Chinese Medicine is a complete and independent system of medicine based on the Taoist principle of balance. Health is seen as an expression of all the opposing, yet complementary forces within the body being in harmony with each other while illness or disease can be described as a state in which the body is unable to maintain this balance. Thus the goal of Chinese Medicine is to promote and restore a harmonious state within the body. The diagnostic process addresses the whole person rather than looking at a particular symptom in isolation. Assembling the various signs and symptoms of the case history allows the practitioner to determine the nature of the pattern of disharmony that has led to the patient’s condition. This in turn will result in tailoring the treatment to each individual’s particular needs in order to restore and optimise their health.

About Acupuncture

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qi (pronounced ‘chee’, loosely translated it mean ‘vital life force’) courses through 12 main ‘meridians’ (energy pathways) which span the body and connect internally with the organs. If Qi is balanced, it can flow smoothly throughout the body and there will be good health. However, any disruption of the Qi flow will lead to imbalance and eventually to disease. There can be various causes for such a disruption: a traumatic injury, poor dietary habits, emotional imbalances etc. For example, developing pain due to overuse of one’s arm can be seen as the Qi being unable to move smoothly along the meridians running through the affected area due to tight or inflamed tendons. The pain is an expression of Qi that is stagnating at the affected areas.

By stimulating acupuncture points located on the meridians, the acupuncturist seeks to restore normal energy flow. This will stimulate the body to return to a more balanced state.

The needles used in acupuncture are very fine and flexible, they are inserted rapidly and in most cases painlessly. Sometimes a small pinch can be felt. In keeping with the Code of Professional Conduct of the ATCM only disposable stainless steel needles are used.

About Chinese Herbal Medicine

Chinese Herbal Medicine is based on the same diagnostic principles as acupuncture. While acupuncture is often considered to be ‘external medicine’, herbs are particularly recommended for chronic internal disorders.

Based on the diagnosis you will be prescribed a formula tailored to your individual needs and typically composed of 6-12 ingredients. This formula will be modified as the condition changes or improves. Chinese Herbs can be administered as a decoction prepared from dried herbs, but since this is often found to be a cumbersome procedure, patients tend to prefer herbal powders, tinctures or pills. I use only sulphur-free herbs from suppliers approved by the Registry of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM). In accordance with the regulations of the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA, the government agency which is responsible for ensuring that medicines, including herbal medicines, work and are acceptably safe), all remedies are free of animal or mineral products.

I encourage my patients to inform their GPs about the herbs I am prescribing. It is important that patients inform me about any medication they are taking (prescriptions, over the counter medication as well as any supplements) to avoid any interactions between the herbs and Western medication. I am also happy to speak to GPs and inform them exactly which herbs are in the patient’s remedy.

What conditions can Chinese Medicine treat?

Here in the West, Chinese Medicine is still often considered as being useful for pain relief only. However, by its very nature Acupuncture is a complete system of medicine and can therefore help with a wide range of conditions due to its power to stimulate the body’s own healing processes. While certainly not being a ‘cure all’ for every ailment Acupuncture can play a supportive role for conditions that certainly require Western treatments. For example, during my training I worked as a student assistant in a clinic for HIV/AIDS patients who, in addition to Western treatments, were treated with Acupuncture in order to alleviate the side effects of their medication as well as to give emotional support.

One of the strengths of Chinese Medicine is its role as a preventative form of therapy. Often, before a condition becomes more chronic, there are subtle symptoms that one tends to ‘explain away’, but that are really the first warning signs that something is not quite right. Here Chinese Medicine can often be of great value in preventing an imbalance to further develop.

Chinese Medicine can help with:

Respiratory: colds and flus, asthma, bronchitis
Ear, eye, nose, and throat: sinusitis, hay fever, tinnitus, blurred vision, dry eyes, chronic cough
Gastro-intestinal/Digestive: gastritis, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, IBS, stomach ulcers, haemorrhoids
Musculoskeletal: back/neck pain, arthritis, joint pain, sciatica, sprains/strains, bursitis/tendonitis
Gynaecological: PMT, painful/irregular menstruation, menopausal symptoms, morning sickness, difficult labour, uterine fibroids
Urogenital: urinary and prostate problems, cystitis, incontinence, urinary difficulty, impotence, bedwetting
Neurological: Migraines/headaches, Bell’s palsy, dizziness, stroke, neuralgia, multiple sclerosis
Circulatory: high/low blood pressure, Raynaud’s syndrome, palpitations
Dermatological: eczema, psoriasis, hives, acne, herpes
Auto-immune disorders: Lupus, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, HIV/AIDS
Mental/emotional: anxiety, depression, insomnia, panic attacks, eating disorders

If your symptom or condition is not listed above, please do not hesitate to give me a call.

What is a treatment like?

During your first appointment there will be a detailed intake about your health history. This will include questions about any physical symptoms, but also about lifestyle, diet, general energy levels, emotional states and family history. Looking at the tongue and taking the pulse will further help to determine the nature of the complaint.

After evaluating the information gathered I will develop and discuss a treatment plan for you, which might include Acupuncture and/or Chinese Herbs as well as recommendations regarding diet and life style. The number and frequency of treatments depends on the nature of the condition and the general health of the patient. Acute cases may be resolved in just one or two sessions. Chronic disorders may require more continuous treatments, with initially weekly treatments that can later be spaced at greater intervals. In chronic cases it might take several treatments until there will be noticeable changes. It is important to me to closely monitor treatment progress and any changes that occur as a result of the treatments so as to adapt the treatment protocol in a way that is most beneficial to the patient.

For the actual treatment needles are inserted at various parts of the body, the number and location depending on both the condition and the patient’s constitution. Usually the needles are left for about 20 minutes – patients often describe this resting period as very relaxing. Often there will be both a front and a back treatment.

How should I prepare for a treatment?

Please do not come with an empty stomach for your treatment – by the same token do not indulge in a heavy meal beforehand.

It is best to wear loose, comfortable clothing.

After the Acupuncture treatment avoid eating heavy, greasy foods but drink sufficient water or herbal teas. If possible, it is good to avoid too stressful activities after a treatment.