International College of Oriental Medicine - ICOM

19/12/2025

As we begin to wind down for the festive break at Van Buren House, we would like to wish all of our students, alumni, staff, patients and supporters a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

If you find yourself missing ICOM over the holidays, you can still book New Year acupuncture appointments via our clinic website, or take some time to explore our 2026 CPD programme, with upcoming courses led by Elisabeth Rochat de la Vallée, Felip Caudet, Oran Kivity and more.

And if you are considering a new direction in 2026, applications are open to join our renowned acupuncture course, and you can visit us for our next Open Day on Thursday 22 January.

With warm wishes from everyone at ICOM.

18/12/2025

At ICOM, alongside our world-renowned acupuncture training, we offer a wide range of high-quality CPD courses throughout the year for acupuncturists.

Whether you are a current student or have been in practice for many years, our CPD programme offers opportunities to deepen knowledge, refine skills, and expand clinical confidence.

Our courses include moxibustion, pulse diagnosis, Classical Chinese medicine theory, practical bodywork, Japanese acupuncture, and more. We are also the only acupuncture college in the UK to teach Stems and Branches within our CPD and training programmes.

New CPD courses are added regularly. Subscribe to our CPD newsletter to be the first to hear about upcoming courses.

Learn more at orientalmed.ac.uk/cpd

17/12/2025

Thank you to our third-year students for hosting a brilliant festive lunch for students and staff yesterday.

It was a wonderful opportunity to come together, with a quiz, gingerbread house building, and, most importantly, the collection of donations for East Grinstead Foodbank.

We are very grateful to our students for their generosity and enthusiasm, and for helping to make the day such a meaningful celebration of community.

16/12/2025

It’s been a busy day over at ICOM, thank you to our students for making it a very memorable one.

Our third-year students treated us all to a lunchtime gingerbread house building contest - the competition was tough - but they are all winners in our eyes.

Well done everyone …🎄

15/12/2025

What is ICOM Plus?

ICOM Plus is a postgraduate support and supervision programme designed to nurture the ongoing development of acupuncturists in practice.

Originally created for ICOM graduates, the scheme is opening to all qualified acupuncturists from the new year, with applications considered on a case-by-case basis. It is not limited to ICOM training, but aims to deepen clinical thinking, strengthen practice, and support practitioners throughout their careers.

Membership includes monthly online sessions facilitated by experienced acupuncturists, covering topics such as complex case discussion, supervision, pathology, chronic disease, practitioner–patient relationships, and practice development.

Members also receive access to an online resource library, a dedicated community chat group, and discounts on ICOM CPD courses.

ICOM Plus offers a structured space for reflection, learning and connection within a wider community of practice.

Learn more: https://orientalmed.ac.uk/students-and-alumni/icom-plus/

12/12/2025

Our Community Multibed Acupuncture Clinic runs every Saturday morning, offering affordable, high-quality treatments delivered by fully qualified practitioners.

Appointments last approximately one hour and take place in the Mulberry Room, a calm space located within the gardens of Van Buren House.

The multibed setting accommodates up to four patients at a time, with screens in place to provide a sense of privacy.

This clinic is ideal for those seeking regular, ongoing treatment at a lower cost, without compromising on professional standards of care.

If you would like to book an appointment please phone 01342 313106 - our friendly reception team will be happy to help.

Visit our clinic website or search ‘ICOM clinic’ for more information.

https://acupunctureeastgrinstead.org/services/multi-bed-clinic/

11/12/2025

CPD: Taxation and Exhaustion with Elisabeth Rochat de la Vallée - a series of 7 different 90-minute seminars.

This online CPD is for acupuncturists and practitioners of classical Chinese medicine.

Fatigue and depletion are among the most common patterns we see in clinic today. But Chinese medicine has been thinking about taxation for over two millennia.

In this two-part online series, Elisabeth Rochat de la Vallée takes us directly into the classics: the Suwen, Lingshu, Jingui Yaolüe and the writings of Zhang Jiebin to understand:
• how taxation develops
• why emotions are central in chronic fatigue
• how jing, yang qi and organ systems deteriorate under strain
• how symptoms point to root causes
• and what the classical texts teach about prevention.

Part 2 turns to the practitioner: how to treat without becoming depleted, how to protect clarity of mind, and how to guide patients without imposing.

This is a rare opportunity to study with one of the world’s most respected classical scholars in Chinese medicine.

Dates:
Part 1: 20, 27 Jan; 3, 10 Feb 2026
Part 2: 3, 10, 17 Mar 2026
Time: 6–7.30pm (UK)
Cost: £140 Part 1, £105 Part 2, £245 both
Open to: Acupuncturists and those with classical CM training.

Book via the CPD page on our website.

https://orientalmed.ac.uk/product/exhaustion/

10/12/2025

10/12/2025

Thank you to one of our recent patients for their kind testimony about our student teaching clinic.
 
“It was a very positive experience & I felt comfortable in the consultation with one student leading 2 observing plus a tutor. I felt very relaxed from their general being & attitude to the case taking, pulse taking & then the treatment. Everything was explained & I felt comfortable to ask questions.”

People of all ages can benefit from having acupuncture to help manage a range of health conditions.

Often, people turn to acupuncture to take back control of their health whilst others want to understand their body in a deeper way, wanting to look after their health, mind and soul.

Acupuncture is safe for children and teenagers. They can often be treated without the use of needles.

Our ICOM student teaching clinic has been serving the local community for over 50 years.

If you would like an appointment or know of someone who may, please call our Reception 01342 313106 and we will get you booked in.

You can read more FAQs on our ICOM clinic website.

https://acupunctureeastgrinstead.org/frequently-asked-questions/

09/12/2025

Being an Acupuncturist is fascinating and rewarding. Traditional Acupuncture is a career that attracts people from all walks of life.

For some, Acupuncture is their first career, but many people switch to a career in Acupuncture after following a very different career path, whilst others have been pursuing a similar career in healthcare and decide to branch out.

We have an article on our website explaining more about training options, accreditation, and professional recognition.

Curious to know more? Come along to our next Open Day on Thursday 22 January, where you’ll have plenty of opportunities to chat to our staff and students and ask any questions about pursuing a rewarding career in Acupuncture and the benefits of training at ICOM.

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Read more here:

Being an Acupuncturist is highly rewarding and it attracts people from all walks of life. So what's a career in acupuncture really like?

08/12/2025

Give the gift of Acupuncture this festive season with our community clinic gift cards!

Our gift cards do not expire and can be used to subsidise the cost of Acupuncture appointments with any of our Acupuncture practitioners based at the ICOM Acupuncture Clinic in East Grinstead.

Did you know you can choose from 13 fully-qualified Acupuncture practitioners at our ICOM community clinic?

ICOM clinic is open Monday-Saturday. Opening times vary so please check our website for details.

The appointments will take place in the Mulberry room – a newly refurbished garden room in the grounds of Van Buren House.

The value of each gift card can only be redeemed once. To purchase a gift card you can drop us a message, email, call or visit the clinic in-person - full Ts&Cs available on our clinic website.

Our friendly receptionist staff are always happy to help.

Call us: 01342 313106
Email: clinic@orientalmed.ac.uk
Visit our website: acupunctureeastgrinstead.org

05/12/2025

The ancient Chinese observed the cycles of nature: day and night and the changing seasons. They recognised that the natural rhythms of nature underlie the most fundamental aspects of our lives and are thus fundamental to our health.

In the Lunisolar calendar also known as the Chinese 24 Solar Terms, Dàxuě (大雪) translated as 'Major Snow' arrives on 7 December and marks the deepening of winter.

This means colder temperatures, increased yin, and a seasonal invitation to slow down. It is a time when nature turns inward, conserving energy and strengthening what lies beneath the surface.

Classical Chinese Medicine encourages us to follow these rhythms. At this time of year we focus on rest, warmth, nourishment and protecting the Kidney system, the root of our vitality through the winter months.

If you'd like to explore how seasonal living can support your health and wellbeing, read our new blog series: Chinese Medicine Tips for Seasonal Self-Care

Read here: https://orientalmed.ac.uk/classical-chinese-medicine-tips-for-seasonal-self-care

Image: Record of the Chinese lunisolar calendar for 1834, 1835, and 1836 during the Qing dynasty under the Daoguang Emperor's Reign (道光十四年，道光十五年，道光十六年)