Not in the way most people expect. Acupuncture needles are about the width of a strand of hair – many times finer than the needles used for injections or blood tests, and nothing is being pushed through them.

Most people feel a brief tap as a needle goes in, and then a dull heaviness, warmth or slight ache around the point. That sensation is normal and usually settles within a few seconds. Plenty of people fall asleep during treatment.

If anything feels sharp or uncomfortable at any point, tell me and I’ll adjust or remove the needle straight away. Nothing has to be endured.

It depends on what you’re coming in for and how long it’s been going on. As a rough guide, something recent – a fresh injury, a cold that won’t shift – often responds within a handful of sessions. Long-standing issues usually need a course of weekly treatments before we taper off.

After your first appointment I’ll give you an honest estimate of what I think it will take, and we’ll review as we go. If you’re not noticing any change after a reasonable trial, I’ll say so rather than keep booking you in.

Loose, comfortable clothing is ideal – anything that rolls up easily above the elbow and knee, since many commonly used points sit on the lower arms and legs.

If treatment needs access to your back, shoulders or abdomen, you’ll be given privacy to undress to your comfort level and draped with towels throughout. You’re never more exposed than the treatment requires, and you can say no to anything.

The first visit is longer than the ones that follow, because most of it is conversation. I’ll ask about your main concern, but also about sleep, digestion, energy, stress and your cycle if relevant – these fill in the picture even when they seem unrelated.

I’ll look at your tongue and take your pulse at both wrists, which are the two traditional diagnostic tools. Then we’ll talk through what I’m seeing and what I’d suggest, and treatment usually follows in the same appointment.

Most people feel relaxed, and some feel noticeably sleepy for the rest of the day. Others leave with more energy than they arrived with. Both are common.

Occasionally there’s mild tenderness at a needle site or a small bruise, and cupping can leave circular marks that fade over several days. If you’ve had a big treatment, take it gently that evening, drink water, and try not to schedule anything demanding straight afterwards.

Many funds offer rebates for acupuncture when it’s provided by a registered practitioner, but cover varies a lot between funds and levels of extras.

The reliable way to check is to call your fund and ask what they cover for acupuncture with an AHPRA-registered Chinese medicine practitioner. I can provide a receipt with all the details needed to claim.

Yes – and I’d encourage it. Chinese medicine works well alongside conventional care rather than in place of it, and I’ll never ask you to stop treatment prescribed by your doctor.

Please do tell me about any medications or supplements you’re taking, particularly if herbs are part of your plan, so I can account for possible interactions. If something you describe needs a GP or specialist rather than me, I’ll tell you plainly.