The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road, SW1W 8RH London
Acupuncture
Complementary and alternative medicine. MEDICINE HCA UK provides complementary and alternative medicine to treat a range of chronic disorders, including headaches.
About
Acupuncture is used to provide an alternative method of pain relief treatment for chronic conditions. It uses fine needles that are inserted into certain parts of the body to stimulate your nerve endings and muscles and reduce pain as a result.
Need to know
Acupuncture can help to treat a range of chronic conditions including: headaches, tension headaches, migraines, chronic pain, neck pain, joint pain, dental pain, post-operative pain and arthritis.
Traditional acupuncture is based on the belief that a “life force” (or energy) known as “Qi” (pronounced “chee”) must flow freely through the body in order to prevent illness.
During treatment, fine needles are inserted just under the skin or into your muscle to help the body produce natural substances such as pain reducing endorphins. It is quick and non invasive.
Acupuncture is a very safe procedure; however there are some risks and side effects involved. Your consultant will explain these and answer any questions you might have.
Acupuncture treatment typically takes between 20 and 40 minutes before the needles are removed, and in order to get the maximum benefit from the therapy you may need to have a course of up to 10 sessions.
During the treatment, you may be required to remove some of your clothes and you’ll usually be asked to sit or lie down.
After the procedure, you should be free to go home straight away, once the consultant has assessed your condition. They will also advise you on how to best manage your ongoing treatment and pain relief and whether your usual daily routines will be affected.
Our Acupuncture locations
The Wellington Hospital
8A Wellington Place NW8 9LE London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street W1G 8BJ London
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London
Institute of Sport Exercise and Health (ISEH)
170 Tottenham Court Road W1T 7HA London
The Shard Outpatients
The Shard, 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
Sydney Street Outpatients
102 Sydney Street SW3 6NR London
Elstree Waterfront Outpatients
Beaufort House WD6 3BS Elstree
The Wellington Hospital Outpatients
15 - 17 Lodge Road NW8 7JA London
Private Care at Guy's
London Bridge Hospital Private Care at Guy's SE1 9RT London
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David’s gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist, former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.