Frecuently asked questions

The first consultation will involve questions about lifestyle, previous illness, diet and a full medical history. There will be questions that might seem irrelevant to the illness and you might wonder why I am looking at your tongue and taking your pulse; however, all this information is building up a detailed picture and will help individual diagnoses. All treatments are tailored to treat you as an individual.

When the needle is inserted, you will feel a little pin prick in the skin that is very slight and lasts for only a second. It is common to experience a tingling or mild electric feeling traveling to another point after the needle has been adjusted. You should never experience pain, if you experience any signs of pain you should let me know straight away as this is not normal, the needle will be removed with no further damaging effects.

The needles used are hair-thin and, most importantly, they are sterile disposable stainless steel needles for single use only.

Acupuncture is a low risk, safe and non-invasive therapy with no inherent side effects. Some people experience small bruises but the majority of people do not. It is common for marks to be left for a day or two after cupping has been done.

The amount of treatments varies depending on the severity of the illness and the body’s ability to heal itself and how it responds to the therapy. Acute illnesses or injuries only need a few sessions whereas chronic illnesses or problems will require more time.

The short answer is no. While having a positive state of mind helps with any type of treatment, conventional or otherwise, it is not necessary to "believe" in acupuncture for it to work. This is evidenced not only through clinical study in "non-believers", but by the fact that young children and animals (who cannot be instructed to "believe") receive relief through the use of acupuncture.

Women can have a PreNatal massage at any point in their pregnancy – during the first, second, or third trimester with Eimear as she is a qualified pregnancy massage therapist.
Women with the following conditions should speak with their GP or obstetrician before receiving a massage:
- High risk pregnancy
- Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH)
- Preeclampsia
- Experiencing severe swelling, high blood pressure, or sudden, severe headaches

Depending on the type of treatment, you may or may not need to undress.
For a full body massage using oil, women will need to undress down to their underwear and men down to their boxer shorts. Jewellery should also be removed. I will leave the room until you have got onto the table and covered yourself with the towel provided. You will be covered with towels at all times during the treatment, except the area being worked on.
With tuina massage you do not need to undress but you should wear loose comfortable clothing. For reflexology, clients only need to remove shoes and socks.

If you want anything changed in your treatment for example more/less pressure, areas worked on, if you are too hot or too cold, don’t want to listen to music etc... please let me know at any time. It is important that you feel comfortable, and relaxed during the treatment.
You will not hurt my feelings by asking for something that will make you more comfortable. I want this to be the best experience for you. This is your time.

This depends on the type of massage and the depth of the strokes. A light, relaxing massage that doesn't go too deeply into the muscles won’t hurt. A deep tissue or sports massage may hurt a bit, but it should be the 'feels good' hurt and not the 'ouch, stop it' hurt. A good massage, even a really deep tissue massage, should always stay in the 'feels good' hurt range.
Pain can be an indication that the muscle is possibly injured or inflamed and pressure should be adjusted. Also, pain can cause you to tighten up and negate the relaxing effects of the massage. The most effective and deepest massage should always work with your body's natural response, not against it.

After your massage, you should drink lots of water to further release toxins from your body, and if you have had a deep tissue massage, drinking lots of water will also help ease any tenderness felt afterwards.

It varies from person to person. If you are just looking for some occasional relaxation then you should book whenever you feel like a massage.
However, if there is a specific condition that you want to address or if you have been suffering from chronic pain, then it is recommended that you go more frequently at first and then attend for maintenance sessions.
After your treatment I will have a better understanding of your particular muscular issues and I will be able to give you a better indication of frequency if any follow up visits are required.