Acupuncture and Dry Needling near Basingstoke: offered within appointments at our Overton clinic
Do you offer acupuncture and dry needling near Basingstoke?
Yes. Hannah Lawrence and Rob Green offer acupuncture and dry needling within appointments at Overton and North Waltham Osteopathy, Shire House, Waltham Road, Overton. It is not a separate appointment, and it does not change the appointment fee. Hannah sees clients on Wednesday evenings and selected Sunday mornings.
How much does acupuncture cost?
There is no separate acupuncture or dry needling price. They are offered within an appointment, such as a 60-minute sports massage with Hannah at £55 or a 45-minute osteopathy appointment with Rob at £60, and they do not change the fee.
What is the difference between acupuncture and dry needling?
Both use fine, single-use needles placed into the skin and muscle, and the names are often used for the same technique. Some practitioners use dry needling for tight muscle points and acupuncture for a wider choice of points. Here the two are offered together within appointments, and your practitioner will explain which they would use and why.
Acupuncture (Medical Western)
Medical western acupuncture is recommended by NICE guidelines for chronic pain, tension-type headaches, and migraines. For those seeking acupuncture in Basingstoke, this approach stimulates sensory nerves to release natural pain inhibitors, offering short-term relief as part of a supportive therapy.
Acupuncture in Basingstoke (Dry Needling)
This therapeutic technique is used by healthcare professionals to treat musculoskeletal pain. It involves inserting thin, sterile needles into specific points within the muscles. While often compared to traditional Chinese acupuncture, this method is rooted in Western anatomical and neurophysiological principles. Both acupuncture and dry needling are offered as part of a targeted approach to care, grounded in current clinical research, from our Basingstoke clinic.
Accepted Claims for Acupuncture Treatment
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has reviewed clinical evidence and determined that the following claims are acceptable based on current research:
- Short-term improvement in symptoms of overactive bladder syndrome (electro-acupuncture at the SP6 point)
- Short-term relief of tension-type headaches
- Short-term relief of migraine headache
- Short-term relief of chronic low back pain
- Short-term relief of neck pain or chronic neck pain
- Short-term relief from temporomandibular (TMD/TMJ) pain
- Temporary adjunctive treatment for osteoarthritis knee pain
How acupuncture and dry needling work here
They aren’t booked on their own. You book a normal appointment with Hannah or Rob, and if acupuncture or dry needling might suit you, your practitioner talks it through with you. You can ask for it on the booking form or during your appointment, or your practitioner may suggest it if, in their clinical judgement, it’s appropriate for you. You decide together, and only go ahead if you’re happy to.
Every appointment is pay as you go, with no subscriptions, courses or pre-paid packages.
With Hannah Lawrence: Wednesday evenings and selected Sunday mornings
Within a 60-minute sports massage appointment at £55. Wednesday evenings, appointments from 5:15pm; selected Sunday mornings, appointments from 9am. Sunday dates vary, so check online booking for the dates currently open.
With Rob Green: within osteopathy appointments
Within a 45-minute osteopathy appointment at £60, Monday to Saturday.
Who offers it
Hannah Lawrence. Hannah is qualified in sports and exercise medicine, sports massage and acupuncture, and currently training towards physiotherapy. She is not a physiotherapist.
Rob Green. Rob is the clinic’s osteopath and offers acupuncture and dry needling within his osteopathy appointments. He is registered with the General Osteopathic Council and insured with Balens. More about his background is on the osteopathy page.
Hannah and Rob are both registered with the local council to practise acupuncture, and the clinic premises are registered too, in line with the regulations.
What an acupuncture session involves
- Health questions and consent. Your practitioner asks about your health and medicines, explains what they suggest and why, and checks you’re happy to go ahead.
- The needles. Fine, sterile needles, each single-use and individually wrapped, are placed into the skin and muscle. On average around ten are used, but it varies from person to person.
- What it may feel like. Most people barely feel the needles go in, though the odd one can feel like a slight sting. Once they’re in, people usually don’t notice them. They’re very different from an injection or a blood test. Some people feel warmth or tingling, and many tell us they enjoy their sessions.
- Stopping. You can ask to stop at any point, and needles are removed straight away.
- Afterwards. Any after-effects are usually mild and short-lived, such as tiredness, mild soreness or bruising where the needles were, a brief flare of symptoms, or feeling light-headed. They usually settle within 24 to 48 hours. Before your first session we send you a consent form with full information on effects, risks and when to get in touch.
Every needle is used once and goes straight into a sharps bin.
What we mean by acupuncture and dry needling
Both terms describe placing fine needles into the skin and muscle, and many people use them for the same thing. We use the pair “acupuncture and dry needling” because both Hannah and Rob offer them, and your practitioner will explain which they’d use. We don’t practise traditional Chinese acupuncture.
Additional Conditions and Ethical Practice
Some practitioners may claim that acupuncture can treat a wider range of conditions. However, these claims are not supported by robust evidence and fall outside the guidelines set by the ASA. In line with ethical practice, I only provide dry needling and acupuncture in Basingstoke for conditions that are supported by credible research.
The Mechanism of Acupuncture
Several physiological changes can occur, including:
- Neurohormonal Pathways: Needling specific points may stimulate nerves that send signals to the brain. This can lead to the release of endorphins (natural painkillers) and other neurochemicals (like serotonin and norepinephrine), which modulate pain perception and mood.
- Local Tissue Effects: The insertion of needles can lead to the release of vasodilators. This may help reduce inflammation and promote healing.
- Central Nervous System Modulation: Scans have shown that acupuncture can affect activity in various brain regions involved in pain, emotion, and sensory processing. This suggests a systemic effect on the central nervous system, helping to regulate the body’s response to stress and pain.
Clinical Evidence for Acupuncture
Acupuncture is most widely recognised and studied for its role in chronic pain relief.
- Osteoarthritis (Knee Pain): Moderate to strong evidence. Key findings show it reduces pain and improves physical function in the short-term.
- Chronic Headaches/Migraines: Strong evidence for Acupuncture in prevention. Key findings show it reduces the frequency and intensity of migraine and tension-type headaches.
- Neck Pain: Strong evidence. Key findings show it is effective for chronic neck pain, comparable to some physical therapies.
What NICE says about acupuncture
NICE’s headache guidance says to consider a course of up to 10 sessions of acupuncture over 5 to 8 weeks to prevent chronic tension-type headache. For preventing migraine, it says to consider acupuncture only if propranolol, topiramate and amitriptyline have not worked, are not tolerated or are unsuitable. These are recommendations to consider, not promises of results, and your GP should assess headaches first. NICE’s guidance on low back pain and sciatica says not to offer acupuncture for those problems. NICE’s headache recommendations refer to acupuncture, not dry needling. Here, acupuncture and dry needling are offered within an appointment, not as a course or package.
Source: NICE CG150, headaches in over 12s and NICE NG59, low back pain and sciatica.
Who should check first
The NHS says acupuncture may not be suitable if you take blood-thinning medicine, are at increased risk of bleeding, or have a skin condition or skin infection (NHS guidance). Please also tell your practitioner before your appointment if you:
- are pregnant
- have a pacemaker or other implanted device
- are nervous of needles or have fainted with them before
- have any other health condition or take regular medicines
You can say no to acupuncture at any point, and your appointment carries on without it. If you have headaches or symptoms that keep coming back, see your GP first. For urgent symptoms, see the GP, 111 and 999 guidance on the osteopathy page.
Where we are, and when
The clinic is in Overton, not Basingstoke town: Shire House, Waltham Road, Overton, Hampshire RG25 3NJ.
- From Basingstoke: about 8 miles, under 20 minutes by car.
- Parking: free, in a private car park right outside the clinic.
- Access: there’s a small step at the entrance, but the clinic is wheelchair accessible.
- By train: Overton station is on the line from Basingstoke, about a 19-minute walk from the clinic.
- When: Hannah, Wednesday evenings from 5:15pm and selected Sunday mornings from 9am. Rob, within osteopathy appointments, Monday to Saturday.
- Directions: maps and what3words on the contact page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I book an acupuncture appointment on its own?
No. Acupuncture and dry needling are offered within a sports massage appointment with Hannah or an osteopathy appointment with Rob.
Does it cost extra?
No. It doesn’t change the appointment fee.
Do I need a GP referral?
No. But please see your GP about headaches or symptoms that keep coming back.
Do you sell courses of acupuncture?
No. It’s offered within individual pay-as-you-go appointments, not as a course or package.
Can I change my mind?
Yes, at any point, including once the needles are in.
Is this traditional Chinese acupuncture?
No. Your practitioner will explain how they’d use the needles before you decide.