6 weeks) to help reduce the chance of problems recurring in the future and because acupuncture gives them a sense of wellbeing.
Some private health care schemes allow you to claim for acupuncture treatment given by a British Acupuncture Council member. For some conditions (e.g. low back pain) you may be able to ask your GP to refer you for acupuncture. Here are some examples of private insurance companies that include acupuncture cover:
AVIVA (formerly Norwich Union) [GP referral]
Buck & Willis Health Care Ltd. [Consultant referral]
Bupa Cashplan (not BUPA) [No referral necessary*]
Clinicare [No referral necessary*]
CS Healthcare [GP & Consultant referral]
Forester Health [No referral necessary*]
Healthshield [No referral necessary*]
Hospital Saturday Fund [No referral necessary*]
HSA [No referral necessary*]
Leeds Hospital Fund [No referral necessary*]
Legal & General Healthcare [GP referral]
Medisure [Consultant referral]
Pinnacle PLC [No referral necessary*]
Royal & Sun Alliance Healthcare and Assistance [GP & Consultant referral]
Standard Life Health Care [GP referral]
Sun Alliance Health Insurance [Consultant referral]
Westfield [No referral necessary*]
*Please check directly with your insurance provider to confirm up-to-date policy details.
Acupuncture is currently going through a process of consultation in order to become regulated. This will bring acupuncture in line with other healthcare professions like osteopathy and chiropractic. When regulation happens, this will help to protect public confidence in the safety record of acupuncture. In 2006 Mike O’Farrell, British Acupuncture Council said: “Our hope is that after regulation…the decision makers will have increased awareness and confidence to offer acupuncture more widely.”
Before you contact Zone Acupuncture, have a look at the list of frequently asked questions to see if the answer is there.
If not, please phone Pauline Moffatt or contact Zone Acupuncture using the Contact form.