On September 21st, we entered the period of Qiūfēn, also known as 'Autumn Equinox'. Qiūfēn is the sixteenth solar term, which occurs annually around September 21st. As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisper, nature prepares for a season of change.
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On September 8th, we entered the period of Báilù, also known as ‘White Dew’. Báilù is the fifteenth solar term, which occurs annually around September 8th. White Dew indicates the true beginning of autumn.
Evil Bone Water, or Zheng Xie Gu Shui, is a herbal liniment crafted with a 500-year-old TCM recipe formulated to heal broken bones and ease various physical ailments. Evil Bone Water is developed using the highest quality Empirical Chinese herbs to ensure optimal healing...
While acupuncture has gained popularity and recognition worldwide, it still often encounters scepticism within the framework of Western medicine (WM) research models. This disparity arises due to several factors that challenge the conventional scientific approach.
As the longest day and shortest night of the year, Summer Solstice, also known as Xiàzhì, is significant across cultures and throughout history. It symbolises the transition from spring to summer, marking the arrival of a season filled with warmth, vitality, and abundance.
Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a debilitating neurological condition characterised by intense facial pain. The trigeminal nerve, responsible for transmitting sensory information from the face to the brain, becomes hypersensitive, resulting in severe, sudden, and recurring facial pain. But can acupuncture help?
Today (June 7th) is Mángzhòng 芒种, also known as 'Grain In Ear'. Mángzhòng is the ninth solar term, which occurs annually c. June 7th. It signifies the period when crops, especially grain crops like wheat and barley, enter the crucial ripening stage.
Today (May 6th) is Lìxià 立夏, also known as ‘the beginning of summer‘. Lìxià is the seventh solar term. It occurs annually on May 6th and signifies the beginning of summer.
Trying anything for the first time can be unnerving—even for the best of us, and acupuncture is no exception. With this in mind, we thought we'd answer 18 of the most common questions about acupuncture.
Today (April 21st) is Gǔyǔ 谷雨, also known as 'Grain Rain'. Gǔyǔ is the sixth solar term, which occurs annually c. April 21st. According to an old Chinese saying, "Qingming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Day) signals the end of snow while 'Grain Rain' signals the...
Jing-well points are a group of acupuncture points located at the tips of the fingers and toes, where there is little flesh. The qi at these points is considered to be shallow and narrow, yet dynamic—pouring forth like a spring or well.
Today, we enter the period of Qīngmíng, also known as 'Bright and Clear'. Qīngmíng is the fifth solar term, which occurs annually on April 6th. It denotes Qingming Festival—also known as 'Tomb Sweeping Day' or 'Pure Brightness' Festival.
Research shows that acupuncture performs at least as well as, and potentially better than, standard medical care for back pain (Cherkin, 2009; Haake, 2007; Sherman, 2009a; Witt, 2006). It is particularly beneficial as an alternative to conventional care for patients with more acute symptoms...
Within Chinese medicine, moxibustion is used frequently to turn a baby from a breech position to a head-down position in the uterus. The technique works by stimulating specific acupuncture points by burning mugwort (artemisia vulgaris) near the skin to generate heat.
The menopausal transition can be an individual and elongated process. Research shows that tailored treatments such as those used in acupuncture may provide significant benefits in the treatment of menopausal symptoms.
It’s here! The start of Acupuncture Awareness Week 2023: Getting to the point of it—a national campaign launched by the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) to highlight the benefits of traditional acupuncture.
Today is Chūnfēn, also known as Spring or Vernal Equinox. Chūnfēn is the fourth solar term. It occurs annually on March 20th and signals an equal length of day and night—a pivotal turning point from yin to yang.
Did you know that an estimated 1 in 10 women in the UK have endometriosis, with the average time for a diagnosis following the onset of symptoms currently eight years?
Today is Jīngzhé 惊蛰, also known as Awakening Insects. Jīngzhé is the third solar term. It occurs annually around March 7th and signals a rise in temperature and increased rainfall.
Today is Yu Shui 雨 水, also known as ‘Rain Water’. Yu Shui is the second solar term, which occurs annually between February 18th and 20th. Following the ‘Beginning of Spring’, the southeast wind begins to blow, and rain begins to increase. Yu Shui...
"There's no real evidence to suggest that acupuncture really works." Let's evaluate how statements like this are inherently flawed and point to a continued lack of awareness of and potential bias against research showing the efficacy and effectiveness of acupuncture.
On February 5th, 2023, we enter the period of Lìchūn 立春, also known as 'the beginning of Spring'. Lìchūn is the first solar term. It occurs annually between February 3rd and 5th and signifies the beginning of Spring.
At Acupuncture West London, we are very concerned following the news of the injury caused to Ellen White by an elite Sports Physiotherapist, who was practising 'dry needling'.
What's the difference between acupuncture and dry needling? It's an excellent and essential question for anyone looking to try acupuncture and find the right practitioner. Let's explore them both.
On August 24th, 2022, we entered the period of Chùshǔ 处暑, also known as 'Heat Ceasing' or 'End of Heat'. Chùshǔ is the fourteenth solar term and the first node of autumn. It occurs annually on August 24th and marks the end of the...
On August 7th, we entered the period of Liqiu 立秋, also known as the 'Beginning of Autumn'. Liqiu is the thirteenth solar term and the first node of autumn. It occurs annually on August 7th and marks a polarity change from yang to yin.
On July 22nd, we entered the period of Dàshǔ 大暑, also known as 'Great or Major Heat'. Dàshǔ is the twelfth solar term and the last node of summer. It occurs annually on July 22nd and marks the hottest time of the year in most parts of China.
WHAT DO OUR PATIENTS THINK? “Cured my chronic headaches and fatigue, highly recommend” James, London “Been seeing Ben weekly for the last six weeks mainly for chronic migraine. I’ve tried acupuncture in the past with not a lot of success but when I heard...
In line with guidance received from Public Health England and The British Acupuncture Council, we continue to implement stringent hygiene protocols for your safety and wellbeing. Read more about our Covid-19 clinic guidelines here.
Legend has it that St-36 (Zúsānlî) found its name by enabling ancient Chinese soldiers to go the extra three miles. Traditionally, Zúsānlî strengthens the legs, fortifies the whole body, tonifies Qi, blood and body fluids, and eliminates fatigue.
On November 8th 2021, we enter the period of lìdōng 立冬, also known as 'The Beginning Of Winter'. Lìdōng is the nineteenth solar term, which occurs annually around November 7th. It indicates the true beginning of winter.
The ancient Chinese frequently spoke of possession by demons and ghosts. Ghosts (or gui/ guei 鬼 ) were often attributed to the onset of conditions such as mania, paranoia, addiction, seizures, paralysis, lockjaw, headaches, nightmares, epilepsy and mental illness (Dian Cong).
Sp-6 is a powerful acupuncture point. Its name in pinyin is 'San Yin Jiao’, which translates as ‘3 leg crossing’ and highlights its primary function as a meeting point of the three yin channels of the leg: kidney, spleen and liver.
Research shows acupuncture to be at least as effective as (and in some cases more effective than) existing conventional drugs in treating insomnia but without their associated side effects.
Today, we speak to Emma Eaton, who talks us through a year in business and setting up her own clinic, The Cobham Acupuncture and Reflexology Clinic.
Today, we speak to Vicky Newman of Cherry Tree Acupuncture, who talks us through a year in business and setting up within an established practice.
Today, we speak to Rachel Marks of Oakridge Acupuncture, who talks us through a year in business and setting up a practice from home.
Today, Deborah Woolf takes us on a fascinating journey through numerology, space and time, and Wu Yun Liu Qi (Stems and Branches) – the root of five element acupuncture.
Prior to booking/attending your face-to-face appointment, we must first assess whether you or anyone that you live with fall into the ‘clinically vulnerable’ or ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ categories.
There are many ways that we can all work to protect ourselves and others. The most simple and effective of these is consistency in following hygiene protocols – most particularly, in washing our hands.
Yin and Yang are representative of a cosmic duality that governs the universe. But what does this actually mean, and, as practitioners, how can we best put these concepts into practice in the treatment of our patients?
'Acupuncture West London – The Podcast' is a resource primarily for students, practitioners and enthusiasts of classical Chinese philosophy, Chinese medicine and acupuncture – for anyone who wishes to deepen their understanding of the concepts that inform our practice.
In line with guidance received from Public Health England (PHE) and our governing body, The British Acupuncture Council (BAcC), the clinic at Acupuncture West London has remained closed since March 21st, 2020. Today, we received an update from the BAcC outlining their updated guidelines for...
At Acupuncture West London, we are currently in the early stages of developing a brand new podcast. The podcast will look to delve into Chinese medicine concepts - from their most basic to the most advanced, and will endeavour to cover topics including but not...
Building The Immune System (PART 2): The Maintenance of Life According to Classical Chinese Philosophy Welcome to Part 2 of our brand new video series. The series focuses on some of the concepts behind building and supporting the immune system within Chinese medicine. In...
Building The Immune System (PART 1): Life According to Classical Chinese Philosophy Welcome to Part 1 of our brand new video series. The series focuses on some of the concepts behind building and supporting the immune system within Chinese medicine. In response to some...
To The Point: ‘To The Point’ is a thirty-minute documentary commissioned by the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) in order to highlight the growing body of scientific evidence that acupuncture is an effective treatment for a variety of health conditions. The film focuses on the...
How do I know which acupuncturist to choose? There are many styles of acupuncture, and it can be difficult for a patient to understand where best to seek treatment. It is important to ask the right questions: How do I know which acupuncturist to...
New Video Series (Coming Soon) In response to some of the most common questions we have received over the past few weeks, this week we look forward to sharing a brand new video series.. With the issue of health and safety at the forefront...
Acupuncture West London is a fully certified member of the Acupuncture Fertility Network (AFN). Membership to the AFN indicates a particular interest in the treatment of fertility with traditional acupuncture. All AFN practitioners have completed postgraduate-level training in gynaecology with a specific emphasis on...
NEW BEGINNINGS – CHINESE NEW YEAR 2020!! Chinese New Year 2020 is upon us. However, there are many new beginnings outlined within Chinese philosophy and therefore within classical Chinese medicine; all are contextual and attempt to facilitate a dynamic relationship between Heaven, Earth and...
Seasonal Energies – Chou 丑: Within the Chinese lunar-solar calendar, we are now in the ‘Earth’ phase (Chou) – an 18-day transitional phase that facilitates the movement from Winter to Spring. Within the stillness of Winter (the peak of Yin energy represented by the...
WHAT DO OUR PATIENTS THINK? “Ben is a very talented and intuitive acupuncturist who really listens to you and your body. I have been going for a month or so and can already see a huge improvement in my health and anxiety!” Annabel, London...
