Professor Muir Gray, former NHS Head of Knowledge, has described an ‘epidemic’ of over-prescription of pharmaceutical drugs. In a BBC television programme that aired in two parts back in October, Dr Chris van Tulleken explored this issue. The show was called ‘The Doctor Who Gave Up Drugs’.

One of the things we learnt from this… Continue reading →

Following on from my previous piece about the new study being undertaken to explore whether moxa treatment can help to reduce the potentially dangerous side-effects of chemotherapy, here is a short exploration of how moxibustion works.

The mechanisms of moxa treatment have not been fully established in western medical terms. One theory generally held is… Continue reading →

I read recently about a new trial to assess whether self-administered moxa on ST36 can reduce chemotherapy-induced pancytopenia, specifically neutropenia, anaemia, and thrombocytopenia, thus enabling patients to complete courses of chemotherapy without delays or dose reduction.

The aim of the researchers is to recruit 25 breast, colorectal, or gynaecological cancer patients to perform this simple… Continue reading →

When we talk about the human microbiome, we are referring to the healthy gut bacteria that hopefully are thriving within us to support our digestive and immune systems and carrying out tasks that our own metabolism cannot do on its own.

There is plenty of contemporary research that suggests that dysbiosis, or imbalance, of the… Continue reading →

My winter newsletter will be sent out in the next couple of weeks with lots of information and bits of news. There will also be details of a special offer for the festive season where, if you book a massage or acupuncture treatment as a gift for somebody, you can have a half-price treatment yourself.… Continue reading →

Two Israeli authors have carried out a comprehensive review of the evidence into cupping as a treatment for musculoskeletal pain. In their 2015 article in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, they traced the history of cupping, summarised clinical studies, and examined the way in which it works mechanically and physiologically.

Based upon the… Continue reading →

A series of studies carried out in Europe on adverse events associated with acupuncture have reported no fatalities in over three million treatments.

Many acupuncture treatments in this country and the rest of Europe are carried out for musculo-skeletal pain. We can compare the safety of acupuncture for these health problems with the use of… Continue reading →

Six-time Olympic cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy has expressed his views about how acupuncture therapy has helped him in his career:

“Over the years, acupuncture and deep tissue massage have formed an integral part of my physical therapy routine. I have found it incredibly effective for both injury treatment and prevention.”

Fibromyalgia is an illness that involves chronic pain in specific areas or all over the body with no identifiable organic cause. Relatively little is known about the causes of fibromyalgia. Current research suggests that it may be a disorder of central processing with pain being experienced due to abnormal sensory processing in the central nervous… Continue reading →

Erectile dysfunction is estimated to affect over 40% of men at some stage. It will commonly involve depression, lack of self-confidence, and feelings of inadequacy. It can affect personal relationships and also work life. Social taboos may stop men from seeking help.

Traditional Chinese medicine may look at issues at issues such as ongoing illness,… Continue reading →