2018 has been a very busy year for me and it’s been a while since I wrote a blog article. So I thought I’d use a few spare minutes to let you know what I’ve been up to and give you an idea of what’s in store for 2019. Over the course of the year, I have been doing the Diploma in Advanced Fertility Acupuncture with Naava Carman, founder of the Fertility Support Company. I’ve attended 5 intensive weekends on various fertility and pregnancy related topics including: causes of in

Happy new year to all of you… A peaceful and contented mind. Keep your mind stimulated with things you enjoy and love. Spend time with friends and family, have a laugh, pursue a hobby or passion. But also get the right balance between stimulation. Keep your mind healthy by managing your stress using therapies such as acupuncture and practices such as mindfulness or meditation. Eat a healthy balanced diet filled with nutritious, real food. Eat real food including plenty fruit,

Why do we get more colds in winter – the modern science perspective We all know that people seem to be more likely to catch colds in winter, – 80% more likely according to the NHS[i] – but scientists Why we get more colds in winter from a Chinese medicine perspective These are interesting findings because it supports ancient Chinese medical theories about the relationship between seasons, pathogens (e.g. viruses) and our immune system. Chinese medicine recognises the affect a

Our digestive systems are sensitive and can easily be damaged by eating the wrong types of foods, eating in the wrong circumstances or by emotions such as stress, anger and worry.  In Chinese medicine, our digestive system is responsible for a wide range of bodily functions and also maintains the intellectual and cognitive function of our minds. Its function is understood to have the key role of transforming food and fluids into the nutrients our bodies need and transporting

We are now deep into winter with short days, long nights and freezing temperatures. It is important at this time of year to conserve our energy, slow down a bit and wrap up warmly. We tend to do this naturally anyway because our bodies are working that bit harder at keeping warm. In this modern age, we can lose touch with listening to what our bodies’ food needs are and allow generalized public health advice and marketing cloud our natural judgment and food desires. For examp

A couple of weeks ago was Migraine Awareness week and it inspired this latest blog as it is a subject close to my own heart. Acupuncture can help to reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines After the birth of my second son, I began suffering from frequent, debilitating migraines. After the birth of my third child I was having them so frequently I was rarely well. I seemed to be in a cycle of migraine and gradual recovery from it only to be hit with another one again. I

Woman sneezing (Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net) The warmer weather and longer days makes such a welcome change after the long dark and wet Scottish winter. It is glorious to see all the flowers and blossom blooming. It seems decidedly unfair that this can mean the arrival or exacerbation of allergies. An allergy is an overreaction of the body’s immune system to something in the environment which would normally be harmless. Its this reaction