Frequently Asked Questions

You’ll be visiting my cosy treatment space in the quiet back garden of our family home. The view over our back wall includes the western tip of Brechfa Forest, which overlooks the farmland and small river valleys of Nant Corrwg and Nant Cwmceir.

I make every effort to create a calm, luxurious space at Boda, with soft seating and a heated treatment table. I also use music and aromatherapy to help you relax.

There is no waiting room at Boda due to space and COVID-19 precautions, so if you arrive early at your appointment, please wait in your car until your allocated time. I use the time between appointments to clean the space as outlined by Welsh Government COVID-19 guidance, but if I finish this early, I may come out to your vehicle to see if you’d like to start your appointment early.

Remember, the practice doesn’t have its own bathroom facilities – I politely advise you to use the bathroom before visiting! 

May I also remind you that as Boda is at our home, all appointments must be prior arranged – sadly, I cannot offer drop-in appointments. Always contact me to check if I have last-minute availability. I do not have the capacity to provide emergency appointments, so please seek attention from your usual GP or hospital in case of emergencies. 

You will need a pre-arranged appointment. The practice is at our home, so to keep disruption to a minimum, all appointments must be prior arranged, so sadly, I cannot offer drop-in appointments. Always contact me to check if I have last-minute availability. I do not have the capacity to provide emergency appointments, so please seek attention from your usual GP or hospital in case of emergencies.

Yes – the practice is at our home address, and we have off-road parking for you on our drive. If the drive is busy, we have space outside our front wall on the main road and a small lane (Heol Gors) with no parking restrictions nearby. Please contact me if you have accessibility requirements and need to park close to the practice – we’ll ensure you are accommodated.

I carry out COVID-19 precautions as set out by the Welsh Government. 

To mitigate against exposure to or spread of any communicable disease, not specific just coronavirus, the following has been advised by the government:

• sufficient ventilation
• robust cleaning, personal hygiene, and hand washing practices
• regular training
• physical distancing
• working from home
• the exclusion of symptomatic individuals
• supporting vaccination uptake.

At Boda, all hand-contact surfaces, such as door handles, switches, equipment, work surfaces, and any other areas that have a greater transmission risk are cleaned and disinfected as frequently as is practical to do. For me, this is at the beginning of the day, the end of the day, and between each client. 

I wash my hands regularly with soap and water and always have hand sanitiser available in the treatment space for us to use to help stop viruses spreading. Keeping our hands clean is one of the most important control measures in helping to reduce the spread of any communicable disease.

I may also ask you to wear a mask or face covering once you step into the treatment space, in accordance to the current Welsh Government guidelines for health and social care settings at that point in time. Acupuncture practices are classed as health and social care settings. 

When the need arises, a full COVID-19 policy for Boda will be found on a separate COVID-19 page which is updated depending on Wales' COVID-19 status. 

I do – I stock a range of hand-blended aromatherapy products made by a lovely small business called Ynys Aroma, a Welsh company based in Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan. Ask me about the products when you’re in or browse the Ynys Aroma website here: https://www.ynysaroma.com 

No – I don’t offer gift vouchers, but if you’d like to pay for someone else to have treatment, get in touch with me to discuss, I’d be happy to arrange that.

Be comfortable! You can arrive wearing loose clothes that make it easy for me to examine and treat the area of concern, or you may bring a change of clothing to change into at the practice – some like to change into a vest top or shorts, depending on what they need to have treated.

When you come for your first appointment, we will sit and discuss what’s brought you in to Boda and what you hope treatment might achieve. I will ask you, in strictest confidence, about your medical history, if you have any relevant family history, any allergies or sensitivities, and if you are taking any prescribed medication. I’ll also ask about your prior experience of acupuncture and how you’ve responded to treatment. You’ll have an opportunity to complete a patient information and consent form, which will cover possible side effects and some important medical details, and you’ll have plenty of time to ask questions throughout.

Unless you’ve chosen not to at your initial appointment, or we decide that medical acupuncture is not a suitable option for you, you will have your first treatment. The time taken for this will vary, depending on the individual. You will sit or lie down on the treatment table in Boda’s relaxing space. Fine needles will then be inserted into specific points on the body, and you’ll then rest while they’re in situ. The needles are sterile and single use, so I’ll safely dispose of them after treatment.

I’ll observe you while you relax after treatment – you’ll be offered water and a chance to talk. You are welcome to provide me with feedback about your experience. If you need further treatment, we can discuss a treatment plan. 

Have a light meal one to two hours before your appointment. Having acupuncture on an empty stomach is not ideal and you may feel lightheaded, faint, or extra tired if you are hungry.

You are welcome to bring your own water to the appointment – drinking water is provided.

Try not to pick up a takeaway latte on your way – the stimulatory effect of coffee can increase sympathetic nerve activity and so may inhibit the effect of acupuncture. I advise that you don’t drink coffee, alcohol, or high-caffeine drinks immediately before or after your appointment.

Drink plenty of water after your appointment and avoid heavy meals – allow your body to rest and digest.

Everyone responds differently to acupuncture – most feel relaxed after their treatment, some feel tired or even drowsy. Others may feel a soreness in the muscles needled on the following day. It is uncommon to feel unwell after treatment, but it may occur if you are a strong reactor to acupuncture – I advise you to seek medical advice if you do as there may be an unrelated reason for feeling unwell.

If you are being treated for pain, you may notice that the pain has not gone away after your first treatments, or that the pain feels slightly worse. Pain tends to improve gradually over a series of treatment, as is the cumulative nature of acupuncture.

Driving

If you are driving directly after your appointment, which is usually the case, you will be asked to rest and be observed for a period after treatment in case you feel drowsy. It is of the utmost importance that if you find yourself feeling drowsy whilst driving home, you must pull in at the earliest safe opportunity and stop driving.

Ultimately, that is up to you! We will discuss a treatment plan at your first appointment and review each time you attend an appointment. Most people opt to attend an appointment once a week or fortnight for 6 to 8 sessions to experience the cumulative effect of acupuncture, but others will prefer to book as-and-when, particularly if the reason for treatment is not pain related.

Guidance from the BMAS states:

The minimum treatment course to achieve the best effects in chronic pain is 6 to 8 sessions separated initially by no more than a week, and an optimum course is likely to be 12 to 15 sessions. Following this, some patients will require top ups on a long-term basis every 4 to 6 weeks.

BMAS: Medical-acupuncture.co.uk. 2022. Commissioning. [online] https://www.medical-acupuncture.co.uk/Commissioningguidance.aspx [Accessed 14 May 2022].

I prefer to focus on one area or issue for your earlier appointments, so that we may monitor your response to acupuncture and review the effectiveness of treatment in a clear and conventional way.

No, not directly on your skin. I only use dry needling and/or electroacupuncture for my medical acupuncture practice. However, I do use aromatherapy oils in a diffuser in the treatment space and so if you have a sensitivity to diffused oils or fragrances, please let me know and I can make sure none are used.

Yes. It is important that you’re aware of the risks and benefits of medical acupuncture so you can make informed decisions about your treatment. You’ll be asked to read and sign a patient information and consent form – we can go through this form together and you can ask questions at any time. You’ll be consenting to me examining you as well as treating you with medical acupuncture for the duration of your treatment.

If you do not require physical assistance at your appointment, may I ask you to come alone as I’m operating in line with COVID-19 guidelines and have limited space. If you are being driven to the practice by someone, they are more than welcome to park and wait in their vehicle. Feel free to contact me to discuss your requirements in confidence.

I screen all individuals considering medical acupuncture for possible contraindications for the need of special precautions at the initial consultation.

Absolute contraindications

Reasons for you to not receive a medical acupuncture because it may be harmful include:

• Spontaneous bleeding or bruising that hasn’t been fully assessed by a GP or hospital doctor.
• A history of unexplained convulsion.
• Your unwillingness to have acupuncture – for example, if you have a needle phobia, or if your personal or spiritual beliefs don’t allow you to have acupuncture.

There are absolute contraindications to some techniques – the main one is electroacupuncture across the chest in individuals with demand-type pacemakers or intracardiac defibrillators (ICD). For safety reasons, I do not offer any type of electropuncture for those with pacemakers or ICDs, but you are free to receive medical acupuncture treatment without electrical stimulation. 

In individuals who have are at high risk of subacute bacterial endocarditis (history of previous endocarditis, previous cardiac surgery for prosthetic valves, congenital valvular disease) or low risk for endocarditis (rheumatic heart disease, calcified aortic valve, floppy mitral valve), indwelling needles are a potential source for bacteraemia. This means I do not currently use indwelling needles in routine treatments at the practice.

Relative contraindications

Medical acupuncture should be used with caution in the following conditions. The risk of using acupuncture may be acceptable if the benefits outweigh the risks, and we can discuss this at your initial appointment.

• Severe bleeding tendency (e.g., anticoagulant therapy, thrombocytopaenia).
• Compromised immune system.
• Previous seizure induced by an invasive medical procedure.
• Marked previous reaction to acupuncture.

Special precautions

Some conditions will need me to take special precautions when treating you with medical acupuncture; however, this does not mean you cannot have treatment, but again, we can discuss this at your initial appointment.

• Bleeding tendency.
• Epilepsy.
• Immunosuppression.
• Pregnancy.
• Individuals without a clear diagnosis.
• Some atypical physical structures (e.g., severely underweight)
• Strong reactors to acupuncture.
• Individuals with peripheral neuropathy.

Driving

If you are driving directly after your appointment, which is usually the case, you will be asked to rest and be observed after treatment in case you feel drowsy. It is of the utmost importance that if you find yourself feeling drowsy whilst driving home, you must pull in at the earliest safe opportunity and stop driving.

Important

If your circumstances change and you develop or are diagnosed with a new medical condition during your course of treatment, it is essential that you make me aware as this might impact your treatment plan, and ultimately your health and safety. Thank you.

[Information acquired from: White, A., Cummings, T. and Filshie, J., 2018. An Introduction to Western Medical Acupuncture. Edinburgh: Elsevier Saunders.]

You can still have medical acupuncture if you are taking most prescribed medications or supplements – let me know what you’re taking or bring along your most recent paper prescription. 

Medical acupuncture should be used with caution in individuals on anticoagulant therapy (blood thinning drugs, such as warfarin, heparin, aspirin). The risk of using acupuncture may be acceptable if the benefits outweigh the risks, and we can discuss this at your initial appointment.

Electroacupuncture across the chest in individuals with demand-type pacemakers or intracardiac defibrillators (ICD) is an absolute contraindication, so it is not allowed. For safety reasons, I do not offer any type of electropuncture for those with pacemakers or ICDs at Boda, but you are free to receive medical acupuncture treatment without electrical stimulation. 

No, I’d much prefer that you didn’t as I wouldn’t want you to feel uncomfortable or unwell at your appointment. There are several alternative methods to help manage the common conditions that can be treated with medical acupuncture, and I advise you to seek them out. Your well-being is my main concern.

It will depend on the allergy. Most common allergies do not preclude you from being treated by medical acupuncture as I do not use latex gloves, dressings, medications, or topical agents at Boda. If you are known to have a history of anaphylaxis, ensure you bring your own adrenaline auto-injector (e.g., Epipen) to your appointment.

Allergy to stainless steel

The needles I use are TeWa Japanese-type stainless steel acupuncture needles – they come sterilised by oxide gas, lubricated by silicone, and are single use only. 

No, I urge you to go to your GP or hospital doctor first so you may be investigated thoroughly by conventional methods via the NHS or private services. Although medical acupuncture is evidence-based and has recognised benefits, it is still considered complementary in Western healthcare, and it is important that you see your usual medical practitioner before choosing medical acupuncture.

I don’t in a direct way, mainly because clinical evidence for the effectiveness of acupuncture for treating infertility is not conclusive. Current research suggests that acupuncture may have direct beneficial effects on female fertility, such as improving uterine function prior to embryo implantation, but I believe further research needs to be done in the field of fertility to understand why.

You are welcome to try acupuncture to help with symptoms described in this section elsewhere on this website (e.g., musculoskeletal pain, headache, overactive bladder), as a method of relaxation, or simply an opportunity to take time for yourself. If you are embarking on assisted conception treatment, e.g., IVF, I do ask you to have an initial appointment and your first medical acupuncture treatment before starting your assisted conception procedures, and kindly let your gynaecologist know that you plan to have acupuncture whilst trying to conceive.

Yes, with caution and with your usual midwife or medical practitioner’s knowledge. Acupuncture can be a real help in relieving low back and pelvic pain in pregnancy, and is although more research is needed, it is recognised as an alternative method of managing pain in pregnancy to taking painkillers. 

There is very little evidence that acupuncture can induce labour; most medical acupuncture practitioners are comfortable in using acupuncture throughout pregnancy if the risks and benefits are assessed in the usual way. There is a historical view that acupuncture should not be performed at all during the first trimester as it may cause spontaneous miscarriage; again, there is very little clinical evidence of this. If you are personally concerned, we can discuss this in confidence.

Yes, you can if I’ve treated you – and thanks for doing so, donating blood is brilliant!

As of 2010, guidelines state that if acupuncture treatment is performed by a practitioner who is a doctor registered with the GMC, you can give blood straight away provided the reason for the treatment does not preclude you. A list of registered practitioners whose practice does not affect your ability to donate blood can be found at the Welsh Blood Service website here https://www.welsh-blood.org.uk/can-i-give-blood/tattoos-piercing-and-acupuncture/. If your acupuncture is performed by someone who is not on this list, you cannot give blood for 120 days after your treatment. If you are unsure, you can contact the Welsh Blood Service on 0800 25 22 66.

This is when an electric current from a small handheld machine is passed through needles inserted into muscle is used as an alternative acupuncture technique. It is most used for chronic pain, pain that may not have been relieved from a course of dry needling. 

At Boda, I use an AS Super 4 Digital Electro stimulator attached to my usual stainless steel acupuncture needles. I have an extra accreditation from the BMAS for electroacupuncture and have received electroacupuncture myself – I’d describe it as a strong but not unpleasant sensation, like how it feels to use a TENS machine. There is no additional charge for electroacupuncture at Boda as it can be incorporated into treatment plans when required.

For safety reasons, I do not offer any type of electroacupuncture for those with pacemakers or ICDs.