What I do
Traditional Chinese Medicine uses a variety of treatment modalities to meet each patient's individual needs. I use the following modalities in conjunction with acupuncture or on its own depending on the patient’s needs and preferences.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture helps restore the flow of qi along the meridians to relieve pain and restore health. It also emphasizes the importance of self-help as part of treatment, involving patients in their own treatment and encouraging them to take control of their own health. Often treatment at a sufficiently early stage could prevent a mild discomfort from turning into a major illness.
Cupping
Cupping consists on placing glass cups that have been briefly heated on the skin to create a suction. The suction moves blood and qi locally to reduce fluid build-up, increase blood circulation and stop pain. It has many uses including pain relief and it can be combined with acupuncture treatment.
Gua Sha
Gua sha involves repeated pressured strokes with a smooth edge gua sha tool along muscles or acupuncture meridians. It is mainly used to stimulate blood flow and promote healing. It works similar to a deep tissue massage and can be very effective to treat muscular pain.
Moxibustion
Moxibustion is a technique used to warm the acupuncture points in order to encourage the flow of qi along the meridians. This technique has shown to be very effective to turn a breech baby and it is often recommended by midwives.
Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture
The Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture treatment is based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine and involves the insertion of very fine needles into particular areas of the face. Specific points are stimulated according to how an individual is aging. A person with excess puffiness, for example, would require a different treatment than someone with dry skin. Other points in the body are stimulated to encourage the flow of qi along the meridians.
What can be treated
Acupuncture can treat a variety of conditions from physical pain to more internal conditions such as asthma, digestive problems and emotional wellbeing. Below are areas that I am specialised in and treat on a regular basis. If you would like to find out if acupuncture can help you with your particular condition, please get in touch and I’ll be able to advise you.
Pain
Traditional Chinese Medicine has a sophisticated approach to the understanding of pain. Pain itself is understood not as a singular instance but rather in relation to the overall health of the body. Some physical pain can be easily linked to stress and emotions or to an underlying health problem, so pain is not treated in isolation. Acupuncture can provide real relief from common forms of pain including:
Physical Pain
Stiff and tense shoulders can result from bad posture or sitting for long periods. Slipped discs in the spine can cause pain down the legs along the sciatic nerve, which travels the course of acupuncture meridians. Many people with acute or chronic pain on the back, shoulders, arms or legs find acupuncture helpful as it has a low risk of side effects and can help reduce the use of anti-inflammatory medication and painkillers. Acupuncture, by addressing the root cause, releases the tension and improves or completely eliminates the pain.
Internal Pain
Pain in the internal organs can range from a mild discomfort during digestion to acute pain caused by conditions such as IBS, kidney infections, cancer or problems in the reproductive system in women. Acupuncture can be very effective in the treatment of this kind of pain while supporting the recovery process.
Psychosomatic pain
Emotions can make some parts of the body tense and painful. This can manifest as shoulders and neck tension, abdominal bloating or increased heart rate. The holistic approach of acupuncture can address physical pain that is caused by the interaction of emotions with the body.
Emotional
Most of us experience emotional stress and the effect it can have at a physical and emotional level. Acupuncture, by treating the physical body helps rebalance your emotions with few to no side-effects. It can also be safely used in conjunction with medication and psychological therapy. By regulating emotions, acupuncture helps integrate the therapeutic components of psychological treatment. It can help you build your confidence, energy levels and balance your emotional and physical wellbeing. It can also be used to help reduce the side effects of medication. These are some of the conditions I treat regularly:
Stress
Life events like stress at work or the break-up of a relationship can lead to stressful situations that trigger a fight or flight response. Acupuncture is believed to stimulate the nervous system and bring a calming effect. It promotes physical and mental wellbeing, helping to address and overcome stressful life situations. Acupuncture can be a great way to relieve stress naturally before it turns into a more chronic condition.
Anxiety
There is a growing body of research that shows acupuncture can help treat the symptoms of anxiety by stimulating parts of the brain that cause the anxiety. It can be particularly helpful for people who want to reduce or stop medication.
Depression
Depression is more than feeling down and can be triggered by life changing events such as bereavement, losing a job or having a baby. Acupuncture works on the innate healing capacity of the body to regulate itself and help develop a different way to see the world. Some patients feel emotional during treatment or between sessions allowing for the release of supressed emotions or frustrations. Like anxiety acupuncture can be particularly helpful to reduce or stop medication.
Sleeping Problems
Sleeping problems can affect energy levels and have an impact on social life and relationships or the ability to concentrate at work. Sleep disturbance can have many causes. Seen from the Chinese medicine perspective sleep disturbances is the inability of the mind to shut down at night as part of the day and night cycle. Chinese medicine looks at all the signs and symptoms that may cause the sleeping problem and addresses those at the root.
Sleepiness during the day, on the other hand, can also have its root in a disturbance of the day and night cycle which Chinese medicine takes into consideration when making a diagnosis.
Women
In China acupuncture has been used to treat women’s health for centuries. Although the demands on women today are somewhat different than those of ancient China, acupuncture continues to provide support and alleviate some of the symptoms associated with women’s health. I help many women during different stages in life who juggle a fast-paced career and family. What I treat include:
PMS/ Painful or Irregular periods
The menstrual cycle can be affected by various factors such as stress, over-thinking and worrying, an irregular lifestyle or changes in body temperature. If the qi is stagnant, blood cannot flow easily, causing many of the symptoms women experience before their periods. Acupuncture can reduce menstrual pain, balance the emotions and regulate the cycle.
InfertilityClinical trials have shown that the use of acupuncture during IVF treatment increases the success rate by 50%. The regulatory function of acupuncture prepares the body for conception and increases the chances of fertilisation as an alternative or as an adjunct therapy to IVF treatment.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy places specific demands on the body that can affect the free movement of qi and the production of blood. The increased demand for qi and blood to nourish the fetus can lead to insufficiency and stagnation and result in many of the symptoms women experience during pregnancy. Acupuncture treatment can be used throughout pregnancy to support the mother’s overall health as well as to relieve morning sickness, heartburn or other digestive problems, heaviness of the legs or backache. It can also be used to correct a breech baby, to relieve anxiety and induce labour or for postnatal depression.
Menopause
The cessation of menstruation is a period of physical and psychological changes that occur as a result of a reduced production of the female hormone oestrogen. Many of the symptoms women experience during the menopause can be explained according to the diagnostic principles of Chinese medicine and be treated with acupuncture.
Beauty
Chinese medicine promotes a balanced healthy life and focuses on preventing ill-health as much as in treating disease. This approach will naturally help with the aging process and external beauty.
Aging
We cannot change our genetics but we can change the way we live by improving our life styles and the choices we make. Acupuncture supports your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing so you can make positive changes to enhance the quality of your life, improve your overall health and prevent illness and the signs of aging.
Facial
Cosmetic Acupuncture, also known as Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years as an effective treatment to help reduce the signs of ageing. By inserting hair-thin needles into the face, the circulation of qi and blood stimulates the production of collagen. This firms the skin and has a diminishing effect on wrinkles and fine lines and can also eliminate puffiness and reduce bags under the eyes. When you have facial acupuncture other points in the body are stimulated to encourage the flow of qi along the meridians and help regulate hormones. Conditions such as acne and dry skin can also be improved.
Body
Sliding cupping can help the visible signs of cellulite by breaking down fatty deposits and lymphatic congestion under the skin. It acts like a deep tissue massage to release toxins and clear blockages.
About Julia
I have a background in both Eastern and Western medical systems having completed post-graduate studies in mental health nursing within the NHS and observed first hand how acupuncture is practised in Guangzhou hospital, China.
I also have a personal interest in women’s health and have been supporting women through the difficulties of fertility issues over the last ten years of practice. I continue to develop my knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine and I am currently carrying out research on acupuncture for mental health.
As a member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC), and the Nursing and Midwifery Council, I am obliged to follow a strict Code of Conduct and Practice.
If you feel unsure on what is the best treatment for your specific condition do not hesitate to contact me and I’ll be able to best advise you.
