It’s not unusual to have a few questions before you try something new. Will it work for you? What will it feel like? What should I wear ?

Here are some of the questions I’m asked most.

I’m asked this question so often.

In a healthcare world led by pharmaceutical treatments , we’re used to a set number of tablets for a set number of days - a course of treatment lasting for a definite period of time.

The National Institute for Care and Excellence (NICE) provide guidance for the NHS. It often comes with recommendations for ‘how much?’ - how many treatments, how long they should last and, in the case of drugs, how big the dose should be.

Yet we are individuals, each shaped by a combination of factors such as the genes we inherited, the way we’ve lived our lives, and what’s happening right now.

Fifty-five year old Andy came to came to see me with chronic back pain. He’d tried a few other treatments without success. Now, with the tough physical challenge of a sailing race looming, he desperately needed help.

Could acupuncture help him?

It’s one of the questions I’m most often asked …… “will acupuncture work for me and my problem?”.

And it’s understandable. No-one wants to waste their hard-earned cash on an ineffective treatment. In answer, I usually give an indication of the likelihood of acupuncture helping someone. But I also add that I can’t guarantee it - and nor can any other practitioner. Here’s why…..

Imagine a healthcare system that has been used for over 2,000 years—one that sees not just your symptoms, but the whole you. This is the essence of Chinese medicine.

Entrepreneur Giselle Boxer recently featured on the popular television show, Dragon’s Den. She had suffered from M.E, or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and credited her recovery to four things. She said “I went on a personal healing journey using diet, acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and ear seeds. 'Using this combination, I believe, helped me recover in less than 12 months”.

The episode has sparked debate about ear seeds and other forms of Chinese Medicine. It focused attention for this ancient practice, but also led to misrepresentation. Viewers and healthcare professionals, including acupuncturists, raised concerns about the programme.

Acupuncture is often dismissed by western scientists because they don’t understand how it works. That’s understandable. Chinese medicine practitioners talk a different language. We ramble on about Qi, Zang Fu organs, channels, extraordinary vessels and the like. But, at the end of the day, we’re treating the same body and there is plenty of evidence that acupuncture works well for a wide range of conditions (see my “Does Acupuncture Work” blog).

If only I had a pound for every time someone asked me that question! It usually comes up when someone is trying to decide how to deal with a health issue and is not sure what to do.

Not so long ago, you went to your family doctor if you were ill. Nowadays, there is a wealth of choice. That’s great in one respect, but it can also be confusing.