Most acupuncture needles are very fine, much thinner than a medical injection needle. You may feel a tiny pinch, a brief sensation of warmth, heaviness or tingling, but many people barely feel the needles being inserted at all.

If you’re nervous, tell me. I’ll go at your pace, explain everything before I do it, and we can start gently with fewer needles. You’re always in control we can stop or adjust at any point.

And honestly? A lot of first-time clients say afterwards, “Is that it?”

Your first appointment is about you not just the symptoms that brought you through the door.

We’ll take some time to chat about what’s going on, how you’ve been feeling, your health history, lifestyle, sleep, digestion, stress and anything else that might be relevant. I’ll listen, ask questions and get a picture of what your body may need support with.

From there, I’ll explain how I approach your treatment and we’ll agree on a plan together.

If acupuncture is right for you, we’ll then begin your treatment. I’ll talk you through everything before we start, so you’ll always know what to expect. The needles are incredibly fine, and most people find the experience much gentler than they imagined.

Once the needles are in, you’ll be able to relax. You might notice a feeling of warmth, heaviness, tingling or simply a sense of calm. Some people even drift off for a little while.

There’s no pressure to know anything about acupuncture beforehand, and no need to feel nervous or unsure about what to do.

It might seem a little strange at first but in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the tongue can give us useful information about what’s happening within the body.

I look at things like the colour, shape, coating and overall appearance of your tongue. Alongside your symptoms, health history and how you’re feeling, this helps me build a more complete picture of you and tailor your treatment.

It’s not about diagnosing you from your tongue it’s simply one of the tools I use to understand your individual pattern and guide your treatment.

So yes, if I ask you to stick out your tongue… there is actually a method behind it I’m not loosing the plot!

Moxibustion is a traditional technique used in Chinese medicine alongside acupuncture. It involves gently warming specific points on the body using moxa — a dried herb made from the mugwort plant.

The gentle heat can feel incredibly soothing and relaxing. Depending on what you’re being treated for, I may use moxa to warm and stimulate specific acupuncture points, support circulation and ease areas of tension or discomfort.

I use it as part of a treatment when I feel your body would benefit from the additional warmth and stimulation. Your treatment is always individual, so moxa won’t necessarily be used in every session.

Some people describe it as feeling like a deep, comforting warmth almost like having a little hot water bottle placed exactly where you need it.

Fire cupping is an ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine technique that uses glass cups and controlled heat to create suction against the skin.

The cups are briefly heated and then placed onto the skin, creating a gentle vacuum. They may be left in place or moved across the skin, depending on what we’re treating.

You’ll usually feel a firm pulling or warming sensation, rather than pain. The treatment can feel deeply relaxing, particularly when you’re carrying tension through your back, shoulders or muscles.

You may notice circular red or purple marks afterwards. These are a normal response to cupping and aren't bruises in the traditional sense. They generally fade over several days.

Fire cupping can be used as part of a wider treatment plan for muscle tension, aches and pains, tightness and physical stress, alongside acupuncture where appropriate. And yes there is actual fire involved! But the flame never touches your skin. The heat is used to create the suction inside the cup.

Those round marks can look a little dramatic but they’re a normal response to cupping and usually nothing to worry about.

With fire cupping, the suction created inside the cup gently draws the skin and superficial tissues upwards. This can cause tiny blood vessels near the surface of the skin to leak a small amount of blood into the surrounding tissue, creating the characteristic red, purple or darker circular marks.

The colour and appearance of the marks can vary from person to person. Your skin, circulation, the strength and duration of the cup, and the area being treated can all influence how they look.

Within Traditional Chinese Medicine, practitioners may also look at the colour and appearance of cupping marks as part of their overall assessment, alongside your symptoms and other signs. It can give us additional information about how your body is responding to treatment but the marks themselves aren't a diagnosis.

And importantly, darker doesn't mean better. Cupping isn't about trying to create the darkest marks possible; the treatment is always tailored to what your body needs.

The marks will gradually fade over several days, although occasionally they can take a little longer to disappear.

How often you need acupuncture depends on why you’re coming, your symptoms, your overall health and how your body responds to treatment.

For some people, a short period of more regular treatment can be helpful when they’re dealing with something acute or particularly challenging. For others, treatment may be spaced further apart once things begin to settle.

At your first appointment, we’ll talk about what you’re hoping to achieve and I’ll recommend a treatment plan that feels appropriate for you.

The goal isn’t to keep you coming forever. It’s to give your body the support it needs, and adjust your care as things change.

Absolutely not. While fertility and reproductive health are an important part of my practice, acupuncture can support so much more.

I work with people for a wide range of reasons, including stress and emotional wellbeing, headaches and migraines, back, neck and shoulder pain, muscle tension, sports injuries, sciatica, digestive issues, sleep difficulties and general aches and pains.

You don’t need to have a fertility concern to come for acupuncture.

Sometimes you simply know that you don’t feel quite like yourself and want to give your body a little support.

Whatever brings you through the door, your treatment is tailored to you not a diagnosis or a label.

Yes. Acupuncture can be used alongside fertility treatment, including IVF, as a complementary form of care.

Fertility treatment can be physically and emotionally demanding, and acupuncture may be used to support your overall wellbeing during this time helping you feel calmer, more grounded and better supported while you go through treatment.

Your care will always be tailored to where you are in your treatment cycle and what you need at that particular stage. I’ll work alongside your fertility clinic and never in place of their medical care or advice.

For acupuncture, it’s helpful to wear loose, comfortable clothing that can be easily adjusted to access the areas being treated. Depending on your treatment, I may need access to your lower legs, arms, back or abdomen.

If we’re doing acupuncture, cupping or moxibustion, I’ll always explain what’s needed beforehand and your comfort and privacy come first.

You’ll be appropriately covered throughout your treatment, and there’s never any need to undress more than is necessary.

This is a slightly unusual one!

According to the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS), you can give blood after acupuncture without a four month wait if the acupuncture was performed by a Medical Practitioner registered with the Irish Medical Council, a Registered General Nurse working for such a Medical Practitioner, or a Chartered Physiotherapist registered with the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists.

Acupuncturists are not currently included in this list.

Therefore, if you have had acupuncture from a practitioner who isn't one of the healthcare professionals listed above, the IBTS currently states that you must wait 4 months (120 days) from your most recent treatment before donating blood.

This is an IBTS eligibility requirement and doesn't mean that acupuncture itself is unsafe. The rules are there to protect the blood supply and the patients receiving donations.

Your eligibility can also depend on why you are having acupuncture, along with other aspects of your medical history, so if you're unsure, the IBTS recommends checking their eligibility guidance or contacting their Donor Infoline on 1800 731 137.

So, if you've had acupuncture with me recently and you're planning to donate blood, please check with the IBTS before attending.