By Sandra Hart-Hunt, BAcC Communications Manager
Acupuncture Awareness Week 2026
📰 Acupuncture in the national spotlight!
A lovely lead-in to Acupuncture Awareness Week, as the Daily Mail shares the experience of Susan, 67, who has been receiving acupuncture from a British Acupuncture Council member to help manage her osteoarthritis.
The article also features expert contributions from our Research and Policy Manager, Ian Appleyard, and Dr John Hughes, who spoke at our 2025 conference.
It’s wonderful to see a patient’s experience alongside scientific research and expert perspectives in the national media.
💙 And what better way to introduce this year’s Acupuncture Awareness Week theme, The Transformative Power of Acupuncture.
Read our blog and find out more about the coverage: https://acupuncture.org.uk/news/acupuncture-in-the-daily-mail/
Acupuncture in the national spotlight: Susan’s story of living well with arthritis
As we prepare for Acupuncture Awareness Week (9–15 November), a new Daily Mail health feature shines a spotlight on acupuncture, sharing one woman’s experience of managing osteoarthritis alongside research and expert insight from the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC).
Published on 4 November 2026, the article tells the story of Susan Harrison, aged 67 from Lancashire, who has been living with osteoarthritis.
Susan, who has been receiving treatment from a BAcC Member, was introduced to the journalist through the BAcC communications team, helping to bring her personal experience of acupuncture to a national audience.
Living with persistent pain had begun to affect almost every aspect of Susan’s daily life, from walking and climbing stairs to getting a good night’s sleep. Concerned about what the future might hold, she decided to try acupuncture.
Susan reports that within weeks of beginning treatment, everyday activities were becoming easier. Today, she enjoys lengthy walks, moves more comfortably and rarely needs painkillers.
As she told the Daily Mail:
I’m able to enjoy being active again.
Acupuncture, research and expert perspectives
Alongside Susan’s personal experience, the feature explores scientific research into acupuncture for pain management, including a recent study investigating electro acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis.
The article also features expert contributions from Ian Appleyard, Research and Policy Manager at the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC), and Dr John Hughes, Head of Research at the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine, part of University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, who was also a speaker at the BAcC’s 2025 conference.
Dr Hughes discusses some of the physiological mechanisms that may help explain acupuncture’s effects, including the stimulation of sensory nerves and the release of the body’s natural pain-relieving chemicals.
The Transformative Power of Acupuncture
Susan’s experience offers a timely introduction to this year’s Acupuncture Awareness Week, 9–15 November, themed The Transformative Power of Acupuncture.
Throughout the week, we’ll be sharing patient experiences, practitioner perspectives and research exploring how acupuncture can support people in making positive changes to their health and well-being.
For Susan, the transformation has been about something deeply personal – feeling more comfortable, remaining active and regaining confidence in her ability to manage a long-term condition.
https://www.dailymail.com/health/article-16265589/agonising-arthritis-drug-free-therapt-painkillers.html Agonising arthritis left Susan, 67, struggling to walk… by Cara Lee, Daily Mail, 4 November 2026. (Daily Mail subscription may be required.)
Acupuncture Treatment
For acupuncture help to help pain and more contact Hannah Charles LicAc MBAcC at: https://www.southwellacupuncture.co.uk/contact/
Hannah Charles is a founding member of the British Acupuncture Council (MBAcC)
The BAcC is an advocate for traditional acupuncture professionals and maintains the highest professional standards to protect the general public. BAcC members are registered on an accredited register, regulated and approved by the Professional Standards Authority for Health & Social Care (PSA). For More information, see the website: https://acupuncture.org.uk/
