✧ M O X A ✧ Doing some Moxa treatment on dad’s poorly shoulder whilst waiting for a roast from mum. Traditional Chinese medicine states that moxibustion has the effects of warming the meridians and dispelling cold, dispelling dampness and relieving pain. Moxa sticks poking out of plant pots is a common occurrence in my house (and now mum and dads, too)! Drop a 🙌🏻 if your plant pots look like this. . . . . . #acupuncture #moxa #acupuncturist #shoulderpain #moxaforpainrelief #moxaforpain #snakeplant #roast #roastdinner #mumsroast #mumsroastsarethebest #moxastick #tcm #chinesemedicine #traditionalchinesemedicine

✦ U T E R U S H E A R T & B L O O D ✦ In Chinese Medicine, the uterus is counted as an organ, not just an organ, but an extraordinary one. The uterus cannot function without support from the Heart. The Heart is considered to be the most important of the five main Yin Organs. It is also the governor of Blood and it is Blood that connects the Heart and to the Uterus. For acupuncturists, Blood has a more holistic meaning and representation than in Western Medicine. Yes, it is still the red liquid that flows around our body, but it is the essence of the Blood that we are interested in. Blood is one of what the classics refer to as vital substances or the treasures and it is the very thing that carries our lifeforce (also known as Qi) around the body. Blood is what houses our ‘Shen’, a word that can be translated as our ‘mind’ or our ‘soul’ - ultimately, the Shen is a combination of one’s psychological, emotional and physical consciousness. So, Blood houses our spirit, the radiance of our truest self, our most unguarded laughter and the very sparkle in our eyes. During our fertile years, each month (or thereabouts) Blood will travel from the heart and into the uterus via a channel called the ‘Bao Mai’ which can be directly translated as ‘the uterus channel or road’. As we progress in life and we cease menstruation, it is the relationship and functionality of the Bao Mai that will dictate the symptoms we have during our menopause. The Bao Mai, Heart and Blood need to be vibrant and thriving in order to have painless, free flowing periods or a symptomless, easy menopause. Want to know more, or want to know how acupuncture could help you gynaecologically? Slide into my DMs or check out my website (link in bio) . . . . . #acupuncture #acupuncturistsofinstagram #heart #uterus #blood #tcm #chinesemedicine #chinesemedicinetheory #baomai #tcmtheory #shen #womenshealth #acupunctureforperiods #acupunctureforwomenshealth

• D R Y N E E D L I N G VS A C U P U N C T U R E • I’ve spoken about this before but it’s been a question that’s come up a few times this week so let’s talk about it! What’s the difference? Lots of people go to their chiropractor, osteopath or physio who use needles and assume that they have received an acupuncture treatment, but that’s not the case! • D R Y N E E D L I N G • Trained practitioners (such as the ones above) use trigger points or target painful areas of tissue and it is exclusively for pain relief or easing muscular skeletal/mobility issues. • A C U P U N C T U R E • Yes as an acupuncturist, I do treat those things, but also so many others! Acupuncture is a form of complementary medicine which has been practised to promote and maintain good health for over 2000 years. Acupuncture considers its patient as a whole, rather than focusing on or treating isolated symptoms. It seeks to resolve the root cause of each patient’s issues, rather than simply treating the symptoms that manifest. Needles are placed into specific points on the body which have a specific resonance with a certain organ system or substance. Each point has a very individual and unique purpose/function. Acupuncture focuses on the body’s energy and ensures that it is balanced, healthy and free flowing. Got more questions? Drop me a DM or go see my website! (Link in bio) 💫☯️ . . . . . . . . . #acupuncture #idoacupuncture #acupuncturist #acupuncturistsofinstagram #acu #acupunctureawareness #acupuncturefacts #acufacts #dryneedling #needle #needles #copper #facts #dryneedlingvsacupuncturetreatment #dryneedlingvsacupuncture #clinic #clinictalk

• T H E P R A C T I T I O N E R C O N U N D R U M • Sometimes, as a practitioner of complementary/alternative medicine there can be a pressure to be the picture of perfect health and discipline. When in actual fact, I think I bond with a lot of my patients because in reality, I am quite normal and I think it’s important to share that! Yes, I’m an acupuncturist and I have the privilege of holding my patients through their healing journeys every day, but I’m not perfect. When I first graduated, I thought I’d have to hide all the ‘naughty’ bits and present myself as a shiny, disciplined robot. I was glad to see the back of that quite quickly! 📸👆🏼: my Friday night in an underground music venue, drinking a beer with friends and listening to live/loud music. Don’t get me wrong, I still try to be the best version of me and pay attention to my mental, emotional and physical health (I drink my bone broth, take my supplements, get regular acupuncture treatment, meditate most days, read as much as I can and make sure I move my body) but it’s important to let your hair down every now and again! When you come to treatment with me, I never want you to hide the ‘bad’ bits, I want to hear all about the nice food you’ve eaten, the nights you had one too many wines, I want to know YOU because it helps me curate the exact healing plan you need to thrive. . . . . . . #acupuncture #acupuncturistsofinstagram #music #livemusic #beer #conundrum #fridaynightlights #devon #exeter #therealyou #befree #livefree #thisisme #complementarymedicine #alternaticemedicine #complementarytherapist #chinesemedicine

✦ F I R E H E A R T S F A I R Y L I G H T S & F L O W E R C R O W N S ✦ My patients often hear me refer to acupuncture treatments being either on the: mind, body or spirit level or discussing their ‘spiritual’ health. Spirit has a different meaning in Chinese medicine, referring to our spirit is not talking about anything ghostly and talking of your spirituality or spiritual health has little to do with religion. In Chinese medicine, spirit is the animation unique to our person that allows us to embrace and express our most authentic self. Along with the mind and body - spirit is what frames our orientation, intention and relationship with the world around us. Ultimately, spirit determines HOW we are able to engage with the world around us, with what truly makes us tick and what the world has to offer. Where conventional medicine fails is not encouraging us to fuel our spirit and care for it and if we are not healthy in spirit, our mind and body health will follow closely behind, causing mental and physical illness. 📸👆🏼: meet my sister and soul sister. We LOVE reading, in particular, we love #sarahjmaas books so on each of our birthdays we choose an SJM book series and have a themed party based on it. Complete with, matching outfits, decorations and discussion points based on the books. This weekend was a Throne of Glass party and for those who know the books: we deduced I am from the healers quadrant and that my fae form is barn owl. When I tell people our routine, some might think we’re strange, but I see it as a positive sign that we are thriving in spirit and embracing our passion, and what could be wrong with that?! What have you done for your spirit lately? . . . . #spirit #spirithealth #acupuncture #sjm #throneofglass #tog #fairylights #flowercrown #fireheart #party #mindbodyspirit #mindbodyspirithealth #reading #readingparty #sisters #soulsisters #doriangirl

• F I L L I N G Y O U R C U P • I LOVE being an acupuncturist, I am so privileged to have found and responded to what I firmly believe is my calling - but that doesn’t mean that I don’t have days or weeks that feel more stressful than others. Which is why it is so important to take time out of the busy work schedule to do things that make us feel more whole again. The last few days I’ve done that by being auntie, sister, daughter and friend Sara, rather than acupuncturist, marker or Student Experience Manager Sara and a big part of it was watching this guy radiate pure joy at his new bubble machine this afternoon 🫧 How have you filled up your cup this week!? . . . . . . #acupuncture #rest #auntie #auntietime #nephew #nephewlove #bubbles #joy #fun #tiedye #fillyourcup #fillingyourcup #findthefun #takeabreak #idoacupuncture #bubble #bubblepops

✧ S U R R O U N D I N G T H E D R A G O N ✧ Typically a technique used to treat scars or lesions that will not heal. Sometimes, circling the dragon is the ideal way to get rid of stubborn knots. Meet a recent patient of mine who does a lot of manual labour, physical work and sports. He was suffering from persistent shoulder pain and upon palpation, it was clear there was one really big, really stubborn knot in there. By circling the knot and using the needles to break it apart (followed by some cupping, which is a solid patient favourite on my clinic!) the patient bounced out the treatment room - reporting the next day that he played his best ever game of Ice Hockey, scoring a “cracker of a goal”. So it turns out that improved Ice Hockey performance is another beneficial side effect of treatment - who knew! What unexpected benefits of acupuncture have you had or seen!? . . . . . . #acupuncture #acupuncturist #idoacupuncture #painknot #cupping #acupunctureforshoulderpain #shoulderpain #icehockey #acupunctureformuscletension #acupunctureformusclepain #circlingthedragon #surroundingthedragon

✧ E A R A C U P U N C T U R E ✧ Had a great morning volunteering with @florence_diazz providing auricular acupuncture for refugees. We use the NADA protocol during these volunteering sessions which includes the inversion of five needles bilaterally into the ears. The NADA protocol is often referred to as a non-verbal approaching trauma healing, which makes it ideal for this kind of treatment environment. Acupuncturists Without Borders has used it extensively in treating trauma during things such as hurricane Katrina, the Grenfell Tower disaster and military outreach to veterans. . . . . . . #acupuncture #earacupuncturepoints #earacupuncture👂 #nada #nadaprotocol #nadafortrauma #volunteer #volunteerwork #mentalhealth #auricularacupuncture #acupuncturewithoutborders

✶ U P D A T E ✶ In case you missed my stories or the college’s update post, I have started a new role at the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine and am now the Student Experience Manager. Like most students and alumni, I loved CICM from the moment I first entered the building and whilst I studied there. My last day in clinic involved A LOT of tears, so I was really pleased to go back quickly after graduating to help at point location classes and then later to mark assignments and support on the Professional and Reflective Practice programme. This new role is such an exciting opportunity and I feel very privileged to form part of the team leading the day to day running of the college and to be part of such an inspiring, unique and truly special educational establishment. So a big thank you to all my patients for bearing with me whilst I jiggled you about to fit my new working life into the schedule and for giving me the clinical experience I needed to be able to step into the new job role! And another BIG thank you to my loved ones for letting me practice my interview presentation on you (repeatedly), encouraging me to take the big swings and making me brave enough to take them knowing I’d be loved and supported even if they didn’t work out (though luckily this one did!) 📸: classroom A in the beautiful sunshine yesterday. 📸: everyone’s favourite staircase ❤️ . . . . . . #acupuncture #cicm #cicmcollege #acupuncturecollege #integratedacupuncture #idoacupuncture #update #newjob #thankyou #acupuncturistsofinstagram #bigswing