Acupuncture Association

28/07/2025

Can you afford not to have acupuncture?

Yes, you pay for acupuncture… but what if we told you it often pays you back? 😉

Acupuncture doesn’t just chase symptoms, it targets the *root cause*, helping your body restore balance and heal naturally.

That means fewer of these in the long run:
🧾 Monthly prescriptions
🚕 Trips back and forth to the GP
🛌 Time off work
🧘‍♀️ Missed yoga classes you already paid for
🍕 Comfort takeaways when you’re feeling rough
💊 Endless ‘quick fix’ supplements
😫 Wasted energy explaining your symptoms to *yet another* specialist

And yes, even that forgotten gym membership you’ll go back to *once you feel better*. 💪

Acupuncture is an investment in your long-term health and wellbeing; and in many cases, it ends up costing less than the cycle of managing symptoms alone.

👉 Find a trusted practitioner today at: https://acupunctureassociation.org.uk/clinic-locator/

28/07/2025

Cosmetic, Aesthetic, or just Facial? There is a difference.

Cosmetic, Facial and Aesthetic Acupuncture – What’s the Difference?

Though often used interchangeably, these terms describe distinct approaches within acupuncture when applied to the face.

Facial acupuncture refers to the use of traditional acupuncture techniques applied locally to the face, neck and scalp. It targets specific concerns like puffiness, lines or sagging, using superficial needling to stimulate circulation, muscle tone and local collagen production.

Cosmetic acupuncture is a broader, holistic method. It combines local facial and local body techniques with full-body acupuncture to address internal imbalances in order to improve skin quality, eye brightness, and blood flow, but also reducing fat layers, and treating the root causes as well as the surface area symptoms.

Aesthetic acupuncture, is actually the most targeted and technically refined of the three. It uses specialised aesthetic techniques and protocols designed to influence muscle tone, texture, deep lines and issues under the surface. Treatments often combine needle techniques that can do tiny amounts of muscle locking, or releasing, and can produce visible aesthetic changes in appearance such as lip plumping or eye hood lifting.

Each of these approaches has value, depending on whether the aim is localised skin support, whole-body harmony or a direct aesthetic enhancement.

So if you want to have some acupuncture done to make your appearance more aesthetic, think about whether you just want "facial acupuncture", or whether to seek out someone who can combine all three types.

24/07/2025

Recent research suggests acupuncture could be a valuable adjunct therapy for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A meta-analysis of 21 randomised controlled trials involving over 2,100 patients found that acupuncture significantly improved blood sugar control, including reductions in fasting blood glucose and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). Additional benefits included improved body mass index (BMI), cholesterol levels, and nerve function, which are important factors in managing diabetes complications.

While these findings are encouraging, the researchers note some variability between studies and recommend further high-quality trials to determine the most effective acupuncture protocols and patient groups.

For those exploring complementary approaches to diabetes care, acupuncture offers a promising option alongside conventional treatments.

Read the full study here: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1596062/full

21/07/2025

A stronger profession starts with unity.
When acupuncture schools, their members, and individual practitioners come together under one shared banner, we build a more cohesive, credible, and influential profession.

The Acupuncture Association welcomes both training providers and practitioners—offering a collective voice, shared professional standards, and a platform for positive change.

Whether you're a college, tutor, student or practitioner, you have a place with us.

👉 Join the movement: https://acupunctureassociation.org.uk/join-now/

17/07/2025

Acupuncture isn’t just rooted in thousands of years of tradition, it’s also one of the most widely researched forms of complementary medicine in the world.

In fact, hundreds of new trials involving acupuncture are published online every year, exploring its effects on everything from chronic pain and fertility to anxiety, insomnia, and long COVID.

✅ Many of these studies are indexed in trusted sources like PubMed
✅ Acupuncture is included in some NHS pathways and acknowledged by NICE for certain conditions
✅ The evidence base is continually growing, with systematic reviews showing positive outcomes across a wide range of concerns

But what keeps people coming back isn’t just the data, it’s the experience:
👉 Feeling seen and heard
👉 Deep relaxation during treatment
👉 Better sleep, digestion, energy, mood, and overall wellbeing

Whether you're drawn to the science, the tradition, or simply how it makes you feel, acupuncture continues to prove its value, year after year.

📍Find a trusted practitioner on the Acupuncture Association map here: https://acupunctureassociation.org.uk/clinic-locator/

14/07/2025

Singapore’s Ministry of Health has announced a significant step towards integrating evidence-based Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) into its national healthcare system. As part of a “sandbox initiative,” 18 TCM proposals—including the use of acupuncture for migraines, stroke rehabilitation, and cancer care—are being evaluated for clinical validity and cost-effectiveness.

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung emphasised that this is not wholesale adoption, but a careful selection of therapies shown to safely complement Western medicine and improve patient outcomes. If successful, these treatments could be offered in public clinics, with access to subsidies and MediSave support.

Currently, only acupuncture for neck and lower back pain is subsidised. The sandbox trials will run for one to two years, focusing on patient safety, robust evidence, and cost-effectiveness.

The AA welcomes this development as excellent news for acupuncture worldwide. We hope it marks the beginning of a growing acceptance of acupuncture on a broader, international scale, grounded in clinical research and collaboration.

With one in five adults in Singapore already accessing TCM services, this move further highlights the potential of integrated care models. A national award for outstanding TCM practitioners and educators will also launch in 2026 to recognise excellence in the field.

Read the full article here: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/moh-studying-18-proposals-to-integrate-tcm-into-public-healthcare?_nei=dc337d55-52b7-429a-8dfb-9c7d7a8d35e0

14/07/2025

At the Acupuncture Regulatory Authority (ARA), we believe in the strength of difference.

We’re proud to support a professional framework that actively welcomes diverse perspectives on what it means to be human, across cultures, identities, beliefs and experiences.

Discrimination has no place in our profession.
All clients deserve to be treated with fairness, dignity and respect, regardless of gender, sexuality, disability, race, faith, age, socio-economic status, or political belief.

We expect our member organisations and registrants to uphold these values, not only with clients, but within teams and workplaces too.

Together, we can ensure equality is not just an ideal – but a lived, everyday reality in acupuncture practice.

10/07/2025

Princess Kate has shared her personal journey with cancer, revealing that she embraced acupuncture as part of her treatment last year.

During a visit to Colchester Hospital's cancer wellbeing centre, she described her experience as "very scary, very daunting." It's inspiring to see her openness about alternative medicine, which has been long supported by her father-in-law King Charles.

07/07/2025

New dates and only a few places left!

If you previously couldn't attend this immersive 3-day classroom-based training on Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture (YNSA) at the Acumedic Clinic in Camden, then now is your chance.

🗓 NEW! Dates: 5th, 6th & 7th September
💷 Cost: £400 (includes 6 months online access to YNSA courses)

This active learning workshop will equip you with essential skills to treat patients with acute or chronic pain and neurological diseases.

🔑 Key Highlights:
- Learn from Dr. Toshikatsu Yamamoto's pioneering methods
- Master YNSA macros stem acupuncture points
- Gain practical experience with demonstrations and practice sessions
- Explore sensory and brain points, tinnitus treatment, and elbow diagnoses
- Understand the connection between fascia tissue and internal organs

At the end of the workshop, you will have a solid understanding of YNSA and how to incorporate it into your therapeutic toolbox!

🔗 Spaces are limited, so secure your spot today! https://totaltherapytraining.org/product/ynsa-2025/

03/07/2025

How many times have you heard this? We know we've heard it plenty!

Let's face it, our clients don't really understand what we do. They may believe in us, but to truly grasp the benefits of acupuncture, they need to experience it for themselves.

We love our profession, and we love it when others appreciate it too!

😁

30/06/2025

What’s your acupuncture specialism?
We're a diverse and passionate profession, and a divers and passional membership group, from fertility to musculoskeletal pain, stress relief to digestive health, every practitioner brings unique expertise to the table.

Take part in our community discussion and let us know your main area of focus, by or commenting below, and please also tell us if you wear many acupuncture hats! 👇

Let’s celebrate the variety within our membership and spark a few connections along the way.

🌱

30/06/2025

We heard about someone a few days back saying that if they were a student acupuncturist, they were told by their teachers, that they didn't have to disclose it, this simply isn't true. If you are a student who is practicing in order to do case studies, you HAVE to disclose it, otherwise your patient/client, isn't fully informed, and without FULL informed consent, your agreement, no matter how robust it is, isn't legal.

As a Student Acupuncturist, it’s crucial to inform your patients about your status. This transparency is essential not just for insurance purposes, but also for legal "informed consent." Remember, also, if you have limitations in your training, such as training only in musculoskeletal issues or certain protocols, it's vital to communicate this to your patients. Practicing outside your scope can lead to personal liability. Stay within your boundaries and always prioritize patient safety!