What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient system of medicine, practised for over two thousand years to support and sustain good health. Rather than focusing on isolated symptoms, acupuncture considers the whole person: body, mind, and spirit, to uncover and treat the root cause of imbalance. By restoring harmony within the body, acupuncture can bring a deep sense of ease and renewed wellbeing.
Both the World Health Organization and the British Acupuncture Council recognise its wide range of benefits, supported by growing research and countless personal stories of transformation.
What Can Acupuncture Support You With?
Perhaps you have a main complaint in mind that you’d like help with, whether that is chronic pain or injury or a physical or mental diagnosis you need support with.
But you don’t have to be unwell to benefit from acupuncture. It can be a way to tend to yourself, to rebalance, to restore, and to reconnect. Whoever you are, and wherever life finds you, acupuncture can offer gentle support along the way.
Acupuncture meets you where you are in the shifting seasons of your life, through times of growth, rest, and change. It offers a space to pause, reconnect, and find balance to get the body, mind, and spirit moving together again.
Common reasons people come for treatment include:
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Acne
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Anxiety
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Asthma
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Arthritis
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Back pain
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Bell’s Palsy
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Cancer treatment support and survivorship
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Chronic Pain or injury recovery
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Depression
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Diabetes
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Dizziness and vertigo
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Eczema & Psoriasis
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Endometriosis
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Fibromyalgia
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Frozen Shoulder
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Fertility (male and female including IVF preparation and transfer)
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Gynaecological issues
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Gut health
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Headaches & Migraines
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Hormonal balance and menstrual health
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Hypertension
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IBS and digestive discomfort
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Insomnia
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ME and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
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Mental Health
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Pregnancy and postpartum care
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PTSD
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Post Stroke symptoms
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Sleep issues and fatigue
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Stress, tension, or emotional overwhelm
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Life transitions and change
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A general feeling of being disconnected or “off”
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And so much more...
What to Expect in a Session
Initial Appointments:
Your first session begins with a thorough consultation, allowing time to explore your main concern as well as any secondary issues. We’ll talk about your overall health, medical history, and any current treatments or medications. I’ll also take time to understand your lifestyle; your work, diet, environment, and the ways stress may be showing up for you.
This holistic understanding helps form a clear picture of how best to support you. Your initial appointment will also include your first treatment, allowing your body to begin its process of rebalancing from the very start.
Follow-up Appointments:
Follow-up sessions build upon your initial treatment, supporting your body as it moves toward balance. Fine, gentle needles are placed at specific acupuncture points to engage your Qi, the body’s vital energy, and encourage its natural healing response.
Depending on your needs, other therapies such as Gua Sha, Cupping, Tui Na or Moxibustion may also be used. Each treatment is tailored to how you arrive that day, ensuring your care evolves with you.
Treatment Techniques Explained
Acupuncture
Fine, gentle needles guide the body back into balance. Each point is chosen with intention; to support the natural flow of energy, calm the nervous system, and awaken the body’s own healing response. Acupuncture can help ease pain, regulate hormones, and soothe the effects of stress or emotional strain. Many find that beyond physical relief, treatments bring a sense of clarity, grounding, and renewed connection to self.
Cupping
Fire cupping uses the gentle suction of glass cups to release tight, stagnant areas in the muscles. It helps to ease deep tension, improve flexibility, and stimulate blood flow to promote healing. This ancient technique is especially effective for sore, overworked, or spasming muscles and can leave the body feeling lighter and more open. The circular marks that follow are painless and temporary, a sign of release and renewed circulation.
Moxibustion
Moxibustion is the therapeutic use of Moxa; the dried herb mugwort. which is burned near or on specific acupuncture points. The soothing warmth penetrates deeply into the body, nourishing energy and dispelling cold or stagnation. This treatment helps restore vitality, strengthen immunity, and ease pain, especially in conditions marked by fatigue, chill, or poor circulation. The comforting heat of moxa often brings a sense of calm and restoration.
Tui Na
Tui Na is a traditional form of Chinese therapeutic massage, using rhythmic pressure, stretching, and flowing movements to release tension and harmonise the body’s energy. It works along the same meridian pathways as acupuncture and can be both deeply relaxing and revitalising. Tui Na supports mobility, relieves pain, and helps to re-establish a balanced flow of Qi throughout the body, leaving you feeling grounded and restored.
Guasha
Guasha involves the use of a smooth-edged tool to gently stroke the skin, stimulating circulation and releasing stagnation in the muscles and tissues. The treatment may bring up light redness on the surface, a natural sign of detoxification and increased blood flow. In practice, it’s particularly effective for relieving muscle tension, easing chronic pain, and supporting recovery from colds or congestion. Gua Sha leaves many feeling clearer, lighter, and refreshed.
Chinese Lifestyle and Nutrition Advice
Guidance rooted in Chinese medicine offers simple, sustainable ways to care for your health beyond the treatment room. Advice may include seasonal nutrition, daily routines, and lifestyle practices that align with your body’s natural rhythms. These recommendations support energy, digestion, immunity, and restful sleep, helping you move through the year with greater balance and vitality.
I work alongside each patients to share advice like this at a level that feel comfortables and never like homework.
Personalised, Integrated Treatment Style
My treatments are gentle, considered, and deeply personal. Each session offers space to pause, to listen to the subtle language of the body and respond with care. Rooted in the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Five Element theory, I work to restore balance beneath the surface, supporting both the physical and emotional layers of health. Whether you come seeking relief, clarity, or reconnection, each treatment is an invitation to return to your best self.
Where to Find Me
You can choose between two welcoming clinics:
You’re welcome to move between clinics depending on what works best for your needs, schedule, or preference.
Patient Stories
Wow I am so glad I booked to see Sara, my back pain has gone, no more pain and restful nights sleep now which is great. It has helped hugely with the menopause too. I just wished I had started it earlier. Sara is so lovely very friendly, extremely knowledgeable, a real tonic and I cannot recommend her enough to people.
I've been really blown away if I'm honest of just how powerful Saras acupuncture sessions have been! Each time it's shifted things for me and allowed me to release stored emotions giving a feeling of renewed energy In life. Sara is incredibly intuitive always knowing exactly what I need! I honestly don't think id be seeking out traditional doctors again after experiencing the power of this!
Sara has the most amazing presence and has supported me with my experience of chronic pain. I feel safe, supported, seen and heard which has helped me so much. I would definitely recommend.
I was lucky enough to find Sara a few weeks ago after searching for a local Acupuncturist to help with a horrid back spasm.....and am so grateful to have received her amazing help. In just a few weeks she has gently - with great kindness, understanding, skill and care - relieved the spasm and the pain that l was in. I cannot recommend Sara enough. She immediately puts you at ease, listens and is just brilliant.
Amazing experience, years of migraines and headaches cured within the hour. I must admit I never would have believed that a few needles could help me. Will 100% recommend.
I was recommended to see Sara & was sceptical she could help me but to my joy & amazement within 24hrs the pain started to ease. I didn’t think it would last but it has & I can’t thank Sara enough as my Dr wasn’t doing anything. Sara is very professional & caring. She’s not at all pushy. She really listens to how you are feeling. Thank you Sara
FAQs About Acupuncture
Acupuncture should not be painful. The needles I use are extremely fine, most people barely feel them as they’re inserted. You might notice a dull ache, a tingling, or a gentle heaviness at certain points, a sensation known as deqi, which shows that the body is responding. If you ever feel uncomfortable, I’ll adjust or remove the needle right away. Most people find acupuncture to be deeply relaxing, often describing the experience as peaceful and restorative.
Many people come for specific concerns such as pain, hormonal imbalance, fertility, autoimmune or stress-related conditions. Because each treatment is tailored to the individual, you may also notice unexpected improvements such as better sleep, calmer moods, or a general sense of lightness and wellbeing.
At its heart, acupuncture works to restore balance, helping the body, mind, and spirit to move in harmony once again.
Acupuncture points are located all over the body along pathways called meridians or channels, which connect the organs and systems into a single network. I choose points based on your unique presentation, both what you share and what I observe through pulse, tongue, and discussion.
Often, the points I select are on the lower arms and legs, and may seem far from the main area of concern, yet they influence the whole system through these interconnected pathways.
Side effects are rare and generally very mild. Occasionally, there may be a tiny bruise where a needle was placed, or a fleeting moment of light-headedness that passes quickly. More often, people leave feeling calm, rested, or pleasantly tired, a sign that their body has begun to shift into balance.
Before we begin, I’ll always ask about any medications or health conditions to ensure your treatment is completely safe and appropriate for you.
Not officially, and intentionally so. While I have a particular interest in working with trauma-related issues, I choose to remain a general practitioner. This allows me to treat a wide range of conditions and connect with people from all walks of life, which I believe keeps my practice dynamic, intuitive, and compassionate.
Yes, I’m a fully licensed and insured member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC). This means I meet the highest professional standards for safety and ethics, and I continue to develop my knowledge and skills through ongoing training each year.
You can learn more about the BAcC at www.acupuncture.org.uk
Yes — and you’re not alone. I’ll talk you through everything and work gently, only using as many needles as you’re comfortable with. There are also other treatment techniques we can use alongside or instead, such as guasha or cupping.
It depends on what you're coming for. Some people feel better after one or two treatments, while others benefit from more regular sessions over time. We’ll review together and adapt as your needs shift.
Yes. Acupuncture can be a supportive and nurturing treatment throughout pregnancy, and I often work with patients during each stage — from fertility to birth preparation and postpartum recovery.
You don’t need a diagnosis to benefit from treatment. Acupuncture can help you reconnect with your body, emotions, and energy — especially if you’re feeling “off” or out of balance.
Loose, comfortable clothing is best. I’ll need access to your lower arms and legs, so something like a T-shirt and joggers works well.
Yes. I’m a fully qualified practitioner, registered with the British Acupuncture Council, and adhere to the highest safety and hygiene standards.
Not necessarily, but it’s a good idea to keep your schedule light and allow your body to integrate the treatment. Some people feel energised, others feel sleepy — either is normal.
