Traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture is one of the oldest and most continuously practised forms of medicine in the world — and the evidence for its effectiveness continues to grow.
The acupuncture most people have encountered — offered as an add-on to physiotherapy, or administered by a GP who completed a weekend course — is a simplified derivative of the original system. TCM acupuncture is the full thing: a complete medical framework with its own diagnostic language, its own understanding of the body's systems, and a treatment approach tailored entirely to the individual patient.
At the heart of TCM is the concept of Qi — the vital energy that flows through channels in the body known as meridians. In health, this flow is smooth and balanced. In illness, it is disrupted: blocked, deficient, misdirected or overactive. The practitioner's role is to identify the precise nature of that disruption — and to correct it. Fine sterile needles, placed at carefully selected points, restore the flow and trigger the body's own healing response.
The female body is subject to cyclical hormonal fluctuations — monthly, across the lifespan — that create unique health challenges but also unique opportunities for treatment. TCM developed a remarkably sophisticated understanding of women's health over centuries of clinical practice, with detailed frameworks for understanding the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum recovery and the menopausal transition.
Many of the conditions that affect women most significantly — PCOS, endometriosis, hormonal anxiety, menopausal symptoms, PMS — are precisely the conditions where TCM's individualised, whole-body approach produces its most compelling results. Conventional medicine often manages these conditions rather than resolving them. TCM aims to address the underlying imbalance that gives rise to them.
After your initial consultation and TCM assessment, Dr D'Alberto will select a set of acupuncture points based on your individual diagnosis. The points chosen may be on the arms, legs, abdomen, back or scalp depending on your condition and what your TCM pattern requires. This selection is never standardised — it reflects the unique picture of your health at that moment.
Fine single-use needles are placed gently at the selected points. Most patients feel a mild, brief sensation — sometimes described as a gentle ache, warmth or tingling. This is the arrival of Qi at the point: a positive sign that the point is active and the treatment is working. Once the needles are in place, you will rest quietly for 20–30 minutes. Almost everyone finds this deeply relaxing; it is common to fall asleep.
Herbal medicine has been used alongside acupuncture in China for over two thousand years, and the combination is often more effective than either treatment alone. Herbs provide continuous systemic support between sessions — nourishing, clearing and regulating the body's internal systems in ways that acupuncture alone cannot sustain. Dr D'Alberto prescribes herbal formulas where they will meaningfully enhance your outcomes, tailoring each formula to your individual TCM diagnosis.
All herbs are pharmaceutical-grade, sourced from trusted suppliers and supplied as granules — a convenient powdered form that dissolves in hot water and is easy to take at home.
Yes — when administered by a fully qualified, BAcC-registered practitioner, acupuncture is safe throughout all stages of a woman's reproductive life. Dr D'Alberto has extensive experience treating women during all phases of the menstrual cycle, through IVF protocols, during pregnancy and through the menopausal transition. Certain points are avoided at certain times as a precaution, and your treatment is always adapted to your current status.
This varies considerably depending on your condition and how long you have had it. Some women notice significant improvement after two or three sessions; others with long-standing chronic conditions benefit from a longer course of treatment. Dr D'Alberto will give you a clear and honest assessment of what to expect at your initial consultation — he will never commit you to more sessions than your condition genuinely requires.