Phoebus Acupuncture

26/09/2026

The moment we stop holding on so tightly, life begins to feel lighter.

Everything passes, everything changes, and yet nothing truly exists alone.

Like starlight travelling across an endless sky, we are always touching something larger than ourselves.

To see clearly is not to escape the world, but to meet it without clinging.

And in that quiet release, there is freedom. ✨

07/08/2026

Lì Qiū 立秋 — The Beginning of Autumn
Today marks Lì Qiū, the Beginning of Autumn in the traditional Chinese calendar.
Astronomically, it corresponds to the Sun reaching 135° celestial longitude, signalling the gradual shift of solar dominance as daylight slowly begins to shorten in the Northern Hemisphere.
Although the days may still feel warm, this seasonal turning point reminds us that nature is beginning to shift — from the expansive energy of summer towards the quieter, more reflective rhythm of autumn.
In Chinese medicine, this is a time to gently support the Lung system, protect our energy as the air becomes drier, and begin slowing down after the activity of summer. Think nourishing seasonal foods, steady routines, good rest, and making a little more space to breathe.
A beautiful reminder that we don’t have to wait until autumn fully arrives to begin moving with the season.

26/07/2026

New research just did something that’s never been done before in acupuncture science: directly watching, in real time, how immune cells change their behaviour in response to stimulating a classic acupuncture point.

Until now, every study on acupuncture and immune function has worked backwards from indirect measurements — a blood marker here, an antibody level there, taken well after treatment. A study published in Nature Biotechnology (July 2026) changed that. Using a new imaging technique fine enough to track thousands of individual immune cells live, for hours, inside a living animal, researchers triggered inflammation and then applied electroacupuncture at ST36 (Zusanli) — and watched the immune cells’ behaviour shift, on camera, in real time.

Specifically: inflamed immune cells (neutrophils) were spontaneously clustering into temporary “swarms” inside the spleen — a behaviour never filmed happening live in an organ before. After electroacupuncture at ST36, those swarms dropped by more than fivefold. Needling without electrical stimulation didn’t produce the same effect.

I’ve written a full breakdown on the blog (link in bio) — including how this fits with, and doesn’t overreach beyond, the wider research on moxibustion and immune function.

📍 Chelsea, SW3
🔗 phoebustian.com/blog

23/07/2026

Today, the retreat at Chilham Castle comes to a close.
This centuries-old castle, surrounded by ancient trees, secret gardens and sweeping lawns, holds a quiet yet powerful presence. Here, time and space seem to slow down.
As an acupuncturist, it has been a true privilege to be invited to this retreat and to work alongside the amazing esthetician and healer Joanna Czech Joanna Czech A joy to share treatment space with someone so skilled and generous.
Grateful to Tishya Amin and Chilham Castle for the stillness and inspiration this place has offered.
Kent

10/01/2026

Discover the profound insights of KAI, HE, and SHU in our latest blog post! Explore the Six Channels theory and unlock the secrets of Yin-Yang dynamics. Don't miss out! Read more here: https://wix.to/sfdJ5uB

The Six Channels theory of 开（kāi, opening）, 阖（hé, closing）, and 枢（shū, pivot）was first proposed in the Suwen (Plain Questions), YinYang Lihe Lun Pian (Discourse on Yin–Yang Separation and Union), and it constitutes an important component of the theoretical system of the Huangd...

07/01/2026

Explore the powerful world of acupuncture with our latest post on the Five Gates and Ten Transformations. Learn how these techniques, from the esteemed Dr. Zhou Zuoyu, Read more here: https://wix.to/FGybENG

The Five Gates and Ten Transformations acupuncture secret art was transmitted by the Taiwanese acupuncture master Dr Zhou Zuoyu.Look at the diagram below: first, it is derived from transformations of the Twelve Channels Heavenly-Stems Song. For example, the first corresponds to the Gall Bladder chan...

30/12/2025

Most people hear "Year of the Fire Horse" and think 2026 will just be scorching hot. But ancient TCM theory (Wu Yun Liu Qi) reveals a much more volatile picture.

2026 is a year of "Heavenly Penalty"—a violent clash where the Annual Water energy suppresses the Seasonal Fire.

Think of it as a pressure cooker: 🔥 The Exterior: Intense heat, inflammation, and anxiety. 🌊 The Interior: Deep, hidden cold and fluid retention.

What to watch out for: Don't be fooled by the "False Heat" (red face, insomnia, ulcers). The root cause this year is likely the deep cold in the Kidneys. If you clear the heat too aggressively without warming the root, you risk collapsing the body's energy.

3 Survival Tips for 2026: 1️⃣ Protect the Root: Keep your lower back and feet warm, even in summer. 2️⃣ Support the Spleen: The digestive system is the exhausted mediator in this war. Eat warm, sweet, and bland foods. 3️⃣ Watch the Autumn: The most dangerous time for the Lungs (Fire melting Metal). Start moistening dry-ness early.

🔗 Read the full forecast on the blog https://wix.to/ZefbTJE understand how to navigate this clash of Fire and Water.

As we approach 2026, the Year of the Bing Wu (丙午), or Fire Horse, the general consensus anticipates a year of unbridled heat. However, a deeper analysis of the Wu Yun Liu Qi (Five Movements and Six Qi) reveals a far more volatile picture.According to the Su Wen (Basic Questions), this is not mer...

17/09/2025

“Is acupuncture just placebo? A major new study says no. Even sham acupuncture – especially when needles actually go into the skin – produces real effects. That means past trials may have underestimated acupuncture’s true value. ”

For years, clinical trials on acupuncture have used “sham acupuncture” as the placebo control. The logic was straightforward: if real acupuncture didn’t outperform sham, then perhaps acupuncture was no more than a placebo.But new research published in the Journal of Integrative Medicine shows ...

13/09/2025

Discover how Traditional Chinese Medicine can be an effective option for treating diabetes-induced osteoporosis. This growing health concern needs our attention. Learn more here: https://wix.to/s95Mgl6

Diabetes-induced osteoporosis (DOP) is a significant and growing health concern, particularly amongst older people. This condition arises when diabetes worsens osteoporosis, a disease that weakens bones and makes them more susceptible to fractures. The link between the two conditions complicates tre...

29/03/2025

In Chinese medicine, the body was thought of as a tiny reflection of the universe, a whole cosmos functioning within us. We, too, go through cycles in our lives, The summer brings forth abundant vitality, the winter necessitates rest and recovery, and the spring gives us renewal and rejuvenation.Emb...