Simple solutions to complex problems 

Traditional Chinese Medicine

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Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a holistic Eastern medical system that distinguishes itself through its ability to understand and treat the body as an integrated whole.

Rather than treating individual symptoms, the TCM practitioner is required to understand how they all interconnect into what we term patterns.

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In view of this, the body is seen as a complex matrix of related parts, involving not just physiology, but also emotions, life experiences, organ function and our relationship with the environment. This is particularly powerful as it helps to understand the relationship between our health and our life experiences. 

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For example, a person might experience dizziness, ringing in the ears, night sweats, lower backache, and tiredness that doesn’t improve with rest.

While these may seem unrelated, Traditional Chinese Medicine recognises them as signs of Kidney Yin Deficiency - a depletion of the body’s deep cooling and restorative energy, often from long-term stress, overwork, or burnout, excessive physical activity such as a physically demanding job and even long-term feelings of fear and/or sadness. 

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Five Element 

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The Five Element system is one of the foundational pillars of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It offers a way of understanding health, emotion, and behaviour through the natural movements of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water - the five dynamic forces that shape all of life.

In the Five Element approach, each person is seen as an expression of one of the five elemental forces, which shape their body, emotions, and way of being in the world. Because every element moves and responds differently, this medicine becomes profoundly personal: treatment is tailored to the individual’s unique elemental nature and qualities, restoring balance not just in symptoms but in their whole way of feeling, relating, and living, supporting self-expression and self-recognition.

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Acupuncture 

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Acupuncture is one of the primary tools within TCM. By placing ultra-fine needles along the body’s meridian system, acupuncture helps restore the flow of Qi - our vital life-force energy - supporting the body’s innate ability to heal.

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We all have 12 Meridians plus 8 Extraordinary Meridians, with a total of over 360 acupuncture points. Each of the 12 meridian is connected to an organ or system, whereas the 8 Extras are the origins of our deeper energy reservoirs, which they produce, manage and distribute. 

It can assist with physical concerns like pain, insomnia, or hormonal imbalance, while also addressing emotional trauma, anxiety, or fatigue by working at the level of both body and spirit.

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One of the most powerful aspects of this ancient practice is its ability to bring together seemingly unrelated issues, identify a root cause with clarity, and treat the imbalance at its core.

In my work, I bring in elements from Classical Acupuncture & Channel Theory, specialising in the use of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels. 

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Traditional Chinese Medicine, although its name suggests an ancient system unchanged through time, was formalised in the XX Century, when Chinese cultural and political modernisers worked to eliminate traditional practices as backward and unscientific. 

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Although TCM is based on ancient texts and practices dating back thousands of years, some of the most profound concepts have been lost in favour of standardisation and systemisation.

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Classical Acupuncture, by contrast, seeks to reconnect with the deeper principles found in the ancient Chinese medical classics. Rather than focusing solely on patterns of disharmony within the 12 primary meridians and organ systems, Classical Acupuncture explores the wider network of channels that influence the body, mind and spirit - including the Extraordinary Vessels, Luo vessels, Divergent channels and other layers of the channel system.

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Rather than working only with the body's primary meridians, I specialise in working with the Eight Extraordinary Vessels. These pathways are traditionally associated with constitutional health, life transitions and the body's capacity for profound change.

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To support this work, I have undergone advanced training at the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine under Dr Yvonne Farrell, focusing on the Eight Extraordinary Vessels and their use in addressing trauma and adversity.​​

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Learn more about Acupuncture for Transformation. 

The first consultation usually lasts around 90 minutes. This time is dedicated to getting to know you as a whole person - not only understanding the symptoms or concerns that have brought you here, but also exploring your unique story, your experiences, your health journey.

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Rather than looking at symptoms in isolation, I take time to understand how different aspects of your life, body and emotions interact. We will explore areas such as your physical health, digestion, energy levels, sleep, emotional wellbeing, past experiences, lifestyle, and any significant events or transitions that may have influenced your health.

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This is because symptoms are important, but they are only one part of the picture. In Chinese medicine, we understand the body as an interconnected system, where physical symptoms, emotions, lifestyle, experiences and patterns of adaptation can all influence one another.

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The consultation is guided by Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnostic principles, including the ‘Ten Questions’, a framework that explores a wide range of areas such as:

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• Pain and physical sensations

• Digestion, appetite and taste

• Bowel movements and urination

• Thirst and fluid intake

• Energy levels

• Sleep patterns

• Temperature regulation

• Emotional wellbeing

• Lifestyle and daily rhythms

• Women’s or children’s health, where relevant

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Alongside our conversation, I use traditional diagnostic methods such as observing the tongue, feeling the pulse, and sometimes gentle palpation of areas of the body. These provide further insight into your body's internal landscape and help reveal patterns that may not always be obvious from symptoms alone.

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In Chinese medicine, symptoms are not viewed as something separate from the person, nor simply something to suppress. They are considered expressions of the body's attempt to communicate and restore balance.

The art of this medicine lies in understanding these messages within the context of your unique constitution and life story.

The number of sessions required to see results depends greatly on your specific situation. However, we generally estimate that it takes four to six weeks to see a clear and lasting improvement.

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For acute conditions, you may notice a significant easing of symptoms even after the first session.

For chronic conditions, the initial treatments often bring a deep sense of relaxation and internal balance, with symptoms improving gradually over time- until we reach either full recovery or a stable, manageable level of wellbeing.

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Follow-up sessions usually last 60 minutes and do not require the same in-depth verbal consultation as the first visit, allowing more time to focus on treatment and integration.

If you're looking for a TCM only acupuncture treatment, that can absolutely be provided. However, the real value in what I offer lies in an integrative approach - one that includes Classical Acupuncture, energy medicine, and the emotional and spiritual dimensions of health.

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My work is especially supportive for those who have experienced trauma and who are now navigating physical, emotional, or psychological symptoms as a result. I aim to address these not only at the root, but in a way that helps you reconnect with your own energy and your Self - practically, tangibly, and with empowerment.​

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The treatments are highly personalised, an opportunity to truly slow down, rest, reconnect. ​

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For pricing and other questions, please visit the Pricing & FAQ section.