Peachy Acupuncture

09/04/2026

It's running season. 5k, 10k, half marathon, marathon. And I've seen many patients who'll travel to New York or Paris to run.

Training can be grueling. Even if you follow all the advice, you can still suffer from injuries. One of the most common is runners knee, an overuse injury.

Runners knee is due to improper tracking of the patella and/or poor technique, weak thigh muscles or training errors. It can happen to the most experienced runner.

It's characterized by dull aching pain around or behind the kneecap. Sometimes felt during the run or directly after, and which can become chronic if left untreated.

You can't 'run through it'. Rest, rehab and stretching is essential. Electro-acupuncture works incredibly well in reducing psin and inflammation and improving outcomes.

See a practitioner as soon as you feel a twinge and for maintenance if you're a regular runner. Your body will thank you for it.

WhatsApp Rita on 07961346822 to book.

31/03/2026

There are those of us who imagine that every little ni**le is fatal and others who never go to the doctor even when they’re ill. Of course there’s a balance to be struck and our internal health antenna can sometimes save us.

But there's another kind of health anxiety I, and no doubt many other health practitioners, see all the time in our clinics. It's when patients have real health issues or multiple ones, and are so anxious about their condition/a, their emotions can actually make their physical pain much worse. The brain can increase pain perception inflaming the central nervous system. That's not to say that the pain they experience isnt real - it definitely is - but it's root cause is different.

So as practitioners, we have to identify what's actually going on. It's all pain but how do we treat it best?

Reducing pain and inflammation is what acupuncture is really good at. Addressing fear and anxiety complements this approach.

Talking to patients about their health anxiety is critical. That's where we can directly address and challenge their fears.

Pain is a whole body experience. Whether it comes from the brain or the body, Chinese medicine treats it holistically. Acupuncture is just one of the tools we use, alongside tuina remedial massage, cupping, guasha, herbs and nutrition.

So while health anxiety is normal and can be useful in seeking treatment, it can also exacerbate symptoms.

If this sounds like something you can relate to WhatsApp Rita on 07961346822 .

27/03/2026

Sara had been living with back pain for a while when she came for her first treatment. Following her consultation it became clear, there were other related issues; sore neck and shoulders and plantar fasciitis which severely restricted walking and left her in pain daily.

Regular acupuncture, tuina remedial massage and cupping sessions soon relieved her symptoms.

Now Sara comes for maintenance every month to keep her well.

WhatsApp Rita on 07961346822 for a chat or to book. 🧡

13/03/2026

Pain relief and healing are not the same thing.

Pain relief focuses on symptom relief, reducing the initial pain and inflammation. Healing is identifying and correcting why those symptoms exist in the first place. Most patients aren’t aware of the difference.

For example, a patient with a sore lower back may feel better after just a couple of acupuncture sessions, however, that isn’t embedded. It’s just the initial stages of healing. So a few weeks or months later - it comes back.

Healing identifies the underlying cause, which may or may not be the source of the pain they are experiencing. And then works from there.

Healing takes time. To strengthen, fortify or release the underlying issues causing the problem. Otherwise you get stuck in a resolving door of chronic pain, temporary relief and back to pain.

There are issues that sometimes can’t be fully cured, but quality of life can be improved. A truly holistic approach is necessary.

Chinese medicine and acupuncture is designed to finding the source of the problem in that particular patient, healing their body and mind. Not simply their back.

WhatsApp Rita on 07961346822 for a chat or to book.

23/02/2026

It’s that time again.... the hayfever season has started. When does it affect you?

Acupuncture is just a game changer for hayfever and results are pretty fast. Start treatment before symptoms begin.

Suitable for adults and children.

Contact Rita on 07961346822 to book.

02/02/2026

Shingles (herpes zoster) is a painful, blistering rash caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus. It can also be triggered by a weakened immune system resulting in a rash usually on one side accompanied by a burning, tingling, nervy pain lasting 2-4 weeks.

Antivirals taken early enough can help and painkillers can also be used. However it's often still very painful.

Curiously the last time I saw a patient with shingles was about 5 years ago but then last week I saw two people in one day! Both had experienced recent and sustained stress which seem to have triggered the disease.

Acupuncture is effective at calming the central nervous system and 'cooling' the body. Once the rash is less sensitive we can also needle around it which helps to make the area less 'live' and therefore more manageable. So we work locally and systemically.

It's a deeply uncomfortable condition which brings on anxiety that tends to make the symptoms worse. Acupuncture can also help to calm the mind.

If you're experiencing shingles then contact Rita on 07961346822 to book.

30/01/2026

A groundbreaking discovery from Taiwan is bridging traditional medicine and modern science. Researchers at China Medical University have shown that acupuncture doesn’t just relieve pain—it can trigger stem cells to repair damaged organs naturally. Electroacupuncture at specific points, like ST36 (Zusanli) and GV20 (Baihui), stimulates the bone marrow to release mesenchymal stem cells into the bloodstream. These stem cells then travel to injured tissues, differentiate into organ-specific cells, and release healing factors.
Within 24 hours, stem cell levels in circulation increased by 300%, providing a measurable biological explanation for acupuncture’s therapeutic effects—beyond placebo. Stroke patients treated with electroacupuncture within 48 hours recovered 40% better than those with standard care. Liver cirrhosis patients showed reduced fibrosis markers, while heart attack survivors experienced improved cardiac function.
This discovery is rewriting how Western medicine views acupuncture. For thousands of years, it was considered purely traditional, yet science now shows a sophisticated, measurable mechanism for healing. Ancient practices are finally being validated through modern imaging and cellular tracking, revealing that needle stimulation can activate the body’s own repair systems.
The message is clear: acupuncture is more than sensation—it’s a biological trigger for regeneration, showing how centuries-old practices can integrate with cutting-edge science.

19/01/2026

TESTIMONIAL
Kate was going through big health and career changes. She was severely run down, had headaches that remained for days, sore muscles, various menopausal symptoms and low mood. Her energy levels were through the floor.

She was in permanent 'fight or flight' and completely exhausted. So it was important to calm her central nervous system and get her out of pain. In situations like this a advise vitamin b12 and D intramuscular shots to help boost her system alongside acupuncture and tuina. I also advised her to get blood tests from her doctor to rule out anything worrying.

I saw her once then went on holiday! 3 weeks after she came back to continue treatment and she was pretty much pain free. Her sleep had improved, she felt calmer and most importantly, she was functioning.

We continued a few weekly sessions and now she comes for maintenance every month. External stresses are still present, so regular maintenance ensures they don't overwhelm her. That way we keep on top of everything.

Kate's story is not unusual. Mum, change of career, menopause, generally run down - suddenly becomes unmanageable. It also doesn't just 'go away'.

If this sounds familiar, then WhatsApp Rita on 07961346822 for a chat or to book.

13/01/2026

January is I think, one of the hardest months to get through, both physically and emotionally. After the intensity of Xmas, which can be challenging for some, and likely overindulgent! It can result in quite a slump in the new year, so It’s a good time to take stock.

Perhaps you're not sleeping well, you're experiencing muscle pain, your've got a recurring gut issue, anxiety or any combination of ni**les that you've ignored for a while prompting the usual resolve to 'get fit, lose weight etc'.

Addressing those seemingly disparate health issues before putting resolutions into place, can be helpful.

Acupuncture is very effective at seeing how different symptoms make sense. So we're not treating one or more symptoms, we're treating you.

So if you're feeling a bit out of sorts, not quite ready to take on 2026 full throttle, then contact Rita on 07961346822 for a chat or to book.

04/01/2026

Resolutions suck! Usually because they feel quite punitive: 'lose weght'. 'get fit', 'spend less '. It's also why they rarely work, and by 18 January it's all over bar the gym membership you'll still be paying.

First of all, think about what would make you feel better over the new YEAR. The clue is in the word 'year'. Give yourself that year.

A lot of it is actually about your health but rarely couched in those tetms. So try and be more precise so you can measure any progress.

So what would that look like?

'I want to sleep better. So I'm not exhausted in the morning'.

I want to swim more'. Maybe learn breast stroke'.

'I want to sort out my bad back, maybe I'll see an acupuncturist' (see what I did there 😜)

'I want to improve my digestion' (see above)

and then...

'I want a job that challenges me'.

'I want a new boyfriend ' ❤️

'I want to visit italy'🇮🇹

Addressing your health underpins everything. It’s hard to focus on achieving stuff if you aren’t feeling good - emotionally or physically.

So if health isn’t one of your resolutions- then it really should be. 🧡

25/12/2025

Peachy is 13 years old (lucky for me!) and it's been a honour to be part of this wonderful community. I've had the privilege of treating entire families, patients who still continue to come for maintenance over many years and those who arrive at my clinic feeling broken. And of course those who come once for a bad back and miraculously walk away pain free!

Being an acupuncturist isn't just about putting in needles. It's about seeing a whole person and caring for all that ails them. Emotional or physical - the beauty of Chinese medicine is that its about healing all parts of you.

So as we leave 2025, I wish you all the most important gift there is. Good health.

Rita ❤️
07961346822

16/12/2025