My focus is specifically on women's health and I treat a range of conditions including fertility, menopausal and gynaecological issues.

Why have Acupuncture?

Traditional Acupuncture is one of the most ancient systems of healthcare treatment, dating back at least 2,000.  For a system that dates that far back and is still very much in use today, gives credence to its ability to bring about positive health changes.

Acupuncture is a holistic, safe and effective treatment and can be used alongside conventional medicine.

The effects of acupuncture are wide-ranging, as it treats the patient’s body, mind and emotions and deals with acute and chronic conditions.  Some people turn to acupuncture to help with a specific condition or illness, others choose treatment to help maintain good health, as a preventative measure or simply to improve their general sense of wellbeing.

The theory behind acupuncture is that it works on the body’s own energy system, known as Qi.  The flow of Qi runs in channels under the skin’s surface and if there is healthy functioning of the body, then this Qi will flow efficiently.  If, however, this Qi becomes blocked or impaired, then illness will ensue.   A number of factors can affect the flow of Qi.  Our emotions, climatic conditions, trauma, poor diet, infections, overwork are some examples.  By inserting fine needles at various points along the Channels, balance can be restored and illness resolved.

Learning about Acupuncture

The study of acupuncture takes many years, as it covers various components of Chinese Medicine, including how to correctly make a diagnosis that deals with the underlying cause of a condition. Pulse and tongue diagnosis help determine which points to use. The focus is on the individual, not the illness, making this a very different way of treating from Western Medicine.  It is a very different method to pain relief dry needling acupuncture, which is carried out by osteopaths and physiotherapists.

I have trained at the renowned College of Integrated Chinese Medicine (CICM) in Reading, affiliated with Kingston University and practice both Five Element and Traditional Chinese Medicine style acupuncture. As a qualified practitioner of Chinese Medicine, my aim is to find and treat the root cause of your problem in order to alleviate your presenting condition.

Is there any Research?

The British Acupuncture Council website has a series of factsheets which will give you information about a number of conditions.
https://www.acupuncture.org.uk/category/a-to-z-of-conditions/a-to-z-of-conditions.html

The World Health Organisation has produced a report which lists a wide variety of diseases and disorders for which acupuncture therapy has been tested in controlled clinical trials. Follow this link: http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/d/Js4926e/5.html

What to Expect from your First Treatment

A diagnosis is based on a full case history and your first consultation will take about an hour.  Questions will be asked about your main complaint, your medical history, as well as such things as your sleeping pattern, appetite and digestion, your menstrual cycle and any past pregnancies, childbirth and your emotional well-being.

During your treatment I will take your pulse on both wrists and I will take a look at your tongue.