Acupuncture Surrey

01/06/2026

A sneak peek into the Community Clinic set up process.

We've been running the clinic from the Age Concern Centre for 3 and a half years now, offering affordable acupuncture to those in the community who can't always manage private rates.

A massive thank you to Age Concern Merstham Redhill Reigate for renting us this great hall and being supportive and flexible landlords.

31/05/2026

What is Internal Alchemy? 🔥

I've been exploring spagyrics recently — a Western alchemical tradition of working with plant medicines that goes back to Paracelsus and is still very much alive today.

At its heart is a beautiful idea: that within every plant there are three levels of being — soul, spirit and body — and that through a careful process of separation, purification and recombination, the plant's deepest nature can be liberated and offered as medicine.

The moment I came across this I felt an immediate recognition.

Because this is the same conversation that Chinese medicine and Taoist philosophy have been having for thousands of years — just from the inside rather than the outside.
Where spagyrics works with plants to reveal what is most essential, neidan — internal alchemy — works with the human being. The idea is the same: that within us something luminous exists. The work isn't to add anything. It's to clear and refine, so that what's already present can emerge.

In this frameworre made of three fundamental substances — jing (essence, your body's deepest reserves), qi (vital energy, the living current that animates everything you do), and shen (spirit — the quality and clarity of your awareness). These map onto those three alchemical principles with striking elegance.

And just as spagyrics sees the plant as a bridge between earth and cosmos, Taoist philosophy sees the human being as a conduit between Heaven and Earth — able, when clear and open, to embody that connection fully - clearing the path for us to manifest ad share that luminous quality.

The key words there are clear and open.
Most of us aren't running on a clear system. Jing depleted by stress and overwork. Qi stagnant from years of rushing, suppressing, not stopping. Shen scattered by the relentless noise of modern life.

The qigong I teach focuses primarily on clearing — releasing stagnant and pathogenic qi (we call it binqi) from the energy system so the body's true nature can reassert itself. Not forcing. Not adding. Just creating the conditions for what's already true to become available again.

This is internal alchemy in its most practical form. Not esoteric knowledge for advanced practitioners, but an invitation open to anyone willing to slow down and pay attention.

Over the coming weeks I'll be exploring jing, qi and shen in more depth — and some of the principles behind this ancient and surprisingly relevant map of what it means to be human.

I'm not teaching this as a formal neidan system — I'm sharing it as a framework that has genuinely shaped my own practice, and that I hope might open some doors for you too. 🌿

Picture of our fabulous spagyrics lecture today at The Healing Garden.

29/05/2026

🌿 Science is finally catching up with what we've always known

National Geographic published a fascinating piece this month titled "Scientists are finally decoding how acupuncture eases pain" — and it's well worth a read.

The article explores how modern imaging is now showing what happens inside the body when a needle meets tissue. Researchers are uncovering how needle insertion triggers a chain reaction — activating immune cells, releasing pain-modulating chemicals, and altering brain activity — creating a measurable, body-wide response.

High-field fMRI scans are showing changes in brain regions involved in pain processing and emotional regulation. Soft X-ray imaging has captured immune cells drifting toward acupuncture needles. And researchers have reported an 80% overlap between classical meridian pathways and connective tissue networks, with acupoints containing up to 1.4 times more nerve fibres than surrounding tissue. The traditional map is starting to look like "a profound, ancient blueprint of the body's neural and fascial networks," as one researcher puts it.

The article also highlights the world's first double-blind acupuncture trial — where neither patients nor practitioners knew whether real or sham needles were used. True acupuncture provided relief lasting up to 12 weeks, compared to 4 weeks for the placebo. And in one randomised emergency-setting trial, acupuncture relieved acute pain more quickly and effectively than intravenous morphine, with fewer side effects.

With the opioid crisis having claimed over a million lives in the US since 2000, the case for safe, non-addictive pain management has never been more urgent. This is exactly why I trained in classical Chinese medicine. The frameworks are ancient. The science is now beginning to explain them.

🔗 Read the full article:

Your body has a built-in painkiller system. Acupuncture may switch it on.

26/05/2026

Shen Men: when the Fire Horse year starts to feel like too much

We're three months into the Fire Horse year, and if you've been feeling the heat — emotionally, mentally, in your chest, in your sleep — you're not imagining it.

Fire Horse energy is brilliant and alive, but it can also burn. Overstimulation, racing thoughts, that wired-but-tired feeling that makes it hard to land anywhere. This is the year that asks a lot of the Heart.

Which brings me to a point I return to again and again at this time of year.

Heart 7. Shen Men. Spirit Gate.

Found at the wrist crease on the little finger side, in the small hollow just inside the tendon — this is one of the most quietly powerful points in the whole system. It's the shu (stream) and yuan (source) point of the Heart channel, which means it goes right to the root.

In clinic I use it when someone's mind won't settle, when anxiety is sitting in the chest, when sleep feels just out of reach, when a person needs to come back to themselves. It doesn't sedate you. It grounds you. There's a difference.

In a Fire Horse year, Shen Men is where I go when the energy has been running ahead of itself all day. Like finding the still point inside the movement — the fire doesn't go out, it just stops being frantic.

You can press it gently yourself, with the opposite thumb, for a few breaths.

Be still and notice what happens.

25/05/2026

Weekend training with Master Shen Jin — going deeper into Buqi healing

This weekend I trained with my teacher Master Shen Jin (a master who resists being called a master), learning more about the buqi healing system — how to create different energy fields and how they support health.

Buqi works with the body's own natural energy. It's subtle, practical work that takes time to develop — which is why I keep going back to train, despite having been immersed in this work for almost 20 years already... there are always more gems to discover..

A highlight for me thos weekend was using the pulling silk (or silk reeling) technique — one I teach regularly in class — and finding that it also helps build stronger healing forces in buqi practice. I love it when things connect like that.

I'm continuing to develop these skills for the benefit of my tai chi and qigong students and my acupuncture patients. The more these different parts of my practice talk to each other, the better.

21/05/2026

THE YEAR OF THE FIRE HORSE — THREE MONTHS IN

When we wrote about the Fire Horse in February, it felt theoretical. Now we can see it.

Look around.

The UK is already heading into its first heatwave of 2026 — temperatures forecast to reach 30°C by late May, potentially making it official before June has even begun. ( Source - Your Weather)

The Met Office has forecast that 2026 will be the fourth year in succession to exceed 1.4°C above pre-industrial levels — something that had never happened before this run began. (Source - Met Office)

Scientists have named what's happening "climate whiplash" — rapid swings between extremes. After one of the rainiest winters on record in parts of the UK, early summer is now forecast to be drier than average with an elevated risk of extreme heat. (Source - PreventionWeb)

The Met Office's own three-month outlook notes increasing chances of El Niño developing by early summer, with an increased likelihood of heatwaves as a result. (Source - Met Office)

And it's not only the weather. Globally, the sense of instability feels relentless — ongoing conflicts, shifting alliances, economic uncertainty, the fracturing of institutions many people assumed were permanent. The news cycle itself has become a source of low-grade dysregulation for many people, even those not directly affected. There is a particular quality to this moment: things feel like they are moving too fast, too hot, with not enough stillness at the centre.

This is Fire energy without Water to contain it.

**What does that mean in the body?**

In Chinese medicine, Fire governs the Heart and its associated functions: the mind (Shen), sleep, emotional regulation and the capacity to feel connected rather than overwhelmed.

When Fire blazes unanchored — as it does in a world of constant news, conflict, and heat — we tend to see:
* Difficulty sleeping, especially waking between 11pm and 3am
* Restlessness, scattered thinking, inability to settle
* Palpitations or a sense of pressure in the chest
* Feeling "wired but tired" — depleted but unable to switch off
* Heightened anxiety or emotional reactivity with no clear cause
* Skin flare-ups (Fire rising to the surface)
* Dry mouth, thirst, or a sensation of internal heat

None of these need a dramatic personal trigger. The ambient Fire of the collective moment is enough.

In clinic I'm already seeing it — more neck tension and headaches as yang rises and fails to descend, more digestive disruption (particularly acid reflux) as emotional heat affects the middle jiao. The body reflects the season.

**Summer as the season of Fire**

We're moving into summer — Fire's own season — which amplifies all of this. In Chinese medicine, summer is when the Heart is most active and most vulnerable.

The tendency is to push outward: more socialising, more doing, more stimulation. That's natural. But if Water (rest, quiet, depth) is already low, summer can tip the balance.

This is not about retreating from life. It's about resourcing yourself within it.

**What actually helps?**

There are many ways to support the Heart-Water balance that don't require a clinic appointment. Here are some worth considering:

* Move slowly, at least once a day. Tai chi and qigong are specifically designed to circulate qi without generating heat — the slow, rooted movement settles the nervous system and draws energy downward. But any slow, mindful movement works: a morning walk without headphones, gentle yoga, swimming. The key is presence, not performance.

* Sit still. Meditation — whether breath-based, open awareness, or a more structured practice like mindfulness or loving-kindness — has a measurable cooling effect on the nervous system. Even 10 minutes. The research on anxiety and heart rate variability is clear. You don't need a tradition or a teacher to start; apps like Insight Timer or Calm offer accessible entry points.

* Protect your screen hours. Social media, news feeds and short video are made of Fire — fast, bright, stimulating. In a Fire year, they amplify exactly what's already running high. Morning and evening are the most important times to guard. Many people find this is the single most impactful change they make.

*Support the Water element physically. This means adequate sleep (prioritised, not just hoped for), staying hydrated, and not pushing through exhaustion. The kidneys — Water's organ — are depleted by chronic stress, overwork and worry. They need actual rest, not just distraction.

* Bodywork and breath. Whether that's acupuncture, reflexology, craniosacral therapy or massage — hands-on work that involves stillness and regulated touch has a qualitatively different effect to exercise or talking. It works through the body's own nervous system. Many people notice their sleep shifts after a session even when that wasn't the presenting concern.

**For those who want more structure**

If you're drawn to working more directly with qi, both tai chi/qigong classes and acupuncture offer a framework for this kind of seasonal recalibration. They work differently — one through movement and practice, one through specific treatment — but both are rooted in the same understanding of how the body regulates itself.

Summer is actually a good time to start either. Not because something is wrong, but because you're already more open and more sensitive. The body responds well.

You can find out more at www.acupuncture-surrey.co.uk or Acupuncture Surrey or search Tai Chi & Qigong Surrey or email [email protected] for info on classes.

12/05/2026

🌿 Thinking about trying acupuncture? Here are a few questions I hear all the time:

* Does it hurt?

Most people are surprised by how relaxing it is! The needles are very fine — nothing like an injection — and many patients drift off during treatment.

* Is it safe?

Yes! Members of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) complete a minimum of three years' degree-level training, covering acupuncture theory and practice alongside the biomedical knowledge to work safely with all patients — including those with complex needs such as cancer, pregnancy or bleeding disorders. We also follow strict safe needle practice guidelines and undertake ongoing CPD to keep our practice current.

* What can it help with?

From pain and stress to sleep, digestion, hormonal health and beyond — acupuncture treats the whole person, not just the symptom.

💛 Curious? Contact Nicci on [email protected] to arrange a free 15-minute chat to find out if acupuncture is right for you.

www.acupuncture-surrey.co.uk

10/05/2026

Take a look at this list.

Every condition on it was treated in my acupuncture clinic last week. Real patients. Real sessions.

What strikes me when I look at a list like this isn't how varied it is — it's how many of these people came to me not instead of their GP or consultant, but alongside them. Most of my patients are under the care of western medicine practitioners. Some have been referred onward to explore acupuncture by those very practitioners. Others have found that western medicine is doing what it can, but there's a gap — something that isn't quite being reached — and that's where acupuncture comes in.

Acupuncture isn't a replacement for western medicine. But for many people, it's a genuinely valuable addition to it.

If something on that list resonates with you, or if you've been managing a condition and feel like you've hit a ceiling with your current treatment, I'd love to have a conversation. I offer a free 15-minute no-obligation chat before you commit to anything.

📍 Reigate Wellbeing Centre — Tuesdays & Fridays, 9.30am–7pm
🌐 acupuncture-surrey.co.uk
📩 [email protected]
🔗 Book via reigatewellbeingcentre.com/services

10/05/2026

The essence of good qigong teaching is meeting the student where they're at.

**Good qigong teaching meets you where you are**

A lot of people assume that qigong is simply something you copy. You watch the teacher, you follow along, and gradually the movements become familiar. And while that's part of it, it's only the beginning.

The real depth of qigong — and what separates an experienced teacher from someone who's simply learned the sequences — is the ability to see what each student needs and adapt the practice accordingly.

This might mean modifying a movement for someone with a frozen shoulder or arthritic hands. It might mean choosing specific exercises that activate and regulate a particular organ system for someone with a hormonal imbalance or digestive condition. It might mean working with the breath and the lower dantian in a targeted way for someone dealing with anxiety or exhaustion. Or it might mean offering a movement-based approach to someone living with trauma or PTSD, for whom sitting in stillness can feel impossible — giving the mind a gentle, absorbing anchor in flowing movement while the nervous system quietly settles.

Taijiwuxigong (the main qigong system I teach) is a complete system of body-mind medicine. Its exercises aren't interchangeable — they have specific functions, specific directions of qi flow, specific effects on the organ systems and the nervous system. Knowing how to select and sequence them for the person in front of you is a skill that takes years to develop.

I've been practising qigong for nearly 20 years (teaching for almost 10) and continue to work with my own teachers. I'm also a trained acupuncturist with a background in Chinese medicine and Western anatomy and physiology — which means I understand my students' conditions from multiple perspectives and can apply the practice with real precision.

Whether you're managing a physical condition, navigating a mental health challenge, or simply feeling that your current practice isn't quite reaching what you need — there may be more available to you than you realise.

📍 Weekly classes in Reigate — Wednesdays
💻 Online class — Thursday evenings (with practice video available)
📅 Workshops and one-to-one sessions throughout the year
👇 Get in touch on [email protected] if you'd like to know more.

02/05/2026

CONTINUING MY SERIES ON UNDERSTANDING TAI CHI & QIGONG

CONTINUING MY SERIES - UNDERSTANDING TAI CHI & QIGONG

🌿 Quietening the mind 🌿

As you move through Tai Chi or Qigong, you’re gathering a lot of information about your body.

But there’s another piece that’s just as important… the mind.

When the mind begins to quieten:
• You can notice how thoughts and emotions affect tension in your body
• You create space for the nervous system to settle
• You stop overriding what your body is actually asking for

A busy, “on-the-go” mind can keep the body in a more activated state.

A quieter mind, on the other hand, creates the conditions for the body to regulate, rebalance, and heal more naturally.

It’s not about forcing stillness—it’s about allowing it.