Acupuncture

Strengthen your immune system and reduce pain

acupuncture Hatfield Hertfordshire
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Acupuncture in Hatfield

Why Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for many different complaints. Hatfield Practice specializes in using exceptionally safe and gentle forms of Traditional Chinese Acupuncture. Our Acupuncture practitioners provide the best service and treatment possible, and we always do our best to assist in achieving health and wellness. Treatments are designed to provide healing and pain relief through several treatment options. Our Traditional Acupuncture practitioners may also pinpoint areas that may develop into ailments before they occur. 

Acupuncture works without the use of chemical drugs or invasive procedures. It can strengthen your immune system, reduce pain, and release endorphins and serotonin, the body’s natural painkillers. Treatment also regulates hormonal cycles and works on areas ordinary medicines find hard to treat, even with powerful drugs.

Traditional Acupuncture has existed for thousands of years, and we apply a modern, gentle, and effective twist. Acupuncture attends to the cause of the pain and treats any underlying disease or systemic imbalance. 

Acupuncture these days is integrated into mainstream medical health care. The Government’s paper, the `NICE Health Report in 2021, recommended Acupuncture as one of the best methods to reduce pain and as an effective alternative to strong painkillers. Acupuncture’s risks and side effects are low, and the potential drug-free health benefits are high. The philosophy behind Acupuncture is complex and takes many years of training, so you should only use a qualified Acupuncturist.

What to expect

Your first consultation can take anything from 30 mins up to an hour, including:

Knowing what to expect from Acupuncture helps patients get the most out of their treatment. Consulting an Acupuncturist for the first time can be an exciting experience. Acupuncture is very safe, and you will benefit most if you allow your mind and body to relax. Acupuncture has few side effects, although occasionally, bruises occur; these are usually mild and self-correcting. The Acupuncturist will thoroughly assess your general health and well-being during the first Acupuncture session.

During the first visit, the Acupuncturist will take a detailed medical history. The practitioner will explore your current symptoms and lifestyle. Questions may relate to your past treatments, family medical history, diet, digestion, sleeping habits, and emotional health. The initial appointment is usually quite in-depth.  Acupuncture is focused on the whole body, internal systems, and overall health. So you might feel that some questions appear unrelated to your condition.

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Information collected during your consultation helps the Acupuncturist clearly picture your overall physical and emotional health. Traditionally each Acupuncture treatment is unique and patient-centred. As you attend treatment, the Acupuncturist may ask you to describe how you feel, your symptoms, and how severe they are. You may also be asked how long you have been having the symptoms, whether constant or intermittent and how frequent the symptoms are. It is beneficial to mention any medication you take and whether you have recently tried other therapies. Exploring your presenting condition, lifestyle, and medical history help the practitioner to find the correct treatment approach forming a clear picture of your health.

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Who we treat

Acupuncture treatment is suitable for people of all ages and abilities. Each Acupuncture treatment is thoughtful, unique and designed individually for every patient. Clinical trials have proven Acupuncture helpful in treating various medical conditions, and its use has been widely expanded into conventional mainstream medicine practices. GPs, Physiotherapists and other medically trained practitioners use Acupuncture when providing pain relief. This well-researched style of Acupuncture is called Medical Acupuncture.

Acupuncture may help to improve and rebalance organ systems such as the digestive, liver and cardiovascular systems. Here Acupuncture may lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation and ease the pain. Acupuncture has been shown to reduce the need for painkillers. Side effects of long term pain killer use are well documented and extremely worrying.

Additional benefits of Acupuncture are faster recovery from injuries, decreased symptoms of stress and improved circulation. Many post-surgical patients find that acupuncture treatment effectively increases energy and brings a sense of vitality. It also benefits the individual by restoring a sense of “normal self” after surgery or illness. Many emotional or psychological disorders can be treated by Acupuncture, which benefits addictions, phobias, obsessive behaviour, eating disorders, and anxiety. Acupuncture can also be beneficial when used alongside conventional medical treatments for both acute and chronic disease.

Acupuncture in hatfield
Acupuncture at hatfield
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Acupuncture benefits

Many people find Acupuncture extraordinarily relaxing and helpful for stress and anxiety. Conditions that are most commonly presented for Acupuncture are spinal (sciatica), muscle (spasms), nerve and joint pain (arthritis) and whiplash. Also, each year some problems may return, such as hay fever. Conditions include shingles, Bell’s palsy, sports injuries, pain and fractures after falls. Also, symptoms of menopausal hot sweats are just a few conditions that come to mind. It has been noted that Acupuncture tends to succeed in areas where other approaches have failed.

Acupuncture can effectively treat allergies such as hay fever, and animal allergies sinusitis as it can also treat colds, bronchitis, and asthma. Shingles, specific facial pain and plantar fasciitis can often be helped and reduced through Acupuncture. Nerve pains and muscle and joint complaints, including paralysis following stroke or accidents, frozen shoulder, Tennis elbow, sciatica and osteoarthritis. All respond well to Acupuncture. Conjunctivitis (pink eye), short-sightedness and cataracts are a few of the eye disorders acupuncture benefits—more remarkably, phantom limb pain.

Why Visit the Hatfield Practice?

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What Our Patients Say

Best thing I have ever done. Menopause/ migraines. I walked into practice a mess. After six acupuncture sessions, I am now me again. Helen takes the time to listen and understand what’s wrong. I can’t praise my treatment enough off all menopause medication now, and I’m feeling fantastic and have my life back

Thank you Penny

Penny Reed

I have been attending Hatfield Practice weekly with Helen since April after being recommended acupuncture treatment by two friends. Helen is knowledgeable and has a caring, calm nature.
I would 100% recommend it!!

Natalie B

I have seen Helen for Acupuncture recently for some nerve problems, which I can say has been amazing. Acupuncture was a new experience to me, but after 18 months of taking medication for another problem, I was able to come off the prescribed drugs after 10 days from the first treatment and after 4/5 sessions combined with Osteopathy my long term problems have went away.
Not only are all the staff here professional in every way, they genuinely understand your needs and make you feel incredibly comfortable. They have a very relaxed family manor which I love.

Kate c.

I visited the practice last month for a hamstring strain/lower back issue and had 3 acupuncture sessions. I couldn’t have wished for a better experience. Helen is very knowledgeable and capable, and also friendly and makes you feel at ease.

I’ve been since able to start running again without feeling any discomfort. All the staff at the practice are very welcoming and clearly want the best for their customers. I’d recommend this place to anyone needing treatment.

Louis B.

The Team are friendly and professional. I visit Helen for acupuncture which keeps my health problems in check and enhances my wellbeing, I also find it a relaxing experience. I have seen several acupuncturists over the years and Helen is by far the best.
There is always a friendly welcome and the offer of refreshments.
I have also visited the Osteopath who sorted my backache in one visit. I recommend the practice to all my friends

Tina P.

I can’t recommend the Hatfield Practice enough. I was in extreme pain in my neck when I got in touch and they fitted me in for Acupuncture at short notice. Ian quickly diagnosed a trapped nerve and got to work on freeing it, with Helen then providing additional acupuncture relief. After a few regular sessions, the pain was massively lessened and now, just a few weeks later, I’m nearly fully fixed.

Beyond the pain relief and clear technical excellence of all the practitioners and staff here, what’s struck and affected me most is how much they sincerely care. I’m so thankful for that. I’ll be a client for life!

Jon – St Albans
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We’re here to help

FAQ's

There is a car park at the front of the practice and/or one hour free parking just across the road on Ground Lane.

After your Acupuncturist has taken a full case history of your problem it is usually necessary to undress to your underwear.

You may bring shorts, loose clothing or we can use towels if you are a uncomfortable.

Please just ask as we want your visit to be a pleasant one.

Please let us know you are in need of an urgent appointment and we will do our utmost to see you as soon as we can. Please tell the reception staff of your situation when you call.

Many patients are referred by their doctor, but it is not necessary to see them first. However, if you wish to claim on your Health Insurance, some companies require a doctor’s referral as with any other specialist or consultant.

Our Acupuncturists have trained with the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) have completed a thorough training of at least three years in traditional acupuncture and biomedical sciences appropriate to the practice of acupuncture. They carry the letters MBAcC after their name. The BAcC maintains common standards of education, ethics, discipline and practice to ensure the health and safety of the public at all times. Members are covered by Medical Malpractice and Public/ Products Liability insurance.
The BAcC currently has more than 2,800 members whose details are published in an annual Register of Practitioner Members.

There is no fixed amount for an appointment although they are generally in the region of 20 to 45 minutes. Conditions vary considerably in the amount of time they require and we are comitted in acheiving the best for you. Remenber that what is acheived inside the consulting room is only a proportion of the Acupuncturist’s work. It is necassary to write detailed notes, communicate with GPs, review hospital X- rays and scans, write reports, liase with staff and upgrade our skills.

For a list of current fee for all services please click here. They can also be found on the reception desk.

Fees are payable at the time of your visit by cash, cheque or credit card.

We are very aware of the relative and absolute contraindications to Acupuncture treatment and we are trained to recognise what falls outside their competence. The risk of side effects is low and the potential benefits are high. Knowing what to expect from Acupuncture will help our patients get the most benefit from treatments. The purpose of this web page is to help patients approach Acupuncture treatment from an informed perspective.

In short there are many techniques that can be used by our Acupuncturist. These are aften tailor made for you and your specific set of problems / symptoms Acupuncture treats health conditions by stimulating “acu-points” found at specific locations on the surface of the body. Very fine (and painless) needles are inserted into various acupuncture points which can stimulate the body’s own healing response and help to restore its natural balance. This has also been shown to cause the release of our own natural pain killers, endorphin and serotonin.

No, but it can certainly help to alleviate many of the symptoms and pain associated with these common problems. There are several techniques aimed at improving function and reducing the pain and discomfort of the muscles, ligaments and joints. Our Acupuncturist can also give advice on how to help manage these problem at home or in the workplace.

Most people are surprised and relieved to learn that acupuncture needles are very thin—unlike hypodermic needles which are thick and hollow. Acupuncturists can attain a high level of skill in gently placing these tiny needles and often the insertion is barely perceptible. The needles are usually inserted only several millimeters in depth—also very unlike hypodermic injections. As such, patients generally do not feel the painful piercing or pricking sensation typically associated with an injection, blood sample, or other medical needle procedure. We use only disposable needles.

Side effects are generally rare; you may experience some tiredness or soreness for a few days afterwards, but this will subside quickly. Acupuncture is a very safe and effective form of treatment and most patients feel subsequently better for it.

If you have new problems, or concerns between treatments we would rather you phone us than be anxious or in pain in silence. If our practitioners are busy your call will be returned as soon as possible.

This depends on the problem and its severity. In some cases, particularly when the pain is acute, it is more effective to see the patient again within a few days. Generally treatments are spaced roughly one week apart, although as the condition begins to improve they may be spaced more widely.

Your rate of recovery will also depend upon several other factors including your age, general health, sensitivity to treatment and activities in your life.

Some patients feel that they benefit from an Acupuncture MOT which may require visits on an occasional basis.

Once again, this depends entirely upon the problem and your Acupuncturist will advise you on the need for advice and maintenance treatment.

The majority of medical insurance companies cover Acupuncture. Most now refund part or all of patients fees; some have special conditions or require that you tell them at the onset It is best to check with your insurers first, sooner rather than later, as individual policies may have exemptions. If you do have complimentary health cover then you should obtain an authorisation number.

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Our accreditations

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