What is acupuncture?

 

Acupuncture is the art of inserting hair thin needles into the body at places where the rivers of Qi come to a physical fulcrum. You could say that every square centemre is covered in acupuncture points, but where they come into real focus for fine tuning are at the acupuncture points themselves.

 

The body is an electrical device for our mind to hover in and take a place in this world, to interact, and understand the very experience we are presently in, at all times. Needles made of coper, steel, and gold optimise the communication of this electrical flow, the river if Qi, back into a concentrated balance of smooth function.

 

What can I expect during an acupuncture treatment?

 

Usually around 20 to 40 minutes of relaxation with needles, usually but not exclusive to, the hands, arms, feet and legs. Although, sometimes the midline, spine and back are also needled as well as the face and head. If you are not comfortable with being needled anywhere in these locations, please do let me know.

 

Other Chinese medical techniques are also used, such as, cupping, moxibustion, guasha and tuina. I will ask for consent with other techniques before applying them to ensure your total comfort.

 

What can acupuncture treat?

 

It's hard to list all of what it can treat. Maybe the question should be, what can it not treat? Chinese medicine doesn't see disease in the same way as western medicine does. Sometimes disease can come from with in, not always from the external environment. Everyone has their unique ways in which they tackle invading pathogens, as well as dealing with the ones already embedded within us. Chinese medicine aims to prep and boost the body in order to expel, protect, or nourish the organs and their functions. I have yet to find an ailment in which acupuncture doesn't have a protocol for.

 

Although, by law, I am required to say that acupuncture can't cure anything. So I like to put it this way: rather than cure, we realign the mechanisms in which the body can deal with the pathogen on its own. We are like re-oiling the gears, rotating the tires, and hoovering out the hard to reach corners of the interior. Your body does the rest. It can, and it will, once the rivers of Qi flow back into synch with their patterns.

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What makes this practice different from others?

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In my practice, I will generate for you a personal profile, diet suggestions and plan, as well as a take-home exercise log for ongoing treatment. I will take a detailed full traditional diagnosis of your ailment followed by a mixture of acupuncture, massage, and other modalities such as cupping, moxibustion, tuina and/or guasha (depending on your ailment needs) for the duration of the treatment. At the end, I will prescribe you some take-home advice and exercises and will follow up the next subsequent treatments with more details on your health profile for you to be more aware, in-tune, and successful in your journey back to optimal health. No one is ever too old or out of shape to be healthy again!

 

What if I'm afraid of needles?

 

Do you have any tattoos? Joking. But there are other methods that can be used on acupuncture points instead. These include; Moxibustion, guasha, cupping, and tuina.

 

What is Moxibustion?

 

Moxibustion is a herb called mugwort in the west. It is dried and carded into a wool and burned over acupuncture points, either directly, on a needle, or rolled into a stick and wafted over channels.

 

Moxibustion is used primarily for cold conditions such as Raynards, poor energy, and immunity protection.

 

What is Guasha?

 

Guasha is a gentle scrape along the channels and points to relieve tension, heat and boosting blood circulation to the skin.

 

What is Cupping?

 

Cupping is a technique using plastic or glass cups placed on the body. The air is suctioned out, gently, to improve circulation to the points, channels and muscles involved. Good to relieve damp and phlegm in the body that causes low energy, oedema, and to recover from illness or injury.

 

What is Tuina?

 

It's an ancient massage technique over the channels to help relive tension in the body from stress. Be it from physical injury, or sitting in chairs. And believe me, chairs can do some weird things to the body's alignment.

 

What is sports massage?

 

It's a massage for injury recovery from sport related activity's. But this isn't to say sitting at an office desk isn't just as unaligning to the body. Anyone can benefit from a de-stressing sports massage.

 

What can I expect during a sports massage treatment?

 

I start with a short consultation, followed by a physical movement examination, and treat with effleurage, petrissage, MET (muscle energy technique), and STR (soft tissue release) techniques. Cupping and guasha might also be used, depending on the ailment and if you are ok with it.

 

What is sports massage good for?

 

It improves joints, flexibility, well-being, muscle tension, nervous system function, muscle spasms, and sleep. It particularly helps blood flow, lymph, clearing of lactic acid, recovery and prompts the body for injury prevention.

 

What is Reset?

 

Reset is a retreat designed to do just that, reset your mind, body and emotions through a comprehensive journey over a weekend. It will include: meditations, Pilates, yoga, exercise, qi going, hiking, all organic and local food, tea ceremony, and an experience to never forget!

 

All lodging at the moment is tent bound. Either bring your own or let us know if you will need one and we can provide.

 

This retreat is meant to unplug one from current matrix of materialism. Please, if you can, leave as many electronics behind. When on the retreat, please turn off all cellular devices or keep them on aeroplane mode to respect those sensitive to artifical waves. Thank you for your understanding!

 

How long and where is it?

 

Reset runs from a Friday evening and ends on that following Sunday evening; three days and two nights.

 

At the moment, Reset will take place just outside of Reading in the beautiful pristine organic lands of Hardwick Estate at Tolhurst Organic Farms. All food will be provided, mostly from Tolhurst Organic Farms.

 

At the moment all retreats have been postponed until further notice (for obvious pandemic reasons). Thank you for understanding! But keep an eye out for a date scheduled by subscribing to the email list.

 

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