Acupuncture
I’m Tim, a licensed acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine practitioner; massage therapist; yoga teacher of almost 30 years experience and a keen practitioner of Qigong (25+ years) and martial arts.
When I offer acupuncture treatments, I know it can help people with their symptoms, but there’s the added chance it could help them with ‘themselves’. How do I know this?
Some years ago I personally committed to an intensive course of Five Elements acupuncture that opened my mind to its power to not only physically heal, but by treating the whole person and the underlying root cause of one’s issue, it also has the power to open corridors of thinking, feeling, and engaging with the world in ways that have become obstructed, or somehow blocked through injury, trauma, poor lifestyle choices, or even trapped emotions.
Not surprisingly then, my post graduate training has focused on the use of acupuncture for mental health issues, particularly anxiety, depression and helping people with their personal journey of recovering from trauma.
That said, most people book their first acupuncture treatment because of its proven (in clinical trials) effectiveness in treating chronic pain, including back pain. It is also proven to help relieve migraines and headaches and as such, is recommended by NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) Other conditions that acupuncture treatment has proven to help with are: osteoarthritis of the knee, TMJ, and common health problems like an overactive bladder. Acupuncture treatment has also become increasingly trusted by couples who are struggling to conceive, both naturally and through IVF.
It should also be said, that many people choose acupuncture because they quite simply feel better for it – more ‘in balance’ with themselves and with those around them, or when they feel they’re not functioning at their optimum levels, but with no obvious diagnosis.
Over the last 2000+ years, there has been a vast number of conditions that acupuncture has been credited with relieving, but due to a lack of good quality clinical trials, such evidence can currently only be treated as anecdotal. With this in mind, Tim offers a free 15 min over the phone consultation for those unsure whether acupuncture treatment can help them.
I originally studied at The Acupuncture Academy in Leamington Spa, where I completed a three-year degree level qualification, accredited by the British Acupuncture Accreditation Board (BAAB). It extensively covered all aspects of Chinese medical and acupuncture theory, with a focus on the Five Elements approach.
I offer treatments on Tuesday and Thursday from a quiet therapy room in the heart of Frome, Somerset, where you can relax whilst receiving treatment. Alongside acupuncture, I may include other highly effective modalities, such as moxibustion (the burning of a carefully prepared herb over or on acupuncture points), cupping, gua sha, or tui na. Tui na is a Chinese bodywork technique, similar to shiatsu, with no need to undress. It offers an alternative treatment of the energetic channels for patients with a fear of needles. It can also be used along with other clinical techniques, especially in the treatment of musculoskeletal issues.
I am a member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) and adhere to the Council’s Codes of Safe Practice and Professional Conduct. British Acupuncture Council members are also registered with the Professional Standards Authority, a government body set up to regulate health and social care providers and is accountable to Parliament. You may like to take a look at their website, particularly the page listing private health insurers offering some form of insurance coverage for acupuncture treatment.