Book a Consultation in Person
Find out about a Consultation with Jonathan Clogstoun-Willmott, one of Scotland’s most experienced practitioners!
So what happens your first time?
PLEASE NOTE! Appointments with Jonathan are now at Lothian Acupuncture in East Lothian –in Ormiston – and no longer in Edinburgh.
Currently he sees patients on Mondays and Thursdays.
To see times available and to book your appointment, CLICK HERE.
After completing registration which gives me your name, address and so on, I shall ask you to tell me all about your reasons for coming, the nature of the pain or problem(s) you have, its background and the background of your health.
As you talk I am deciding what sort of energy you have, because if I can gauge this I can work out how to treat you more effectively.
If you are seeking homoeopathic treatment from me, then I shall be looking for a homoeopathic remedy that ‘matches’ your symptom picture. Click here for more about homoeopathy!
However, this site being about explaining Chinese medicine and acupuncture in English, you may have come for acupuncture or Chinese medicine!
If so, I may then differentiate your problem, for instance, into the syndromes of Chinese medicine and the acupuncture channels affected. From there I can decide on treatment.
Usually I would explain my thinking to you and give you some idea of the likely prognosis, and of how many treatments you will probably need before you can expect some improvement.
I need to know what other treatments you have had or are having, and I do need to know what medication(s), health enhancing substances, vitamins, minerals, protein drinks or other supplements you are taking in addition to food.
Although I do not insist, I prefer it if your own doctor knows that you are receiving treatment from me.
Life being what it is, people often visit me when they have tried many other treatments.
Whilst they have been looking for a cure, their health may have diminished and their disease may perhaps have become more chronic. Whereas one treatment might have ‘cured’ the problem some years before, it now requires a series of treatments.
This means that some people need only a few treatments (sometimes just one!), others need ten, twenty or more.
Once better, many people return for a ‘top-up’ consultation and treatment from time to time.
PLEASE NOTE!
No acupuncture or skin piercing treatment will be carried out on any person under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Also …
No acupuncture (skin piercing) will be carried out on any person (child) under 16 unless accompanied by a person who has parental rights and responsibilities in respect of that person (child) and who has also given their consent in writing to the acupuncture (skin piercing).
[Licenced and Authorised ‘operator’: Jonathan Clogstoun-Willmott MBAcC membership no. 951068]
Contra-Indications for Acupuncture
Click here for information on the usual contra-indications for Acupuncture
Acupuncture Does Not Treat
Acupuncture as the only therapy cannot cure many health conditions. Below is a partial list.
But in a secondary capacity it often greatly helps problems related to the conditions below. Also, the experience of Oriental medicine can often suggest ways to help conditions via diet and lifestyle.
Emergencies
Broken bones, lacerations, other blunt force trauma conditions should not be treated first with acupuncture. Once western medicine is used and recovery begins, acupuncture can help with the pain and recovery process. So, if you break a leg, acupuncture improves discomfort and then healing of the muscular trauma.
Disease
Bacterial diseases and some viral diseases need to be treated with Western medicine. Acupuncture can be used as a complementary medicine to help ease symptoms and heal faster. The theory of Chinese medicine may be helpful where Western medicine fails. So, acupuncture can often greatly improve discomfort from your body’s reaction to disease and may speed recovery.
Cancer
Only an oncologist can cure cancer. Once again, an acupuncturist can often help with nausea and neuropathy from chemotherapy and may later improve speed of recovery.
Heart Disease
Here, acupuncture can stabilise and help with symptoms and quality of life.
Diabetes
In many cases, lifestyle changes can reverse diabetes, but acupuncture alone cannot cure diabetes. It can however help with complications related to diabetes such as neuropathy.
Acupuncture is part of Oriental medicine, which when utilized fully – herbs, diet and acupuncture – then Type II Diabetes may sometimes be reversed.
Surgery.
For cancerous tumour removal, repair of soft tissue tears, major organ surgeries etc, acupuncture cannot replace the surgery. However, when surgery is advised for orthopaedic problems, acupuncture is worth trying first.
I have treated people with acupuncture that have avoided surgery for: rotator cuff injuries, knee pain, lower back pain, neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and more.
If this consultation is your first experience of Chinese medicine and acupuncture, I know you may be a little apprehensive! The ideas used in Chinese medicine are very different from the Western medicine you are used to, and the way disease is treated is quite different too. On the other hand, if you are interested in homoeopathic treatment, you’ll find that most of the time is spent talking and much less time, if any, on physical examination. |
What are people saying about Jonathan's consultations
How Will You Feel after Treatment?
If you receive acupuncture, you may find that you feel pleasantly relaxed, or a little tired after the first treatment. If this happens, I suggest you try to take a rest. And go to bed early if you can.
Instructions for the Day of Treatment
On the day of your consultation or treatment, I suggest you take no coffee, strong stimulants, or alcohol.
Immediately before or after treatment please do not eat a large meal and do not take any very vigorous exercise. However, please don’t come for acupuncture treatment having had no food for 12 hours or more. Your body needs to have some good food in it to benefit from acupuncture – but not a ‘feast’!
Are you on Medication?
If you are taking prescribed or self-prescribed drugs, do not stop taking them! Please discuss them with me at each consultation or treatment session before you make changes. This is another reason why I prefer that your doctor knows you are visiting me. If your medication is to change, I prefer that he takes that decision.
However, if you are on medication and unhappy about telling your own doctor, please consider getting a second opinion from a qualified medical practitioner before changing the medication that you take.
What Else to Tell me
-Have you ever experienced a fit, faint or funny turn?
-If you have a pacemaker or any other electrical implants;
-If you have a bleeding disorder;
-Are you taking anti-coagulants or any other medication?
-If you have damaged heart valves or have any other particular risk of infection.
Risks associated with acupuncture and skin piercing
If undertaken correctly the risks associated with acupuncture and skin piercing are small. However, all skin piercing procedures do carry potential health risks to those undergoing them. These can include
- Skin infections
- Allergic or toxic reactions to the substances (eg needles) used
- The transmission of blood borne viruses such as hepatitis or HIV
- Swelling (for example from bruising) and bleeding
Bacterial infection is the main risk associated with body piercings and due to registered piercing premises using disposable sterile needles and other equipment, the risk of passing on viruses such as hepatitis or HIV is now almost non-existent.
Whilst transmission of blood-borne viruses (BBV) to both patients and acupuncturists has been documented in association with clinical procedures, the health and safety executive highlights occupational transmission is also relevant to any procedure in which there is a risk of blood transfer, including acupuncture, body-piercing, tattooing.
Common Acupuncture-related after-effects
Feeling Calmer
After receiving acupuncture treatment patients often find that they feel more calm or relaxed (‘at ease’, ‘rested’, ‘cosy’, ‘comfy’, ‘affable’; sometimes ‘spaced-out’, ‘in another place’).
We strongly suggest that if you feel very relaxed after treatment that you take a short but quick walk (to get slightly out of breath) before driving, and/or take a mild stimulant such as a cup of Indian, Chinese or Green tea – NOT coffee!
Feeling Exhilarated
If after treatment you feel elated, high, ‘wired’, please take a slow, gentle walk before driving. Also postpone important decisions until the next day!
Feeling Energised or Pain-free
If, after treatment, you feel amazingly energised or newly pain-free, please do not take vigorous exercise to test your body’s resilience. Over the ensuing days, only gradually increase the challenges you give your body, which takes time to adjust to its new state and because over-taxing it too soon may retard progress.
Physical Examination
At the first consultation I may also want to do a physical examination to help me decide what needs to be done. For example, I may need to palpate your back or abdomen, or to look at and assess the quality of painful areas.
I may need to take your blood pressure, and I shall almost certainly wish to take your ‘pulse’ the Chinese way, and to look at your tongue. Do not be surprised!
The Notes I take and your Privacy
All the information you give me and my notes about you and your treatments are kept in complete confidence. I show them to nobody else without your permission.
I keep your notes indefinitely, although if you have not been to see me for a few years they are locked away in a remote ‘safe’ location. Finding them can take time, for which I may make a charge if you want a copy. I charge for the time taken to find them as well as the cost of copying them.
By law I must keep the notes of children I have treated until they are 25, or for 7 years, whichever period of time is greater.
I do have a policy on privacy. You can read more about it by clicking here. I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Book a consultation in person
The button below will take you to my booking system for a consultation in the clinic.
Consultation Registration and Permission Forms
Before commencing treatment, if at the consultation you have given me your permission to treat you, a treatment is recommended and there is time for it, I shall ask you to complete several forms giving me permission to treat you, acknowledging your health history and medications and giving you information about how to contact me.
These forms are now necessary under the conditions of my professional indemnity insurance with the British Acupuncture Council.
Treatments after initial consultation
Concerning acupuncture treatment: whilst I sometimes need to insert needles only in your ears, most acupuncture treatments use points on your back or front or legs or arms, and I may ask you to take off some clothes so that I can do this.
I have a comfortable couch in a warm room and many people go to sleep during the treatment!
Follow-up treatments and Frequency
After the initial consultation and/or treatment I may be able to give you an estimate of how often and how many more sessions you’ll need. I base this estimate on what I then know, but I may change it depending on how your health progresses.
Sometimes I need to see you several times in a week. More often, treatment with acupuncture occurs weekly, spacing it out with greater intervals as you get better. For those who are seeking acupuncture to assist in drug withdrawal, more frequent treatment may be necessary.
Costs and Payment for Consultation and Treatment
Click here for how fees are calculated.
Click here for how to make fee payments.
How long are acupuncture sessions?
Usually, allow up to one hour, although the actual treatment itself often takes no more than 30 minutes.
However, by the time you have got ready on the bed, we have talked about your progress, I have taken your pulse the Chinese way, looked at your tongue and done the acupuncture treatment, at least 30 minutes will elapse, often getting on for one hour.
How long should you park your car for?
For a first appointment – the initial consultation, allow at least 2 hours, although we may not need as long as that.
For subsequent appointments – treatments – allow at least one hour although in fact the treatment often takes no more than 30 minutes.
Where do I work?
Complaints
I hope you will find your treatment in the clinic beneficial and enjoyable, but if you are unhappy about it, please get in touch here.
If you are not satisfied with what I do or say to put things right, then you should contact the British Acupuncture Council.
Want to Speak or Contact me first before making an appointment?
Want to speak to me first?
If before making an appointment, you’d like to speak to me in person, click here for details.
If you find it difficult to ring me, but would like to speak to me briefly about coming to see me in Edinburgh, Scotland, complete the form below with your telephone number. Please be sure to say why you are contacting me. Don’t just give me your number!
However, if you live outside the United Kingdom, I may contact you first to arrange a time for you to ring me. (Why? Otherwise I might incur huge telephone bills ringing people all round the world!)
If you would like to speak to me at length, whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, click here for details.
Want to contact me here online first?
If before making an appointment to see me you would first like to contact me online rather than by telephone, complete the enquiry form and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.