Pricing Options
Private · 60 min · NZD $80
With ACC cover · 60 min · NZD $25
Acupuncture
Acupuncture uses very fine, single-use sterile needles at specific points to help regulate pain, stress, and recovery. If you are new to acupuncture, treatment is usually gentle and most people feel only a mild ache, warmth, or tingling sensation. Your plan is adjusted each visit based on symptoms, sleep, energy, and progress.
Service Details
What Is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a regulated therapeutic intervention that uses fine, single-use sterile needles inserted at specific anatomical points. In modern clinical practice, it is primarily used to manage pain, regulate nervous system function, and support recovery from injury or chronic dysfunction.
While acupuncture originates from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), contemporary practice increasingly integrates biomedical understanding with classical theory.
How a Session Works
A consultation begins with a detailed clinical assessment, including:
Needles are placed at carefully selected points based on both anatomical relevance and functional pattern assessment. Most patients describe the sensation as mild pressure or warmth rather than sharp pain.
Sessions typically last 30–45 minutes.
- Medical history
- Current symptoms
- Injury history (if applicable)
- Lifestyle and stress factors
Scientific Understanding
Modern research suggests acupuncture may:
Neuroimaging studies demonstrate measurable changes in brain regions associated with pain and stress response after acupuncture.
- Stimulate peripheral nerves
- Activate endogenous opioid release (natural pain modulation)
- Influence central nervous system pain processing
- Regulate autonomic nervous system balance
- Increase local blood flow
Conditions Commonly Treated
Acupuncture is widely used for:
In New Zealand, acupuncture can also be accessed through ACC treatment provider pathways.
- Chronic low back pain
- Neck and shoulder tension
- Osteoarthritis-related knee pain
- Headaches and migraine
- Sports injuries
- Stress-related tension
- Post-injury rehabilitation
Historical Context
Acupuncture has been used in Chinese medicine for more than two thousand years. Classical texts explain it through channel theory and qi regulation; modern clinicians may also interpret its effects through neurophysiology and fascial response.
Safety and Clinical Standards
When performed by trained professionals using sterile disposable needles, acupuncture is generally considered safe. Side effects are usually mild and temporary.