Community Acupuncture Clinic
What is community acupuncture?
Community acupuncture, also known as multi-bed acupuncture, is a practice that involves treating several patients together in a large treatment room.
This method is different from one to one acupuncture sessions, which is administered in a smaller, private space, with the practitioner treating only one person at a time.
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However, community acupuncture is similar to how Traditional Chinese acupuncture and medicine has been practised for thousands of years. In China, acupuncture is often performed in large hospital bays and clinics.
Because acupuncture needles are inserted and then left in place for between 20 and 40 minutes, our practitioners leave patients to relax and feel the healing effects of acupuncture while another is attended to. By treating multiple people at the same time, the cost of treatment can be reduced.
At Tonic Acupuncture, we are proud to have adopted this practice to ensure acupuncture treatments are more accessible and affordable to the broader community.
How does community acupuncture work?
Community acupuncture works by utilising a calming and welcoming clinic space with multiple treatment beds which allows practitioners to treat several people. The beds are kept separate with beautiful screens to help increase privacy.
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The consultation part of the session is kept as short as possible (40-50 mins for new patients and 10-15 mins), this is done in private before entering the main clinic room where possible for all new patients and in private where possible for follow up patients. You’ll then be taken through to your treatment bay where your acupuncture treatment is commenced. Any talking done at the treatment bay is done as quietly as possible for privacy and also to help keep the room a peaceful space.
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During your session, your practitioner will gently insert the hair-fine needles in to acupuncture points that are easily accessible. This could include your hands, arms, belly, legs, feet, neck ear or head. We advise you to wear clothing that allows easy access to these areas, such as loose tops, trousers, skirts etc.
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There will be a practitioner within ear shot at all times to ensure if anyone needs something, you will be tended to asap.
If you're interested in seeing what our community acupuncture clinic looks like, you can watch our recent video where you can see our uniquely themed treatment bays.
What will I feel like after acupuncture?
After your sessions, you are advised to rest, relax and rehydrate throughout the day to allow your body to rebalance and heal.
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People will tend towards feeling slightly fatigued after their first couple of acupuncture sessions.
This is because we have asked the body to do lots of healing, so it is making you feel tired to give you the sign that it needs the space and energy to do as we have asked.
So resting, drinking lots of water and eating, healthy and easy to digest foods will help your body heal. The more you can rest after your sessions, the better it is for the outcome of the treatment.
What are the benefits of community acupuncture?
Community acupuncture is a more affordable way for individuals to access acupuncture. Everyone should be able to experience the excellent health and wellbeing benefits of acupuncture, and community clinics help facilitate this by allowing practitioners to treat multiple patients at one time.
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Alongside the reduced costs, community clinics help create a positive atmosphere that benefits all patients. A collective spirit emerges from having several people in a larger treatment room, with many patients reporting that these sessions allow them to feel better connected and calmer. Being in a room of like-minded people experiencing their health journey can help patients they are not alone in their health troubles.
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How much does it cost?
At Tonic Acupuncture, we believe that everyone should have access to acupuncture, so we only ask patients to pay what they can afford and what value they take from each session. We will never question your affordability and respectfully request that patients pay what they can afford new appointments are between £45-£65 and follow up sessions are between £25-£45. You will never have your affordability questioned and you can choose from session to session how much you pay. You pay what you can afford and what value you take from each of the sessions. We know peoples disposable income can fluctuate from week to week, so we will never question the price you have chosen to pay. Paying more than the base price is greatly appreciated as it does help to keep the service viable, we currently don't receive any charity funding to help with providing this service.
What are the differences with community clinic treatments vs one to one treatments?
One to one acupuncture session allow more time for talking through complex health conditions (60-70 mins is usual in the first consultation and 15-25 mins in follow ups) plus allowing more time for additional therapeutic methods such as cupping, massage and moxibustion, if they are needed.
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During community clinic, there will be approximately 10 mins to discuss your symptoms and progress in follow ups, or 40-50 mins for new consultations. Then another 10 mins to get your needles in and a little bit of additional methods where time allows.
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Occasionally, for some patients, it may be beneficial to have a couple of one to one treatments to allow for some extra one to one time, this would be discussed together and we would find the most cost effective way for this. We fully understand and appreciate the financial cost and burden ill health can have on people. As acupuncture often requires many, weekly sessions for full effect, we will do all we can at Tonic Acupuncture to help with this burden where possible.
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We must add, that many patients love community treatments, they get a lot of benefits from their sessions and love the more affordable access to excellent acupuncture treatments.
Get in touch today
At Tonic Acupuncture, we are proud to offer affordable acupuncture treatments to those in our community.
If you would like to find out more about community acupuncture or have any questions, please get in touch with us today on 01772230969 or email us at clinic@tonicacu.co.uk.
To book a community acupuncture appointment, please visit our Community Clinic Booking Page.
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