For Jo’s fees, see below
I discovered acupuncture as a teenager, desperate to find a treatment for my ongoing eczema and asthma. These conditions had required frequent trips to the hospital as a child, and at 19, with still no respite, the long-term use of steroid creams was starting to tell on my skin. Like anyone with a chronic illness, I became an expert in my condition. I knew that western medicine wasn’t working for me, treatments would deal with the symptoms but they would always come back. When a friend suggested acupuncture, I was highly sceptical but, with nothing to lose, I decided to give it a go. The experience and results were so overwhelmingly positive that it made a lasting impression on me, so much so that 10 years later I retrained as an acupuncturist.
I studied traditional acupuncture for three years at the University of Lincoln where I was awarded a Batchelor of Science honorary degree (BSc Hons) in traditional Chinese Medicine with the specialisation of acupuncture. I also hold a postgraduate diploma in Facial Revitalisation Acupuncture having trained first hand with the very best in the field, Virginia Doran of New York, who pioneered cosmetic acupuncture in the West.
As a registered member of the British Acupuncture Council (LicAC MBAcC), I am obliged to follow strict codes of practice and ethics with stringent standards of hygiene and sterilisation. These procedures have been approved by the Department of Health. All members are professionally insured.
My acupuncture is recognised by Westfield Health insurance scheme for the treatment of certain medical conditions.
The wonderful thing about acupuncture is that it is a true alternative medicine that gives people real options about their healthcare. Acupuncture works with the body to prompt its own healing responses to restore health and equilibrium. It is a gentle, safe and effective treatment option that can be used alone or to complement western medicine.
Acupuncture is based upon the traditional Chinese medicine theory that health is dependent upon a delicate balance of the body’s energy or Qi (pronounced ‘chee’). Qi flows through the body in channels, known as meridians. The flow of Qi can be disturbed by many factors, physical, mental or emotional – anxiety, stress, anger, fear or grief, poor nutrition, weather conditions, hereditary factors, infections, poisons and trauma.
By inserting fine needles into the channels of energy, an acupuncturist can stimulate the body’s own healing response and help to restore its natural balance.
Not everyone who practises or receives acupuncture believes in the theory of Qi. Some people take a more scientific approach to acupuncture and instead focus on the way it helps the body to correct biofeedback mechanisms, stimulate nerve and muscle tissue or release its natural painkillers, known as ‘endorphins’. Science cannot explain everything about acupuncture but the growing body of evidence suggests that acupuncture has a great deal to offer and is effective in the treatment and management of a wide range of medical conditions.
Acupuncture is a helpful supportive therapy throughout all stages of pregnancy and, when labour is overdue, it can be very effective in inducing its onset. It can also be used, often alongside western medicine, to help with infertility or sub-fertility problems.
More information.
Also referred to as cosmetic acupuncture, this therapy addresses the outer signs of ageing as well as the underlying factors that affect the way we age. The result is a naturally more youthful appearance and improved overall health.
Reports show that with a course of treatment it is possible to eliminate fine lines and reduce larger wrinkles as acupuncture works to increase the body’s natural collagen production. Acupuncture also stimulates blood and lymph circulation to the head, regulates hormones and reduces stress, all of which can have a dramatic effect on the skin and the way we look. Other benefits include reduced puffiness, tightened pores and improved muscle tone.
Cosmetic acupuncture is a new introduction to the West but Chinese doctors used it for thousands of years to combat the signs of ageing and treat skin conditions. Today facial revitalisation acupuncture is being rediscovered as the natural alternative to botox, fillers and cosmetic surgery.
In my experience, many people try acupuncture as a last resort, perhaps when western medicine has not given them the results they had hoped for, or because side-effects had been difficult to cope with. Acupuncture has proven itself within these limited parameters because it has a completely different approach to health and illness which is not confined or dictated by western medical diagnosis. This is the secret of its success, why I love acupuncture and why I think that acupuncture has become one of the main complementary therapies in the UK.
Please feel free to contact me at the Stillpoint Practice if you have any questions regarding your condition and how acupuncture may help. I look forward to hearing from you.
Personal website www.moonacupuncture.co.uk
Acupuncture
First appointment 1hr 15mins £45
Follow-up appointments 30mins £40
Induction of labour 1hr £40
Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture
1hr 50mins £50
Low cost Multi Bed Clinic
First appointment (private room) 1hr £40
Follow-up appointments 30mins £15
Induction of labour 30mins £15
