Physical: Acupuncture and Tui Na. These sessions may also include Cupping, Gua Sha and Moxibustion.
Talking: Health coaching & Burnout coaching from a Chinese Medicine perspective.
Price:
- £70 per session for Kung Fu Zone members / £77 per session for non-members.
- 10 minute consultation free.
- Sessions last between 60 – 75 mins for Tui na / cupping; and between 60 – 90 for acupuncture.
Acupuncture is a form of Chinese Medicine which uses very thin needles to contact points along channels in your body. The points each have a unique function, sending instructions to your body to encourage a particular function or action to take place. There are points which remind the body to ‘let go’ of tension, points to support particular organs, and points to move pain and stagnation. By using a particular combination of points, I am able to give a unique set of instructions to your system to help it to harmonise.
The treatment will be based on a diagnosis that comes from reading your pulses on your wrists, looking at your tongue, and asking you a set of questions. Acupuncture usually works best as a course of sessions, as change has the opportunity to build. However, one off treatments can be supportive, depending on your condition. Chinese Medicine understands the body, mind and spirit to all be connected, and therefore treatments are able to support all these layers.
Tui Na is a form of Chinese Medical sports massage. It is an entire medical system in itself, and can be effectively used to treat a range of conditions, from the musculo-skeletal through to internal and emotional disorders. It involves soft and deep tissue massage, acupressure, joint manipulation and assisted stretching. It is intended to be ‘remedial’ rather than relaxing, and is a vigorous treatment – and at times it can be uncomfortable (depending on your condition).
Tui Na aims to rebalance the body and stimulate repair. It is good for a range of conditions. I have had good results for:Fluid retention; baker cysts; carpal tunnel syndrome; back pain; chronic fatigue / long- Covid / chest pain; musculo-skeletal conditions including joint pain, neck pain, achilles tendon issues etc; headaches; anxiety; overall vitality and wellbeing. The treatment will generally target your ‘problem’ areas. You will leave the treatment feeling relaxed, energised, and more fluid and mobile in your body movements. The treatment is carried out fully-clothed, through a blanket or sheet. Oils may be used on hands, feet and face if we work on those areas.
Cupping releases tension in bound up areas; moves stagnation and helps shift fluid retention. Oils are applied to the area, and a vacuum is created in glass cups, which are then applied to the body. I may practice fire cupping (using a flame to create the vacuum) or use silicon cups, depending on the location of our treatment. I use slide cupping (moving the suctioned cups across the body), flash cupping (quick moving of cups) and standard cupping (leaving the cups on for ten mins or so). Cupping can leave bruise like marks which should disappear within 3 – 5 days. Cupping is effective for encouraging recovery from sports injuries or traumas. It is also good for chronic tension and musculo-skeletal pain.
Gua Sha involves using a thin stone tool to scrape your skin and release stagnation. It works on similar principles to cupping, but rather than using cups to release tension and move toxins from specific circular points, it works on a more general area, and can work on a wider area. Traditionally it is also used to help with early onset of colds and flus. I primarily use it for musculo-skeletal tension.
Moxibustion or ‘moxa’ involves burning Mugwort herb near acupressure points, pain points, or areas of weakness and tightness on the body. It is a very nourishing treatment: soothing areas of pain, encouraging better movement of energy through bound up areas, and warming up and softening areas of tissue. It also has specific remedial and internal effects when used on specific acupressure points.
I will discuss these options with you if I think they are suitable for your condition.
Talking sessions
Health coaching from a Chinese Medicine perspective: Through these coaching sessions we can discuss your overall health and wellbeing. This might be helpful if you are struggling to make sense of a combination of symptoms, and you want to see how it fits from a Chinese Medicine lens. Western medicine’s frameworks don’t always fit with everyone’s symptoms. This can be frustrating, and leave people feeling let down and confused by the healthcare system. Chinese Medicine sees all symptoms to be part of a pattern. Understanding the ‘pattern’ that your symptoms fall within can be empowering, to understand what you may be able to do in order to create healthy change. Together, we can work through a lifestyle and support plan to help you find your way back to better health.
Burnout coaching from a Chinese Medicine perspective, for support with recovery from burnout. This coaching will help you to look upon your body, mind and spirit as a machine made up of particular parts which need repairing in different ways. Through understanding the mechanism of this machine from a Chinese Medicine lens, you will gain insight into how to nourish your system back to full health, starting with simple lifestyle advice. Together, we can develop a plan to help you to heal from burnout and move into a new, nourishing phase of life.
Practicalities
For physical sessions, please wear loose, comfortable clothing. Tui Na takes place fully clothed, through a sheet or towel. Cupping and gua sha takes place on bare skin using oil (usually on the back).
Email, text or call to book an appointment. Contact me
Cancellation: I ask for 24 hours notice of cancellation, or else the full fee.
Read testimonials from my clients here
Tamsin Ana 