Our Acupuncturist
Imogen Bagust
Acupuncturist
BSc (Hons) Lic Ac MBAcC
Acupuncture in Gloucester: A Guide to Traditional Therapy in the Heart of Gloucestershire
Acupuncture appointments at Longlevens Chiropractic & Sports Injury Clinic offer time to discuss your symptoms, your health and what you would like to change. Our Acupuncturist, Imogen Bagust, BSc (Hons) Lic Ac MBAcC, will explain the proposed approach so you can decide whether it is right for you.
People considering acupuncture often have practical questions: what happens during a session, what the needles feel like, whether treatment fits with other care and how to judge progress. Understanding those details is part of making a useful treatment decision.
What does acupuncture involve?
Acupuncture uses very fine needles placed at selected points in the body. The needles stimulate tissues and nerves; they do not inject medication. Some points may be close to the area of discomfort, while others may be elsewhere. Your practitioner should explain the areas being treated and check that you are comfortable with the approach.
Traditional acupuncture describes treatment using its own system of points and patterns. Scientific research also examines effects on pain processing and the nervous system. These explanations do not establish that acupuncture treats every condition or that a particular result will occur.
What does the evidence tell us?
The evidence and recommendations vary according to the condition. NICE allows consideration of a limited course of acupuncture for chronic primary pain in people aged 16 and over, subject to its specified conditions. Its separate guideline on low back pain, with or without sciatica, recommends against offering acupuncture for that problem. Those are different recommendations for different clinical circumstances.
Ask how the available evidence applies to your symptoms, what other options are reasonable and what improvement would count as worthwhile. Acupuncture should not delay a medical diagnosis or replace prescribed care without discussion with the clinician responsible for it. Benefits vary, and some people find that it does not help.
Book an acupuncture appointment online or call 01452 309372. Our Longlevens clinic has free parking and full disabled access.
The History of Acupuncture
Originating in China, acupuncture developed as part of a broader system of traditional Chinese medicine and has since spread globally, influencing healthcare practices across cultures. Its history reflects changing understandings of the human body, health and disease, as well as the interaction between traditional knowledge and modern science.
Early Origins in Ancient China
One of the most influential early texts is the Huangdi Neijing, commonly translated as The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine. Medical writings compiled during the Han dynasty helped form this foundational work. It presents acupuncture within a philosophical framework, explaining health through concepts including yin and yang, qi and pathways called meridians.
These are traditional explanatory concepts. Understanding their historical importance does not establish that meridians are anatomical structures or that a treatment is effective for a particular medical condition.
Development of Acupuncture Theory
Over centuries, Chinese physicians refined acupuncture theory and practice. By the Tang dynasty, formal medical education was well established, including teaching in acupuncture. Practitioners developed descriptions of points and needling techniques, passing knowledge through texts and training.
Bronze figures marked with acupuncture points were used as educational tools. The Science Museum Group’s collection includes an eighteenth-century Chinese training model that illustrates how students learnt point locations. These objects offer a tangible connection with the history of medical education.
Spread Beyond China
Acupuncture developed different traditions as it travelled. European accounts appeared in the seventeenth century, and interest in the West grew particularly strongly during the 1970s. Today, practitioners may train in different systems, so it is useful to ask about a practitioner’s qualifications and approach rather than assuming all acupuncture is identical.
Acupuncture in the Modern World
Today, acupuncture is practised worldwide and is often classified as a complementary therapy. Modern research examines its possible effects on nerves, pain processing and other tissues, while clinical studies ask whether it improves outcomes for particular conditions.
The history of acupuncture is a story of continuity and adaptation. Its long use is part of the history of medicine; decisions about present-day treatment also need current evidence, an assessment of suitability and a discussion of benefits, risks and alternatives.
The Science Behind Acupuncture
Nervous System Activation
Research investigates how needle stimulation may affect the nervous system and tissues around the needle. How acupuncture works is not fully understood. Proposed biological effects should not be treated as proof that it will help every symptom.
Physiological and Contextual Effects
The relationship with the practitioner, expectations and the setting can also influence symptoms. In many studies the difference between acupuncture and no treatment is greater than the difference between acupuncture and simulated acupuncture. Both the comparison used and the condition studied matter when interpreting a result.
Why Results Vary Between Individuals
Not everyone responds to acupuncture in the same way. Agree what you hope to improve, how progress will be assessed and when to review the plan. If treatment is not helping, discuss the next step rather than assuming that more sessions will necessarily produce a benefit.
Further reading: British Acupuncture Council: historical background; Science Museum Group: acupuncture training model; NCCIH: effectiveness and safety; NICE chronic primary pain guidance; NICE low back pain guidance.
Questions about acupuncture
Choosing an appointment is easier when you know who you will see, where to find us and what to discuss before treatment. These answers cover common questions about our Gloucester acupuncture service.
What to expect from acupuncture
Preparing for your first visit
It can help to make a short note of when your symptoms began, what makes them better or worse, and which daily activities are affected. Bring an up-to-date list of medicines and details of relevant investigations or treatment. There is no need to arrive with your own diagnosis.
Tell Imogen about a bleeding disorder, blood-thinning medicines, pregnancy or possible pregnancy, skin infections, implanted medical devices and any previous reaction to acupuncture. This information may affect suitability or the techniques used. If you are unsure whether a health condition matters, mention it before treatment.
Loose clothing may make access to the agreed treatment areas easier. If needles make you anxious, say so at the beginning. Ask how you will be positioned, what clothing needs to be moved and whether you can have someone accompany you.
Your comfort and consent
A first appointment should allow discussion before needles are used. You can ask why a treatment is suggested, what alternatives exist and what the likely costs are. Consent is an ongoing conversation: you can decline a technique, request an adjustment or stop treatment.
People describe different sensations, including a brief prick, heaviness or a dull ache. Tell your practitioner promptly if something feels sharp, strongly painful or otherwise uncomfortable. You do not need to tolerate distress to make a session worthwhile.
Useful questions include: “Which areas will you treat?”, “What might I feel afterwards?” and “What should I do if I feel unwell?” Clear answers help you make a decision that fits your preferences.
Possible side effects and aftercare
Temporary soreness, a small bruise or bleeding at a needle site, tiredness, nausea or light-headedness can occur. Serious complications, including infection or a punctured lung, are rare but are possible. Appropriate training, sterile single-use needles and suitable technique are important.
Ask for aftercare advice specific to the treatment you received. Do not drive or use machinery if you feel drowsy or faint. If symptoms are severe or unexpected, seek medical advice; new chest pain or breathing difficulty after needling needs urgent assessment.
How will we decide whether treatment is helping?
Agree a clear goal and a review point before committing to ongoing visits. A goal might relate to a particular activity or the frequency with which symptoms interrupt your day. Keep the measure simple enough to use consistently.
At a review, discuss the size and duration of any improvement, side effects, the time involved and the cost. Brief relaxation during an appointment may feel pleasant, but it is worth distinguishing that from a lasting change in the problem you came about. If there is no meaningful benefit, discuss changing or stopping the approach.
Acupuncture alongside other care
Tell each professional involved in your care about the treatments you receive. If you are also seeing a GP, Chiropractor or physiotherapist, shared understanding of your goals can help avoid confusing advice. Do not stop prescribed medicines on the basis of this article or a temporary improvement.
Ask which everyday activities and self-management steps are appropriate for you. An appointment should leave you with a clear understanding of the next step, rather than feeling that you must book indefinitely.
Book acupuncture at Longlevens
Find us at Longlevens Chiropractic & Sports Injury Clinic, 14 Cheltenham Road, Gloucester, GL2 0LS. Read Imogen’s profile, check current fees or contact the clinic with a question. Call 01452 309372 if you would like help before booking.
Further reading: NICE chronic primary pain guidance; NICE low back pain guidance; UCLH patient information; North Bristol NHS acupuncture information; NHS Wales acupuncture information.
Accreditations & Affiliations
Chiropractic Organisations
Healthcare Insurance Companies
The Royal College of Chiropractors Clinical Management Quality Mark
Managing the Clinical Environment
The Royal College of Chiropractors Patient Partnership Quality Mark
Meeting Patient Expectations
