A: Most people experience a feeling of peace and relaxation during acupuncture treatment. You may feel a little of pain when the needle is being inserted into your body, followed by a dull ache or other kind of sensation, described as heaviness, distension, pressure, or mild electric current by different people, which is called “Deqi” in Chinese medicine and is considered as a therapeutic sign. While the needles are retained in your body for 15-25 minutes, it is literally pain free.

A: Yes, there are differences in style of acupuncture outside China, such as Five Element acupuncture, western medical acupuncture.

Five Element style was never in the mainstream of Chinese medicine tradition but largely developed in Korea and Japan in 7-9 centuries AD. It is based on the Five Element theory, which, in our view, is too mechanistic and does not always correctly reflect the body’s physical activities and pathological changes.

Western medical acupuncture was developed in western world by medical professionals in the past 40 years or so. It uses the techniques of traditional acupuncture but abandons the theory of meridians/channels and acupoints. Instead it uses trigger points and tender points (basically coming from “Ashi” points in Chinese medicine style of acupuncture). As almost purely a pain-release therapy, western medical acupuncture is limitedly used in pain-related conditions only.

Traditional Chinese acupuncture is the oldest practice in the history. It has been widely used for various disorders or diseases.  Apart from pain related conditions, it is also for other internal, mental and gynecological conditions, etc. In particular, it is one of the best treatments known so far for Bell’s palsy, trigeminal neuralgia, tinnitus, etc. It is fair to say that Chinese traditional acupuncture is authentic.

A: All members of ATCM must observe the Code of Practice which defines the hygiene and safety standards relating to the practice of acupuncture. These procedures have been approved by the Department of Health and local authrity, and provide protection against the risk of injury and the transmission of infectious diseases.

A: ATCM’s Code of Practice Section 6 states:

The following equipment, all of which must be CE-marked and conform with current Medical Devices Agency legislation and EEC Directive 93/42/EC, must be used for safe and hygienic practice:

As ATCM members, we always comply with these rules while practising acupuncture so as to avoid any possibility of cross infection. However, as acupuncture profession is not statutorily regulated yet, National Blood Services require a six months deferral for our patients to give blood after they have acupuncture treatment from us.

A: Although Chinese herbal medicine is effective to treat many different illnesses, some patients or some illnesses respond to the treatment better than others. So before you try, it is difficult for you to know if Chinese herbal medicine is good for you or not. If in any doubt, ask your practitioner first.

A: Generally speaking, Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is very safe, especially when it is prescribed by a qualified TCM practitioner.  Undeniably there are some toxic herbs that have been used in CHM for many centuries. They were mostly used to treat some very serious and then otherwise untreatable diseases such as cancer, tuberculosis, etc, this is so-called “Use toxic to treat toxic”. Nowadays with new development in medicine such as chemotherapy and antibiotics being widely available, those toxic herbs are no longer commonly used in TCM at all. In our clinic, safety is always No 1 priority so we do not use any toxic herbs. All the herbs in our clinic are safe. This is guaranteed.

A: Strictly speaking, Chinese herbal medicine should be called Chinese materia medica, as indeed a small amount of minerals and animal parts are used in Chinese “herbal” medicine. According to Medicines Act (1968), only botanic sourced “herbs” are exempt from licensing and can be legally used without prescription in the UK, therefore in our clinic, we do not use any minerals or animal parts, except 2-3 kinds of seashells.

British government has been working on the reform of Medicines Act (1968) since 2002. In the foreseeable future, those effective and non-toxic minerals and animal products (non-endangered species) will be legalized for clinical use by statutorily registered TCM practitioners.

A: In the long history of TCM, some endangered species were used in Chinese “herbal” medicines. Chinese government in 1980s banned some endangered species for medical use, such as tiger bone, rhino horn. However, this has not completely stopped some money-driven criminals to manufacture and sell TCM products containing these species. And as unfortunately as this, due to the difference in culture and legal system, some endangered species defined in CITES , Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species, are still legally used in TCM in nowadays China.

As a TCM clinic based and operating in the UK, we fully obey the British and European Union law and respect British culture. We promise that no any endangered species are used in any forms of Chinese herbal medicine and its products in our clinic.

A: The practitioner usually starts consultation with a patient by asking questions to obtain information on patient’s main complaint, present symptoms, medical history, etc., followed by other TCM diagnostic procedure such as pulse taking and tongue diagnosis. Sometimes a physical examination is necessary. Based on all these clinical data collected, the practitioner will recommend what treatment as the best, acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine or tuina, or any combination. Then the patient should make their own decision on which treatment to have.

A: In the initial consultation, the practitioner needs to collect the overall clinical manifestations a patient has, the patient's gender, age, and body constitution, etc. Then the practitioner is able to analyse all the information and determine the nature and state of illness. This of course requires adequate TCM knowledge as guidelines as delineated in TCM classical texts, as well as personal clinical experience, in order to form a TCM diagnosis of syndrome pattern(s). Based on such syndrome diagnosis, a treatment principle can be set up to provide a guideline for choosing or creating a herbal prescription. Such a prescription normally contains 8-15 different herbs- roots, stalks, leaves, flowers or seeds, and the daily dosage for each herb is on average 3-15 grams.

In the follow up consultation (usually once a week), patient’s condition and response to the treatment will be checked periodically   and the herbal mixture modified to the patient’s needs by adding or deleting various herbs, or manipulating the dosages of the compounds to fit the precise disharmony.

A: You need to boil the herbs twice to make herbal decoction. On your first visit, you will be given the written instructions to tell you how to boil the herbs and you just follow the instructions. At the beginning, you may find it is rather time-consuming to do the boiling. Once you get the routine, you will know it is ease and straightforward.

A: Yes. Many people seek help from Chinese herbal medicine or acupuncture because of their dissatisfaction with drug treatment, either it does not seem to be working as effectively or it causes side effects. However, the medications prescribed by your GP could be crucial to your health, so you should NOT stop taking any medications without consulting your GP.

As TCM practitioners, we are not in the position to interfere with any treatments you receive from your GP or hospital specialist. Therefore, before, during and after your CHM or acupuncture treatment from us, we are not able to provide any advice on your conventional treatments from your GP.

A: Chinese herbal medicine has been widely used alongside western drugs in China since western medicine was introduced into China in 19th century. Tens of millions of patients take CHM and western drugs together for their medical conditions every year and, generally speaking, it is very safe to take both together. We recommend that you should continue your medications from your doctor after you start herbal treatment from us, but you had better not take CHM and western drugs at the same time. A time gap of at least half an hour is advisable.

In recent years, Some research reports have suggested the interaction between certain CHMs and a very few groups of western drugs which can cause damage to the patients. These drugs are xxx. If you are on any of these drugs, you must let us know so we should avoid certain herbs.