Chinese Medicine in Lewes
What is Chinese Medicine?
Chinese medicine understands health by looking at the body as an interconnected whole.
Rather than viewing symptoms entirely in isolation, it looks for patterns in how different aspects of health relate to one another — including pain, digestion, sleep, energy, emotional wellbeing, movement and recovery.
This means asking not only where a problem is occurring, but what may be contributing to it and how the wider system is functioning.
In my clinic, this approach provides the framework for assessment and treatment. Depending on the individual, this may involve acupuncture, therapeutic bodywork, seasonal and dietary guidance, or movement practices such as Qigong.
How I use Chinese Medicine in My Clinic
People come for treatment with different symptoms, histories and circumstances. Chinese medicine provides a way of bringing that information together rather than treating every complaint as a separate problem.
Treatment is therefore based on your individual presentation and may change as your condition changes.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is the main way I use Chinese medicine clinically.
I begin with a Chinese medical assessment, looking at your symptoms alongside factors such as sleep, digestion, energy, emotional wellbeing and general health. From this, I develop a treatment tailored to you.
Rather than using the same treatment protocol for everyone with a particular condition, I adjust the acupuncture according to your individual presentation and how this changes over the course of treatment.
Chinese Medical Massage – Tui Na
Tui Na is the traditional system of therapeutic massage and bodywork used within Chinese medicine.
I use Tui Na to work with muscular tension, stiffness and discomfort, either alongside acupuncture or as a treatment in its own right.
I choose the techniques according to your individual presentation rather than following a standard massage routine.
Cupping & Gua Sha
I use cupping and Gua Sha where there is muscular tightness, discomfort or restricted movement. I only use these techniques when they are appropriate for you.
Moxibustion
Moxibustion, often called moxa, is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that uses heat from dried mugwort to warm specific acupuncture points or areas of the body.
I may use moxibustion alongside acupuncture when the Chinese medical assessment indicates that warmth is appropriate, particularly where there are signs traditionally associated with cold or deficiency. Depending on the treatment, I may use a moxa stick held above the skin or moxa in conjunction with an acupuncture needle.
Moxibustion is not automatically included in treatment. I use it when it is appropriate to your individual presentation.
Qigong Exercises
Qigong is another aspect of the Chinese medical tradition and uses posture, movement, breathing and awareness.
Where appropriate, I may suggest simple Qigong exercises or other self-care practices to complement treatment and give you something practical to work with between appointments.
I also teach Qigong separately from my clinical work.
Chinese Dietary Therapy
Food and eating habits have traditionally formed an important part of Chinese medicine. I may include dietary guidance alongside acupuncture where it is relevant to your individual presentation, taking into account factors such as digestion, appetite, energy and general health.
I am also developing standalone Chinese Dietary Therapy consultations for people who want to explore this aspect of Chinese medicine in greater depth.
Seasonal Support & Preventative Care
Chinese medicine has traditionally paid considerable attention to changes over time — including seasonal changes, life stages and periods of greater physical or emotional demand.
In clinical practice this can mean adapting treatment according to what is happening now rather than assuming that someone’s needs remain constant throughout the year.
Emotional & Stress-Related Health
Chinese medicine does not regard emotional and physical health as entirely separate.
Stress, sleep, tension, energy and emotional wellbeing may therefore all form part of the clinical picture when assessing what is happening.
Where these are prominent concerns, treatment is still based on the individual rather than simply applying a standard treatment for a diagnostic label.
Individualised Treatment
There is no single Chinese medicine treatment that is appropriate for everybody.
Two people coming to the clinic with apparently similar symptoms may have quite different histories and presentations.I use this assessment to decide what is most appropriate for you and adjust your treatment as your needs change over time.
This individualised approach is central to the way I practise Chinese medicine.
Chinese Medicine and Your Treatment
You don’t need to understand Chinese medicine – or arrive knowing which type of treatment you need.
Your first appointment provides time to discuss what has been happening, look at your health more broadly and carry out an appropriate assessment.
From there, we can decide what form of treatment is most suitable, whether that involves acupuncture, Tui Na, other techniques used within Chinese medicine, or supportive self-care.