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Acupuncture Q&As

Published by Bupa's health information team, June 2009.

Answers to questions about acupuncture

This section contains answers to common questions about this topic. Questions have been suggested by health professionals, website feedback and requests via email.

 

What qualifications does an acupuncture practitioner need?

It's important that you find a trained practitioner who is registered with a professional body. At the moment anyone in the UK can call themselves an acupuncturist, even if he or she doesn't have professional qualifications or experience.

Explanation

The British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) is the main body for professional traditional acupuncturists in the UK. Members of the BAcC are required to complete at least three years' training in traditional acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine at an accredited training college or university. The practitioner will carry the letters MBAcC after his or her name.

The British Medical Acupuncture Society (BMAS) is the professional body for doctors and other health professionals, including dentists and nurses, who use acupuncture. Medical acupuncturists usually have fewer training hours in the acupuncture technique and use it as part of their practice. All members are UK registered health professionals who hold a Certificate of Accreditation and have obtained the Diploma of Medical Acupuncture. Practitioners must renew their accreditation every five years.

Chartered physiotherapists may also train as practitioners and become members of the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (AACP). A physiotherapist must have completed an 80-hour foundation course or a university degree in acupuncture before he or she can register with the AACP.

Further information

Sources

  • Practitioner search. British Acupuncture Council. www.acupuncture.org.uk, accessed 22 January 2009
  • Questions. The British Medical Acupuncture Society. www.medical-acupuncture.co.uk, accessed 22 January 2009
  • British Medical Acupuncture Society. Membership. www.medical-acupuncture.co.uk, accessed 3 February 2009
  • Mapping the evidence base and use of acupuncture within the NHS. Roberts J, Moore D, Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, 2007, report number 59. www.rep.bham.ac.uk
  • AACP training overview. Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists. www.aacp.uk.com, accessed 22 January 2009
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How much does acupuncture cost?

There is no fixed price for acupuncture and the cost will vary depending on how much treatment you need. Typically the first consultation will be in the range of £45 to £55 and follow-up appointments will be about £35 to £45 per session.

Explanation

The cost of the acupuncture treatment will differ with each practitioner and clinic. It will also depend on the number of acupuncture sessions you receive. Your acupuncturist will probably recommend a course of four to eight treatment sessions.

Your acupuncturist will assess your condition in your initial consultation and select the treatment he or she thinks is best. This will give you a good idea of how many sessions you will need. He or she will also review your condition throughout the course of your treatment so you're aware of your progress and the cost of your treatment.

Further information

Sources

  • General info about acupuncture. The British Medical Acupuncture Society. www.medical-acupuncture.co.uk, accessed 22 January 2009
  • Acupuncture treatments. British Acupuncture Council. www.acupuncture.org.uk, accessed 22 January 2009
  • Questions and answers. British Acupuncture Council. www.acupuncture.org.uk, accessed 22 January 2009
  • Personal communication, Nuala Price MBAcC, acupuncturist, 22 January 2009
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Can I donate blood after having acupuncture?

Yes, but only if your treatment has been performed by the NHS, or if the practice where you received your treatment has been approved by the National Blood Service. This is because there is a risk of hepatitis and other infections if acupuncture hasn't been carried out under approved conditions.

Explanation

If you have had acupuncture and it has been performed by NHS staff on NHS premises, you may donate blood. You may also donate blood if your practitioner is registered with a professional organisation approved by the National Blood Service, such as the British Acupuncture Council. The practitioner can provide you with a certificate to allow you to give blood. You will need to present this certificate when you donate to show that your treatment has been carried out under approved conditions.

If your practitioner isn't registered with an approved organisation, you can't donate blood for six months after your last acupuncture treatment. You will need to have an additional blood test between six and 12 months after treatment to check that you don't carry any risk of infection.

Further information

Sources

  • Information about blood donation. The British Medical Acupuncture Society. www.medical-acupuncture.co.uk, accessed 22 January 2009
  • Who can't give blood. National Blood Service. www.blood.co.uk, accessed 22 January 2009
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What is the difference between traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture and medical acupuncture?

The difference in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) acupuncture and medical acupuncture lies in the way that each approaches acupuncture and the philosophy behind the diagnosis and treatment.

Explanation

In traditional acupuncture, the diagnosis partly depends on an energetic diagnosis assessing the flow of qi. Practitioners of TCM believe that energy called qi flows around your body in channels (meridians). Equal and opposite properties called yin and yang are thought to become unbalanced, causing illness. The needles used in acupuncture aim to restore this balance.

In medical acupuncture, your practitioner will make a diagnosis using the same techniques as those of conventional medicine. This is based on the idea that acupuncture needles stimulate nerve endings and alter the way your brain functions, particularly in relation to how your body responds to pain. Medical acupuncturists use acupuncture techniques as part of their practice alongside conventional treatments.

Further information

Sources

  • Report to Ministers from the Department of Health steering group on the statutory regulation of practitioners of acupuncture, herbal medicine, traditional Chinese medicine and other traditional medicine systems practised in the UK. Department of Health, 2008. www.dh.gov.uk
  • Introducing acupuncture. British Acupuncture Council. www.acupuncture.org.uk, accessed 22 January 2009
  • A short history of acupuncture. British Acupuncture Council. www.acupuncture.org.uk, accessed 22 January 2009
  • General info about acupuncture. The British Medical Acupuncture Society. www.medical-acupuncture.co.uk, accessed 22 January 2009
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This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.

Publication date: June 2009

Acupuncture factsheet

 

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