What to expect from acupuncture at your first session: an in-depth intake conversation (60–90 minutes for your first appointment), followed by the careful insertion of up to 20 fine sterile needles at specific points on your body. Most patients feel immediate relaxation; the majority fall asleep during treatment. Amanda Ody MBAcC MRCHM explains everything before beginning and will give you a clear treatment plan before you leave.
Before Your First Session
Eat a light meal 1–2 hours before your appointment — never come on an empty stomach. Acupuncture moves Qi and circulation throughout the body, and patients who arrive fasted can feel light-headed or dizzy during or after treatment. Avoid heavy alcohol the night before and do not drink coffee in the hour before treatment if you are sensitive to caffeine.
Wear loose, comfortable clothing — ideally something that can be rolled up to expose the lower legs, lower arms, and upper back without restriction. You will not need to undress fully, though Amanda may ask you to lift a top to access points on the upper back or shoulders. There is a privacy screen and a fresh paper sheet on the treatment couch.
Bring any relevant medical history you have access to — recent blood-test results (including thyroid, hormone panels, or iron levels if checked), a current medication list including supplements, and any specialist letters if you have a complex condition. For fertility and women's health presentations in particular, recent GP records can be very useful. The more Amanda knows before she starts, the more targeted her point selection will be.
Amanda sends a short intake questionnaire by email before your first appointment, covering your main concern, health history, sleep, digestion, and energy levels. Completing this in advance lets her use the consultation time more efficiently — more time discussing your specific picture, less time on administrative questions.
The Consultation (First 20–30 Minutes)
The consultation is the heart of the first session and what distinguishes a properly trained acupuncturist from a brief-intake practitioner. Amanda will ask about your main complaint in detail — when it started, how it has changed over time, what makes it better or worse, whether it affects your sleep, energy, mood, or digestion. In Chinese medicine we look for patterns across the whole person rather than treating symptoms in isolation, so questions about your appetite, temperature regulation, or dreams may seem unrelated but they help build a complete picture.
Amanda will then take your pulse on both wrists. Pulse diagnosis takes 90 seconds to two minutes and feels very different from the brisk pulse-check at a GP surgery — she is reading depth, rhythm, quality, and width at three positions on each wrist, each corresponding to different organ systems. The tongue diagnosis takes 15 seconds and tells her about heat and cold patterns, fluid metabolism, and digestive function. Both are non-invasive and completely painless.
At the end of the consultation Amanda will explain her Chinese medicine diagnosis, which points she intends to use, and roughly how many sessions a realistic course might require based on your presentation. You are welcome to ask questions at any stage — understanding why she has chosen particular points and what they are intended to do is a normal part of the first appointment.
During Treatment (25–30 Minutes)
You will lie on a comfortable padded couch — face up, face down, or on your side depending on which points Amanda is using. She will insert between 8 and 20 fine sterile single-use needles at carefully selected points, usually a combination of points on the limbs (arms, hands, legs, feet) and occasionally the back, abdomen, or scalp. Each needle is individually sealed and disposed of in a clinical sharps bin immediately after the session.
The needles are significantly thinner than any injection needle you have encountered at a GP or hospital — approximately the diameter of a human hair. Most people feel a brief light tap as the needle passes through the skin, followed by the de qi response: a dull, heavy, or slightly spreading sensation at the needle site lasting a few seconds, which indicates the point has been accurately stimulated. After that you should feel very little or nothing. Many patients fall asleep on the treatment table within a few minutes.
The needles are retained for 20–25 minutes while you rest. Amanda may leave the room during this period or check in briefly — she will let you know what to expect. If anything feels uncomfortable at any point, please say so immediately; she will adjust or remove the needle. Minor discomfort at one or two points is not unusual in a first session as the body adjusts; persistent or sharp pain is not normal and should always be mentioned.
Amanda sometimes adds complementary techniques within the same session depending on what your presentation calls for: gentle moxa (warming herb applied near the needle), cupping on the back or shoulders, or a brief gua sha treatment for stubborn muscular tension. She will always explain and ask before adding anything. See acupuncture treatment at Amanda's clinic for the full range of techniques she uses.
Common Sensations During Treatment
It is normal to feel:
- A brief mild prick at the moment of needle insertion — finer than a blood-test scratch
- A heavy, dull, or spreading sensation around a needle — the de qi response, considered a positive clinical sign
- Warmth radiating outward from a needle point as local circulation increases
- A deep meditative relaxation — many patients describe it as the most still they have felt in months
- Occasionally, brief emotional release — rarely tears — as held tension lets go
- Drowsiness progressing into sleep, particularly after the first few minutes
It is not normal to feel sharp persistent pain. If any needle causes sustained discomfort, tell Amanda immediately — she will adjust its position or remove it. Not feeling the de qi response does not mean the treatment is not working; many effective treatments are entirely comfortable throughout.
After Your Session (24–72 Hours)
Once Amanda removes the needles, she will give you a few minutes to come back into the room. Most patients feel deeply relaxed, calm, and slightly dreamy for the rest of the day. Drink a large glass of water before leaving the clinic. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and heavy meals for 2–3 hours, and avoid intense exercise on the day of treatment.
In the 24–72 hours following your first session it is normal to experience:
- Tiredness or heaviness — the body is integrating the treatment. Rest is the most useful thing you can do on the day of acupuncture.
- A temporary intensification of your original symptoms — this sounds alarming but is well-recognised. It typically lasts 12–24 hours and is a sign the treatment has engaged the problem. If it persists beyond 48 hours, contact Amanda.
- Sleep changes — many patients notice better sleep quality within 2–3 nights, often before other symptoms shift.
- Emotional ease — a calmer, more grounded mood in the days following treatment, as the nervous system settles from its post-treatment downregulation.
Allow yourself a quiet evening if possible — the body continues to integrate the treatment for 24–48 hours. Some patients feel beautifully calm after a first session; a few feel briefly tired or "spaced out" for an hour or two. Both are normal responses.
Is Acupuncture Right for Me?
Acupuncture works well for a wide range of presentations, but it is not a universal solution. Amanda will always give you an honest assessment at your first consultation rather than recommending a course if she does not believe it will help you.
Conditions where acupuncture has the strongest clinical evidence and where Amanda sees the most consistent results in her Cambridge practice:
- Chronic musculoskeletal pain — back, neck, shoulder, hip, sciatica. NICE recommends acupuncture as a first-line option for chronic primary pain.
- Headache and migraine prevention — NICE recommends up to 10 sessions for chronic headache. Many patients notice reduced frequency within 4–6 sessions.
- Anxiety and sleep disorders — the nervous system response to acupuncture is rapid and consistent; sleep often improves within the first week.
- Fertility and women's health — for cycle regulation, IVF support, and perimenopause. Amanda's clinical experience in this area spans 25+ years.
- Digestive complaints — IBS, bloating, nausea. Acupuncture's effect on the autonomic nervous system directly influences gut motility.
Acupuncture is less well-evidenced for structural damage requiring surgical review, active acute infection, or conditions requiring emergency medical attention. Amanda will tell you clearly if she believes another approach should take priority for your presentation — and will refer accordingly.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
This depends entirely on the condition and how long it has been present. As a rough guide:
- Acute pain or recent injury: 3–4 sessions, often weekly
- Chronic pain or musculoskeletal: 6–8 sessions weekly, then monthly maintenance
- Anxiety, sleep, hormonal: 6–10 sessions weekly, then taper
- Fertility or pregnancy support: programme based on cycle or pregnancy stage — discussed individually
Amanda will give you a clear number at the end of your first session, and we will review at session 4. She does not continue a course without evidence it is working — if there is no measurable change after 4 sessions, we will discuss whether acupuncture is the right approach or whether a different referral makes more sense. See Amanda's fees for current session pricing.
Booking Your First Session in Cambridge or Saffron Walden
To book your first session, use the online booking page or call 07879 846483. The first session is £85 (75 minutes); follow-up sessions are £75 (50 minutes). Amanda sees patients in both her Cambridge and Saffron Walden clinics — please choose the location that works best for your schedule.
Acupuncture treats a wide range of conditions beyond pain — including digestive complaints and gut health conditions such as IBS and bloating, which are among the most common reasons patients seek treatment. Alongside acupuncture, many patients find that remedial massage complements their care, particularly for muscle tension that develops alongside stress or chronic conditions.
Related reading: About acupuncture · Chinese herbal medicine · About Amanda Ody