What actually happens during an appointment? Will the needles hurt? What should you wear? And how does an acupuncturist decide where to place the needles?
At Nature’s Qi Health in Forres, Moray, your first appointment begins with a conversation about your health, your circumstances and what has brought you to the clinic. We consider the different aspects of your wellbeing, discuss the treatment options, and decide together how to proceed.
A standard appointment lasts approximately one hour and costs £70. My approach is individual and collaborative. What you experience, how you respond and what you feel comfortable with guide our work together. Here is what you can expect when you come to see me.
Before your appointment: a few simple preparations
You don’t need to do anything elaborate before coming for acupuncture. There are, however, a few things worth considering.
Have something to eat
It is generally advisable to eat a light meal or snack within a few hours of your appointment. Arriving very hungry can increase the likelihood of feeling faint or lightheaded during needling. There is no need for a special diet or fasting beforehand.
If you have diabetes or another condition affecting your blood glucose, follow your usual medical advice and let me know about your circumstances.
Wear comfortable clothing
Loose, comfortable clothing is usually a good choice. Acupuncture points may be selected on the arms, legs, hands, feet or elsewhere on the body, depending on the approach being used. Sleeves and trouser legs that can be moved comfortably are helpful.
If access to another area is needed, we can discuss this beforehand, with appropriate privacy and draping.
Bring information about your health
If you take medication, it is useful to have a list of what you are taking, including prescribed medicines, over-the-counter products and supplements. Please also tell me about relevant medical conditions, recent surgery, pregnancy or possible pregnancy, and any previous reactions to acupuncture.
If you have received a diagnosis or are undergoing treatment with your GP or specialist, that information helps us consider whether acupuncture is appropriate. There is no need to prepare a lengthy account of your health. We can work through the relevant details together.
Allow yourself a little time afterwards
People respond differently to acupuncture. Some feel much as they did before the appointment. Others may feel sleepy or lightheaded for a while. It can be sensible to avoid arranging something particularly demanding immediately afterwards, especially following your first treatment.
If you feel drowsy or faint, wait until you feel fully well before driving.
Arriving at Nature’s Qi Health
My clinic is at 15 Woodside Drive, Forres, Moray, IV36 2UF, near Sanquhar Ponds and the surrounding woodland. It is a home-based garden clinic with a consultation area overlooking the garden. There is street parking nearby. I value being close to nature. The changing seasons, woodland and wildlife around the garden are part of my everyday life, and the setting reflects the character of Nature’s Qi Health.
People visit from Forres itself and from surrounding communities, including Elgin, Findhorn, Kinloss and Nairn. If you are travelling from further away or are uncertain about finding the clinic, you are welcome to contact me beforehand.
We begin by getting to know your health
Your first acupuncture consultation is an opportunity for us to understand what has brought you here. You may have a particular physical concern, or perhaps you are interested in acupuncture as part of your general wellbeing. Sometimes people arrive with several things they would like to discuss.
I am interested in how these experiences relate to the wider circumstances of your life. We may talk about your physical health, sleep, digestion, food, movement, work, emotional wellbeing, medications, previous illnesses and significant life events.
You may have noticed patterns yourself. Maybe something changes with the seasons, or your sleep is different when work gets busy, or a particular activity affects how you feel. These observations are useful. In traditional East Asian medicine, we consider relationships between different aspects of health. Each sign or symptom is understood in the context of the individual rather than viewed entirely on its own.
This traditional perspective sits alongside the importance of medical assessment and evidence-based healthcare.
You can share your experiences in your own words
There is no particular way you need to describe how you feel. Some people find it easy to explain their experiences. Others need a little time to think about what has been happening.
We can begin wherever you are.
Everything you share is approached confidentially and without judgement, subject to the usual professional and legal duties concerning confidentiality and safeguarding. My intention is to understand your experience and what you would like from the appointment.
How does an acupuncturist decide which points to use?
This is one of the questions people often find interesting. Acupuncture points are selected according to the system of acupuncture being practised and the practitioner’s assessment. In traditional East Asian medicine, this may involve considering the relationships between symptoms, general health, physical observations and classical diagnostic patterns.
The traditional framework includes concepts such as Yin and Yang, the Five Phases or Elements, and the movement of Qi through meridians. Qi is often translated as vital energy, although its meaning within East Asian philosophy is broader.
These concepts are part of a traditional medical system. They should be distinguished from modern anatomical and physiological explanations, as meridians and Qi have not been established as measurable anatomical structures or energy pathways.
Your individual pattern
Two people may arrive with a similar concern, yet the traditional assessment and point selection may differ. Their health histories, experiences and circumstances may be quite different. I take these differences into account when considering the approach.
What you feel and how you respond are important throughout.
Saam Korean acupuncture
One of the methods I use is Saam Korean acupuncture. Saam is a traditional Korean system that commonly uses four carefully selected points, usually on the hands, arms, feet or lower legs. It follows particular relationships within the Five Phases and meridian system.
I appreciate the simplicity of this approach and the thought involved in selecting a small number of points. You can read more in Saam Korean Acupuncture: The Gentle Four-Needle Approach.
Does acupuncture hurt?
For many people, this is the question they most want answered before booking. Acupuncture needles are very fine, considerably thinner than those commonly used for injections or blood tests. Some people notice very little when a needle is inserted.
Others experience a brief tingling, warmth, heaviness, dull ache or another sensation. The experience varies between people and between acupuncture points.
What is De Qi?
In traditional acupuncture, a particular needle sensation is known as De Qi, sometimes written Da Qi. It may be described as heaviness, tingling, warmth, distension or a dull ache. The meaning and importance of this sensation vary between acupuncture traditions.
It should never be assumed that a stronger sensation means a better treatment. I encourage you to tell me what you are feeling. If something is uncomfortable, we can adjust the technique or stop.
What if I am nervous about needles?
Please tell me. Being uncertain about needles is entirely understandable, especially if you have never experienced acupuncture before. We can talk through what is involved before deciding whether to proceed. There are also non-needle approaches within my wider practice, including acupressure and tuning forks.
These methods have different evidence bases and should not be assumed to produce the same clinical effects as acupuncture. Your preferences and consent are important. You remain free to decline or stop any part of the treatment.
What happens during the treatment itself?
Once we have discussed your health and the approach being considered, I explain the treatment before beginning. If acupuncture is appropriate and you wish to proceed, fine, sterile, single-use needles are inserted at selected points.
The number of needles varies according to the system and the individual treatment. With Saam, for example, a traditional prescription often involves four points. In other approaches, a different number may be selected. The needles may remain in place for a period of time while you rest comfortably.
The exact duration depends on the technique and the treatment being provided.
What will I feel?
You may notice sensations around the acupuncture points, or you may feel very little. Some people find the experience relaxing. Others remain fully alert and simply rest while the needles are in place. There is no particular response you need to achieve.
I am interested in what you experience and how comfortable you feel.
Can other techniques be included?
My wider practice includes traditional East Asian bodywork and complementary approaches such as Tuina, acupressure, cupping, Gua Sha, moxibustion, tuning forks and auricular acupressure. Depending on your circumstances, one or more of these may be discussed.
Each technique has its own considerations, and some may be unsuitable for particular health conditions. I explain what is involved before using an additional approach. You can learn more about the wider philosophy behind my practice in Acupuncture in Forres, Moray: A Guide to Individual, Whole-Person Care.
What happens after the needles are removed?
At the end of the acupuncture treatment, the needles are removed and disposed of safely. We can then discuss how you are feeling and whether there is anything you would like to ask. Some people feel relaxed or sleepy. Others notice very little difference immediately afterwards.
Temporary soreness, bruising, lightheadedness or a change in symptoms can occur. It is important to tell me if you feel unwell. There is no guaranteed response to acupuncture, and any benefit depends on the condition, the individual and the available evidence.
Do I need to rest afterwards?
There is no universal requirement to rest for the remainder of the day. However, it is sensible to pay attention to how you feel. If you are tired, allow yourself time to recover. If you feel faint or drowsy, avoid driving until you feel well again.
Continue taking prescribed medication unless your treating clinician advises otherwise. If you develop unusual, severe or persistent symptoms after acupuncture, seek appropriate medical advice.
How many acupuncture appointments will I need?
There is no single number of sessions that suits everyone. The answer depends on why you are considering acupuncture, the evidence for that particular concern, your health circumstances and your preferences. For some conditions, clinical guidance describes specific treatment courses.
For example, NICE recommends considering a limited course of acupuncture for certain people with chronic primary pain, and has separate recommendations concerning prevention of particular headache conditions. These recommendations do not apply to every health concern.
I prefer to review your experience as we go. What have you noticed since the previous appointment? Have your circumstances changed? Is continuing appropriate? We can discuss these questions together. If there is no meaningful benefit, or if medical assessment or another approach would be more suitable, that should inform the decision about further appointments.
For more on the research, see Acupuncture for Chronic Pain: What Does the Research Say?.
Is acupuncture safe?
Acupuncture is generally considered relatively safe when performed by an appropriately trained practitioner using suitable hygiene and infection-control procedures. However, all procedures involving needles carry some risk. Minor bleeding, bruising, temporary soreness and lightheadedness can occur.
Rare but serious complications include infection, nerve injury and injury to internal structures, including pneumothorax, or a punctured lung. At Nature’s Qi Health, I use sterile, single-use acupuncture needles. Before treatment, it is important to tell me if you:
- Take anticoagulants or have a bleeding disorder
- Are pregnant or may be pregnant
- Have a pacemaker or another implanted medical device
- Have diabetes, epilepsy or a condition affecting your immune system
- Have a skin infection or relevant skin condition
- Have a metal allergy
- Have previously fainted during medical procedures
- Have recently had surgery or are receiving medical treatment
These circumstances do not always mean acupuncture is unsuitable, but they may affect whether or how treatment should proceed. Acupuncture should never delay appropriate medical assessment or replace treatment recommended by your GP or specialist.
The NHS guidance on having acupuncture provides further information about preparation, safety and possible side effects.
Your appointment is a collaboration
One of the principles I value most in my work is that treatment should respond to the person. Your circumstances are individual, and your experiences may change between appointments. We continually reassess. You may arrive feeling differently from the last time we met. Something new may have happened in your life. You may have noticed a change in your physical comfort, sleep or general wellbeing.
These observations help guide our discussion. In traditional East Asian medicine, health is understood in relation to movement, change and the relationships between different aspects of life. An expression I often return to is Xiao Yao, meaning free flow.
It describes the quality of being able to adapt and respond to change. For me, it is also a reminder of the importance of listening. Your body, your experience and your choices are central to the work we do together.
First acupuncture appointment in Forres: practical details
Nature’s Qi Health is located at:
- 15 Woodside Drive Forres, Moray, IV36 2UF
- The clinic is near Sanquhar Ponds and woodland, with street parking available.
- A standard appointment is approximately 60 minutes and costs £70.
- I welcome enquiries from Forres, Elgin, Findhorn, Nairn and the surrounding Moray area.
My professional membership is with the Association of Acupuncture Clinicians. You can view my AAC practitioner profile, including my listed training and therapies. If you are uncertain whether acupuncture is appropriate for you, please contact me before booking.
