Can Acupuncture Help Me?
Many people turn to acupuncture after trying other treatments and are often surprised by its therapeutic effects. The reason acupuncture can support such a wide range of conditions is that Chinese medicine understands illness as an imbalance within the body, which manifests differently in each individual. Treatment is therefore always tailored to the person, aiming to restore balance and support the body’s inherent capacity for self-regulation and healing.
For example, while two people may share the same medical diagnosis, let's say diabetes, the ways in which the condition affects their bodies can differ significantly. As a result, their acupuncture treatments will also differ, reflecting the specific presentation of symptoms and illness patterns involved in each case.
Chinese Medicine looks at your health as a whole. Instead of focusing on just one symptom, it takes into account your physical concerns, emotional wellbeing, sleep, digestion, stress levels and daily habits to understand what may be contributing to the imbalance. This broader approach helps support your overall health and very often people find that they come for a treatment for one condition and they get other benefits such as sleeping better, lighter mood or more energy.
INTAKE SESSION
During your initial visit to Sacred Dao we will have an in-depth conversation about your current health, lifestyle, medical history, as well as other relevant aspects that inform a Chinese medicine diagnosis. I will also carry out traditional diagnostic methods, including pulse, tongue and abdominal assessment. Together we will decide the most appropriate treatment plan - number of sessions needed and regularity - based on your needs. Then I will treat you using a combination of Chinese medicine therapies that most suits your needs and health concerns. Duration: 1 hour
FOLLOW-UP TREATMENTS
Follow-up sessions include a brief discussion about your progress, followed by pulse, tongue and abdominal diagnoses. Then I will treat you combining the therapies relevant to the findings given by my diagnosis and to your feedback. Some treatments may follow a similar pattern, but most commonly the points and therapies vary from session to session, because how you feel and what your body needs can change over time. Duration: 1 hour
HOW MANY TREATMENTS WILL I NEED?
The number of treatments depends on the condition presentation, how chronic it is and how your system (body-heart-mind) responds to acupuncture. Acute conditions tend to respond to a shorter number of treatments, most commonly 4 to 6 treatments should be enough. Chronic conditions take much longer as they are more deep-seated. Typically it can take up to 8-10 weekly treatments to see lasting results. Usually people feel the first changes within 3-4 sessions. As the condition improves treatments become less frequent. Many people then come for Maintenance Treatments as and when they need it. This is highly recommended in the case of chronic conditions to maintain the achieved balance and prevent reoccurrence. Usually after the intake session an approximation of the number of necessary treatments can be given.
REGULARITY & MAINTENANCE
To achieve relief of the presenting symptoms and restore body-heart-mind balance, at first weekly treatments are necessary - typically 4 to 6 sessions. Some conditions may require more sessions depending on how serious and chronic they are and how quickly your system responds. Once the treatments have started to take effect, the sessions will gradually become less frequent - every other week/ once a month, the aim being to consolidate the results and maintain the achieved balance. Maintenance sessions - once a month, every six weeks or every other month - are especially beneficial for ongoing or long-term health concerns. They not only help sustain your progress but also prevent the recurrence of your main complaints and support lasting balance. Regular acupuncture treatments are an effective way to release stress, strengthen your innate resilience and maintain overall health and well-being.
IS ACUPUNCTURE SAFE?
Acupuncture, when provided by a fully trained and registered practitioner, is a a very safe treatment, as it is practised in accordance with professional regulations and safety standards. It can be adapted to suit individuals at every stage of life, including children and women throughout pregnancy. Sacred Dao Acupuncture Clinic only uses sterile, one-time-use needles made of surgical stainless steel, to prevent any risk of infections. After each treatment they are disposed of as medical waste and are never reused. Acupuncture can be used alongside conventional medical treatment as part of an integrated approach to healthcare. Emerging research suggests it can support symptom management in certain conditions, and in some cases - in consultation with your GP or specialist, it may support a gradual reduction in medication where clinically appropriate. It also works greatly to reduce the side effects of medication, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and for a quicker recovery after surgical interventions.
DOES IT HURT?
Acupuncture is a gentle treatment and the needles are very fine so the sensations as they are inserted are very mild and brief. As part of the treatment, when needles are inserted the practitioner aims for the patient to feel a sensation called ‘de qi’ which signalises that the point is being ‘activated’ to trigger the wanted effect. People can experience different sensations while receiving acupuncture. Most commonly they are described as a brief tingling, mild ache or warmth , either at the needle site or along the channel pathway associated with the point being stimulated. These sensations typically last only a few seconds. Feeling this sensation is a good sign that your body is responding to the treatment. Once the needles are in place the sensation disappears and there will be no feeling of discomfort. Most patients fall asleep during treatment, which is great as the thinking mind gets out of the way and the body can restore and heal even deeper. Most people leave the treatments with a profound sense of relaxation.
SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE
The evidence base for acupuncture is one of the fastest growing within complementary medicine. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has compiled a list of conditions for which acupuncture has been shown to be effective. Here are a few examples: - Pain-related conditions: Headaches, lower back pain, knee and neck pain, menstrual pain, shoulder arthritis, post-operative pain, sciatica, and sprains. - Pregnancy-related support: Morning sickness, labour induction, and the correction of breech presentation. - Other conditions: Side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, depression, anxiety, hay fever, high and low blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis, stroke recovery etc. The British Acupuncture Council has also put together a comprehensive set of research fact sheets, providing up-to-date, unbiased information on over 60 conditions, including infertility, migraines, pain conditions and insomnia. You can find the full list in the RESEARCH EVIDENCE page. Beyond the conditions listed above, acupuncture has demonstrated therapeutic benefits for many other health concerns. If your condition isn’t mentioned, please feel free to contact me to discuss how acupuncture may support your health and wellbeing.
BIOMEDICAL PERSPECTIVE
From a biomedical perspective, research over the past few decades has explored how acupuncture influences the body and brain. Evidence suggests that acupuncture stimulates sensory nerves in the skin and muscles, sending signals to the spinal cord and brain. This can trigger a range of neurochemical and physiological responses, which support the following: - Pain modulation by influencing the release of endogenous opioids (s.a. endorphins), serotonin and noradrenaline which are chemicals involved in the body’s natural pain-regulating systems. - Inflammatory processes through effects on blood flow, immune signalling, and the regulation of certain inflammatory mediators. - Muscle tension and joint mobility by promoting local circulation and neuromuscular relaxation. - Hormonal regulation, including pathways involved in stress response and reproductive health, through interactions with the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Functional MRI research has also demonstrated that stimulation of specific acupuncture points can modulate activity in particular regions of the brain, including areas involved in pain perception, emotional regulation, and autonomic function. The ongoing scientific research continues to deepen our understanding of how acupuncture works.
DOES MY INSURANCE COVER ME?
Acupuncture is covered by the health insurance companies with policies that have additional coverage of alternative / complementary medicine. As a registered member of the NVA, one of the main Acupuncture Associations in the Netherlands, my qualifications are recognised by the majority of health plan providers, so the treatments will be fully or partially compensated, as per your insurance package. At the end of each treatment you will receive an invoice which you then submit to your insurance. Typically within 2-3 days the reimbursement will be finalised. You can check the full list of providers by clicking here and see what your insurance plan covers. If you have any questions regarding your plan, you can reach out directly to your insurer, as they are the ones that have all the information.