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Acupuncture Association

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Acupuncture Association

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The Acupuncture Association is the association for all student or qualified Acupuncturists in the UK.

A member organisation of the British Acupuncture Federation

01/11/2026

Does acupuncture hurt? It's the question we're asked more than any other, and the honest answer is that it's different for everyone.

Some people don't feel the needles go in at all. Some notice a slight sensation, like a tingle, warmth or a dull heaviness around the point, and some will tell you that yes, it does hurt a bit, usually for a split second as the needle goes in.

Acupuncture needles are solid and very fine, usually somewhere between 0.16mm and 0.3mm across, so they're nothing like the hollow needle used for an injection or a blood test.

A large UK survey published in the BMJ (the York acupuncture safety study) looked at over 34,000 treatments. Pain at the needle site was recorded in 1.2% of them, while patients feeling relaxed afterwards was reported more than 4,000 times. You can read it here: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.323.7311.486

If you're nervous, tell your acupuncturist. They can talk you through each step and go at your pace.

Have you had acupuncture? What did it feel like for you? 👇

28/10/2026

Ever wondered who keeps the Acupuncture Association running?

Our team is mostly made up of experienced acupuncturists, and they look after everything our members rely on day to day. That includes keeping our websites working, making sure documentation is up to date, and checking every member can log in and receive their benefits.

We also work closely with the Acupuncture Regulatory Authority (ARA). AA is represented on the ARA board, and our team helps the ARA with its work with insurance companies, securing and maintaining member benefits, and its events, marketing and education.

For patients, it means the practitioner you see is backed by an association run by people who know acupuncture first-hand.

Members, which part of what we do has been most useful to you this year?

Find out more: https://acupunctureassociation.org.uk

25/10/2026

Ever noticed your acupuncturist pressing around an area before they place a needle?

That's palpation, and it's a big part of how practitioners find the right spot. A point chart gives the standard textbook location, but everyone's body is a little different, so your practitioner feels for things like tenderness, tightness or a change in the tissue to fine-tune where the needle goes.

Researchers at Kyung Hee University in Seoul have been looking at this for some time. In one of their studies, five points on the back were measured in 48 volunteers, and muscle tone and sensitivity varied from point to point. Last month the same team published a letter in the journal Acupuncture in Medicine calling for palpation to be built into the way acupuncture points are mapped.

So next time you feel that gentle pressing, you'll know what it's for.

Had you noticed your acupuncturist doing this, and did you know why?

Find a qualified practitioner: https://acupunctureassociation.org.uk

22/10/2026

📚 CPD Spotlight: courses not to be missed

Only a few spaces left on the Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture (YNSA) course in London, 30th October to 1st November.

YNSA is a scalp acupuncture system developed by Dr Toshikatsu Yamamoto in Japan. This three-day classroom workshop is taught by David Bomzon and Avi Amir of the Pnima International School of Scalp Acupuncture in Israel, both former students of Dr Yamamoto and authors of the Clinical Handbook of Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture.

Over the three days you'll learn:
- The basic points, sensory and brain points, and Ypsilon (internal organ) and cranial nerve points
- Neck and elbow diagnosis
- When and how to apply YNSA in practice
- Plenty of demonstration and hands-on practice

The tutors use YNSA across a wide range of presentations, from neurological rehabilitation and mobility problems to hormonal and gynaecological issues, anxiety and insomnia.

📍 Camden, London
🗓 Friday 30th October to Sunday 1st November
💷 £395, including online access to course material before the classroom days
✅ Open to qualified acupuncturists

Book your place: https://acupunctureassociation.org.uk/product/ynsa-2026/

Have you used scalp acupuncture in your practice? Let us know in the comments.

20/10/2026

Whether you come to acupuncture for sleep, stress, hormonal symptoms, digestion or low energy, what you do between appointments can help you get more from treatment. Here are a few things your acupuncturist may suggest 👇

✋ Learn a few acupressure points. Many practitioners show patients points to press at home, and there's research behind it. In a Hong Kong trial of 200 adults with insomnia, people taught self-acupressure in two short classes slept better than those given sleep hygiene advice, and also reported less anxiety and low mood. A University of Michigan trial of 270 breast cancer survivors with long-term fatigue found three minutes a day for six weeks brought fatigue back to normal levels for around 6 in 10 women, compared with about 3 in 10 on usual care.

😴 Protect your sleep. Regular bed and wake times, less screen time late in the evening and a calmer wind-down all give treatment a better base to work from.

🧘 Make room for rest. If stress is part of what brought you in, short daily breaks, a walk outside or some slow breathing can help keep up the calmer feeling many people notice after a session.

📝 Keep a simple diary. Note sleep, energy, mood, appetite, your cycle or whatever symptoms you came in for. Small changes are easy to forget, and your acupuncturist can use the detail to adjust your treatment.

📅 Stick to the treatment plan. Keeping to the spacing you've agreed, rather than stopping the moment you feel a bit better, gives acupuncture a fair chance.

🍵 Go easy after treatment. Many people feel relaxed or a little tired afterwards, so try not to plan a hard gym session, a big meal or a late night straight after.

What helps you most between appointments? Tell us in the comments.

Find an AA member near you: https://acupunctureassociation.org.uk/clinic-locator/

Sources: Yeung et al., Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Zick et al., JAMA Oncology (2016).

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15/10/2026

Our code of practice, explained 📋

Every Acupuncture Association member follows a Code of Professional Conduct, set by the Acupuncture Regulatory Authority. It sets out what you can expect when you see one of our members, and here are some of the main points:

- Your care comes first. Your practitioner will listen to you, explain what they find, and tell you clearly what treatment they're proposing and why.

- You're in control. Your practitioner needs your explicit consent before treating you, and you can change your mind at any time, even partway through a session.

- Your information stays private. Everything you share is confidential, including the fact that you've visited, and your notes are kept securely.

- Your dignity is respected. You'll only be asked to undress as far as treatment needs, you'll have privacy and a gown or blanket if required, and you have the right to a chaperone if treatment involves sensitive areas.

- Honest advertising. Members can't claim to cure conditions or make unrealistic promises about treatment.

- Working alongside your GP. With your consent, your practitioner can keep your GP informed if you are happy with that, and they'll encourage you to seek other medical help if acupuncture isn't the right approach for you.

- Care for children. Under 16s can only be treated with a parent or guardian's consent unless using the Gillick Comptence guidance.

- A way to raise concerns. Your practitioner must tell you how to make a complaint if you're ever unhappy with your care.

Find a qualified acupuncturist near you on our clinic locator: https://acupunctureassociation.org.uk/clinic-locator/

Is there anything else you'd want to know before your first appointment? 💬

13/10/2026

A lovely five-star review from one of our members ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"I have found AA to be a really great resource both when I was a student and as a licensed practitioner, useful resources and always very quick to respond to any queries I may have, thank you!"

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this. Supporting practitioners from their student days through to running their own clinics is a big part of what we do, and it's good to know the resources and help are making a difference.

If you're an acupuncturist or a student looking for a supportive association, you can find out more about membership here: https://acupunctureassociation.org.uk/join-now/

Are you an AA member? What do you find most useful about your membership? 💬

08/10/2026

How do you know an acupuncturist is properly qualified? Part 2: what good practice looks like in the treatment room 🩺

In part 1 we looked at the checks you can do before booking. Once you're in the clinic, here's what you can expect from a qualified acupuncturist:

- A full consultation first. Before any needles go in, they'll take a case history, including your health, any medication you take, and whether you're pregnant or trying to conceive.

- Clean, safe needles. They'll use single-use, sterile, pre-packed needles, wash their hands before treating you, and dispose of used needles in a sharps bin.

- A clear explanation. They'll tell you what they plan to do and why, what you might feel and any possible side effects, and check you're happy to go ahead.

- Honest expectations. A good acupuncturist won't promise a cure. If you're on several repeat prescriptions, they may recommend asking your GP or pharmacist for a medication review, and they'll suggest seeing your GP if something needs medical attention.

- Openness about cost. They'll give you an idea of how many sessions they'd expect and what each one costs, without pressure to book a big block.

- Keeping up to date. Qualified practitioners keep training throughout their careers through continuing professional development (CPD).

Find a qualified acupuncturist near you on our clinic locator: https://acupunctureassociation.org.uk/clinic-locator/

What helped you feel at ease at your first acupuncture appointment? 💬

05/10/2026

How do you know an acupuncturist is properly qualified? Part 1: the checks you can do before you book 🔍

Acupuncture isn't regulated by law in the UK, so it's worth doing a little homework first. Here are four things to look for:

- A recognised qualification. Ask where they trained and what qualification they hold. A qualified practitioner will be happy to tell you.

- Membership of a professional association. Associations set standards for training, conduct and hygiene, and give patients a way to raise concerns if something goes wrong. Ask which association they belong to and check they're listed with it.

- Local council registration. Most acupuncturists need to be registered with their local council for skin piercing. In London, practitioners who belong to an association the council recognises can be exempt, so feel free to ask which applies to them.

- Insurance. They should hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance that covers acupuncture.

The Acupuncture Association is open to practitioners who have qualified from a recognised training establishment, and you can find one of our members near you on our clinic locator: https://acupunctureassociation.org.uk/clinic-locator/

In part 2, we'll look at what a qualified acupuncturist does once you're in the treatment room.

What did you check before booking your first acupuncture appointment? 💬

29/09/2026

Is acupuncture safe during pregnancy? It's a common question, and here's the approach we recommend 🤰

- First trimester: we recommend no acupuncture, unless your practitioner is working with specific points using fertility methods and has been trained to support the early growth of the baby.

- After the first trimester: your practitioner should check the contraindications of every point they plan to use, and make sure they aren't using any points that are contraindicated in pregnancy.

- The lower torso: unless a practitioner has specific training and experience in pregnancy care, we recommend no needling around the lower abdomen and lower back, because of the risk that many points in this area could cause things to shift too early.

Some points are traditionally forbidden in pregnancy, including SP6, LI4, GB21 and BL60. They're listed as contraindicated in A Manual of Acupuncture by Peter Deadman, Mazin Al-Khafaji and Kevin Baker, a standard point reference in acupuncture training, and a properly trained acupuncturist will know to avoid them.

When it's done carefully, acupuncture later in pregnancy can help with back and pelvic pain. A 2022 review of 10 trials in BMJ Open found it improved pain, day-to-day function and quality of life: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056878

If you're pregnant or trying to conceive, always tell your acupuncturist before treatment, and don't be afraid to ask which points they'll be using and why.

Find a qualified acupuncturist near you on our clinic locator: https://acupunctureassociation.org.uk/clinic-locator/

Did you have acupuncture while you were pregnant? What did you find it helped with? 💬

Address

Riverside, Sunderland House, Sunderland Road
Macclesfield
SK116JF

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 7pm
Tuesday	10am - 7pm
Wednesday	10am - 7pm
Thursday	10am - 7pm
Friday	10am - 7pm
Saturday	10am - 5pm

Website

https://www.acupunctureassociation.org.uk/

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