Many people across the world use acupuncture for pain management, but little research is available on the mechanisms that might explain how acupuncture affects the body. As technology improves, however, more scientists take up the challenge of investigating the physiological changes that take place when an acupuncture needle is inserted. ​

Patients often ask me if I treat myself.

​Sure. Sometimes I do. But it can be a rather awkward and uncomfortable affair … First, the only points I can really needle properly are the ones on my legs. As well as the ones on my left arm (I’m right-handed). And that is rather limiting. Using moxa is tricky,  finding time to have a proper treatment is not easy (hence my “mobile acupuncture practice” idea) … What is one to do?

Whilst there is little doubt that acupuncture is great for easing neck and shoulder tension and pain, there are a few thing you can do yourself to help ease the discomfort. 

Adjusting your posture is one of those things. 

Yes, it will take some getting used to (and will likely feel a little uncomfortable to start with), but being mindful of your posture and tension levels will help deal with the pain in the long run.

Also, give this little exercise a go for a week and see if you notice a pattern: when you feel happy - how do your neck and shoulder feel? Probably relaxed and flexible. How do you hold your head? Now try to observe yourself when you are feeling cross or stresses? Tight? Holding your breath or not breathing deeply? Head hunched forward? Take a deep breath (breathe with your tummy, not your shoulders), exhale, repeat and relax. Do you feel the tension easing? 

Keep observing your body and if you feel yourself tensing up take a deep breath and check your posture - it will soon become second nature to you!

From unpublished studies, to biased data manipulation and ghost-writing papers by the pharmaceutical companies ... This is one talk that's well worth listening to if you'd like to know just how much evidence there is behind the so-called evidence-based medicine ...

In my years of looking at and researching medical literature I've come across many truly shoddy "scientific" studies and often said to myself "if only people knew!". The sad truth is that even the doctors are often unaware of the dishonesty and manipulation that goes on in the world of "evidence-based medicine".  The healthcare industry is just that - an industry. And as an indistry, it has to generate profits ... 

But don't take it from me! Here's what Dr Jason Fung is a Canadian nephrologist has to say about the Big Pharma lies:

Phew! Finally! The phone line is back up and running and I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

Please accept my sicerest apologies, if this is has been your frustrating experience recently ...

Switching telephone services provider couldn't be simpler, they said ... It will take 24 hours they said ... I'm still battling, but in the mean-time,  if you need to get in-touch urgently - please email acurenew@gmail.com

Does looking at this photo make you want to sneeze? It did for me for several years, before I found a solution.

The hay fever season is well and truly here.

I manage my hay fever symptoms with regular acupuncture sessions, especially important in the run-up to the sneezy-itchy time of the year, around mid-June for me; as well as lifestyle and diet ...

And apart from acupuncture, to manage my hay fever, the three personal fundamentals are:

Good morning!

It's Friday, it's sunny (well, on-and-off ;-) ) ... There is no excuse not to smile!

Do you suffer from sleep problems? Insomnia? Anxiety?

At the follow-up acupuncture appointments, the two of the most common feedback coments I get from the people I treat are: "I slept so well" and "I felt so much more relaxed" ... All it takes is about 20 minutes and just a few needles - that's it. No pills, no chemicals.

And ... no lung cancer in the "possible side-effects" list ... Unlike the sedatives and sleeping pills that are taken by 1 in 10 people in the UK ... Here, the Daily Mail reports on the 20-year long study into the safety sleeping pills, which is though to be one of the largest to date. The association with lung cancer is indeed a worrying one.