There is nothing that I dread more than someone asking "so how does acupuncture work". I immediately start sweating as I try to find the best way to condense over 2,000 years of knowledge into a 2 minute summary that someone with no prior knowledge could understand. There is always an old Chinese quote that stands out to me for its sheer elegance and simplicity: “If there is free flow, there is no pain; if there is pain, there is lack of free flow” (不通這痛,痛則不通)
The seasons are starting to change. There is more cold coming which is evidenced by seeing more frost in the morning. Read this blog to understand what this means and how we can tweak our lifestyles to maintain our health.
Acupuncture is more than just a treatment for pain—it's a holistic approach to health that deeply connects emotions and physical well-being. This ancient practice works by promoting the free flow of Qi (vital energy) throughout the body, addressing everything from chronic illness and fatigue to emotional imbalances like stress, fear, and sadness. By understanding how different emotions affect specific organs, acupuncture helps restore balance and overall health. Learn how this powerful therapy can support both your mind and body on the journey to wellness. Here is a recording of a talk I did for Meadowside’s Open Day:
This month’s featured acupuncture point is Dazhong (Kidney 4), a powerful point with a wide range of uses, from easing back pain and respiratory issues to supporting emotional well-being. As a Luo-connecting point, it helps balance energy flow, strengthen the body, and address fear-based emotions. With its deep connection to both the Kidney and Lung meridians, it plays a crucial role in grounding and overall health. Acupuncture offers incredible ways to restore balance—discover how this point can support both physical and emotional wellness.
Isn't it great that we are finally seeing what looks like actual summer? To celebrate this, I went on a cycle ride with one of my friends this weekend. We ended up in a lovely café in Cobham and up discussing the topic of 'identity'. I find 'identity' such an interesting concept. You can look at it from an anthropological perspective, considering how we create categories of either sameness to others or a distinction from others. I've also been thinking about branding, becoming once again obsessed with Debbie Millman, who spoke about how movements like Black Lives Matter or #MeToo have become brands but could be expanded into a sense of our identities.
We rarely give ourselves credit for our achievements, rushing from one goal to the next without pausing to reflect. Whether it's a career milestone, a personal triumph like running a marathon, or persevering through challenges, the effort behind success deserves recognition. As I coached year 3 acupuncture students, I was reminded of the immense dedication it takes to pursue this path—and how little we acknowledge our own growth. So, here’s your reminder: take a moment today to appreciate how far you’ve come. You’re doing amazing things, and you deserve to celebrate them.
A seemingly small accident—a dog bite—led me to a profound realisation about acupuncture’s core principle: prevention is better than cure. As I sat in A&E, surrounded by people with serious illnesses, I reflected on how early intervention could have changed their outcomes. In this blog, I explore a powerful quote from the Neijing Su Wen and how regular acupuncture sessions can help maintain health before issues escalate.
In a world that constantly pulls us in different directions, balance is not about perfection but about learning to move with life’s natural rhythms. It’s found in the spaces between effort and ease, stillness and motion, holding on and letting go. Through acupuncture and mindful awareness, we can create moments of pause—opportunities to reconnect, realign, and cultivate balance from within.
Acupuncture points are chosen for many reasons—their location, energy, the systems they support, or even their names. In the late 1980s, a numbering system was introduced to make it easier to learn the points, and names became optional. But in doing so, we began to lose something important: the stories, memories, and messages each point carries. Here is Liver 14s.
A quiet rebellion is happening beneath the noise. I first noticed it at a jazz festival. There was a genuine sense of community, optimism, and human connection. Fewer people seemed glued to their phones. Fewer headphones. More eye contact. More presence. It felt like people were remembering how to be together.
