Leah Cross Acupuncture

14/07/2025

09/07/2025

💫 “They Said I Needed Spinal Surgery — I Chose to Heal”

By Leah Cross-Acupuncture & Wellness

In 2006, my life changed overnight.

I was brutally assaulted — an act of violence that left me in constant, excruciating pain. I had to resign from my job and spent months in and out of orthopaedic hospitals. My body felt like it was unravelling. I lost sensation in my left arm and hand. Simple tasks became exhausting. Moving felt unsafe.

🩻 The Diagnosis: Cervical Spinal Cord Compression

Eventually, scans revealed severe compression in my cervical spinal cord. The spinal consultant explained the seriousness of the situation. He told me I was at risk of further degeneration, and potentially, paralysis if I didn’t undergo surgery.

The proposed solution was spinal decompression and fusion. I was given a two-year open appointment — I could return at any point, and he would perform the operation.

In the meantime, I was prescribed a combination of strong medications, including morphine, to manage the pain.

🧘‍♀️ But I Chose Another Path

I didn’t ignore the diagnosis. I took it seriously.
But deep inside, I felt that my body deserved a chance to heal — naturally.

There was something in me that said:

> “Your body knows what to do. Trust it.”

So I began to step away from the medical system.
I gradually stopped taking the medication.
And I committed to a long, personal healing journey — one rooted in presence, nervous system regulation, energy work, nutrition, movement, and self-awareness.

🌿 It Wasn’t Quick — But It Was Real

There was no instant fix. But slowly, I began to feel different.

The pain softened.
The fear eased.
I began moving with more confidence and less resistance.
I stopped defining myself by my injury.

I wasn’t chasing a cure — I was cultivating wholeness.

📄 Then Came the 2019 MRI

Thirteen years after my injury, I returned for a follow-up MRI. The consultant reviewed the results and wrote:

> “The previously seen pressure and irritation at the C5/6 level has indeed got better.”

He also confirmed my brain scan was normal, and there were no signs of demyelination or degenerative disease beyond what would be expected with cervical arthritis.

I still live with atrophy in my left arm and hand, and arthritis in my neck. But I no longer live in daily pain. I’m medication-free. And I never had the surgery.

💡 What I’ve Learned

The body has an immense capacity to recover — when we support it, rather than fear it.

Pain is complex. It involves not just the body, but also the mind, emotions, and energy field.

Healing is not always about fixing — sometimes, it’s about reconnecting.

Belief and trust in the body are not naive — they are essential.

🙏 Final Words

I was told I was at risk of further damage.
I was told I needed major surgery.
Instead, I chose to honour my body and listen to its wisdom.

> If you’ve been given a diagnosis, or told that there’s only one way forward — I want you to know there is always another way to relate to your body, your pain, and your healing.

This isn’t about rejecting medicine. It’s about remembering that you are not broken.
Your body is not your enemy.
And healing — even deep healing — is possible.

✨ Disclaimer:

This is my personal healing story, not medical advice. Every body and every journey is different. I always encourage you to consult with your GP, consultant, or healthcare team when making decisions about your care. Trust your body — and make choices that feel right for you, fully informed.

✨ Reflection Questions

Take a quiet moment. Breathe. Listen. Let your body speak, not just your mind.

1. What have I been told about my body — and do I truly believe it?

2. Have I been making health decisions from fear, trust, or pressure?

3. Is there a part of me that believes healing is possible? What does that part need to grow?

4. What does my body want me to know — that I’ve been too busy or scared to hear?

5. What would it feel like to trust my body again, even just a little?

6. If I could write a new story about my healing, how would it begin?

21/06/2025

Tuina: Ancient Chinese Massage for Pain, Stress & Energy Rebalance
You may not have heard of Tuina (pronounced twee-nah), but it’s one of the oldest and most powerful forms of therapeutic massage in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Unlike Western massage, Tuina works directly along your body’s meridian pathways—stimulating acupressure points, releasing tension, moving Qi (vital energy), and restoring deep internal balance.

It’s ideal for:

Chronic pain or tightness

Fatigue or burnout

Stress and emotional overwhelm

Digestive or sleep issues

A general sense of “feeling off”

Tuina isn’t just about relaxing muscles—it’s about rebalancing the whole system. Techniques may include rolling, kneading, pressing, and stretching—always tailored to your body's needs and comfort. It can be deeply relaxing, emotionally releasing, or surprisingly energising, depending on what your body is ready for.

If you’re looking for a massage that goes beyond surface-level, Tuina offers a truly holistic experience—one that’s rooted in ancient wisdom and guided by your body’s subtle language.

18/06/2025

❤️ 💙 💜 ☯️ 💛

17/06/2025

Are You Who They Say You Are?

How Labels, Psychology, and Pharma-Backed Science Shaped Your Story

There’s a moment — quiet, subtle — when a label lands.
Someone says, “You have depression,” or “This is just how your brain works,” and something in you goes still.
You feel seen — for a second. Then... defined.

> "This is who I am now."
"This explains everything."
"This is permanent."

But what if it isn’t?

🧠 Your Brain Doesn’t Know the Difference Between a Thought and a Truth

Neuroscience confirms what many of us have long felt:

> Thoughts can change your brain.
Thoughts can change your body.
Thoughts can change your identity.

This is called neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to rewire itself based on belief and experience.

So when someone in authority tells you that you’re “disordered,” your nervous system listens. It starts organising around that message, creating physical changes in your hormones, nervous system, and even immune response.

> Thought becomes belief.
Belief becomes perception.
Perception becomes biology.

And often, that belief wasn’t even based on good science.

💊 The Myth of the Chemical Imbalance

For decades, we were told that depression is caused by a “chemical imbalance” — specifically, a lack of serotonin.
This idea has been repeated in leaflets, adverts, and doctor’s offices across the world.

But in 2022, a large review published in Molecular Psychiatry found:

> “There is no convincing evidence that depression is associated with, or caused by, low serotonin levels.”

The chemical imbalance theory wasn’t discovered — it was marketed.

🏭 Psychology’s Quiet Partnership With Pharma

What most people don’t know is how deeply pharmaceutical companies are embedded in psychological care:

70–90% of drug studies are funded by the companies selling them.

Many mental health guidelines are written by professionals with industry ties.

The DSM — psychiatry’s diagnostic manual — is based on symptoms, not lab tests. Diagnoses are voted in and out by committees.

There’s no scan for anxiety.
No blood test for ADHD.
No genetic marker for “mood disorder.”

And yet, people are labelled and medicated — sometimes for life.

🔬 The Real Science: Emotions Live in the Body

While mainstream systems reduce mental health to brain chemistry, a growing body of research tells a much more holistic story:

Psychoneuroimmunology shows how stress affects the immune system.

Somatic psychology shows how trauma is stored in the body.

Epigenetics shows how belief and environment influence gene expression.

Your sadness isn’t random.
Your panic isn’t meaningless.
Your fatigue isn’t failure.

Your body is speaking — often the language of suppressed emotion.

🌿 What a Real Diagnosis Looks Like

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), diagnosis means something very different.
It’s not a label — it’s a pattern. A story. A map of imbalance.

Through the tongue, pulse, meridians, organ energetics, and emotional tone, a TCM practitioner identifies not what you “are,” but what your body is showing.

It asks:

What happened?

Where is the emotion stuck?

How can the energy move again?

Diagnosis, in this context, isn’t a verdict — it’s the beginning of your return.

💡 So Who Are You, Really?

You are not your diagnosis.
You are not a label from an outdated manual.
You are not defective, disordered, or broken.

You are a nervous system that adapted perfectly to survive what it lived through.
And now, you get to heal — not by silencing symptoms, but by listening to them.

✨ You Are Not Who They Say You Are

You are not chemically broken.
You are not destined to stay the same.
You are not a diagnosis — you are a story waiting to be reclaimed.

Let your healing begin with one radical question:

> What is my body trying to say?

Leah Cross Acupuncture
Traditional Chinese Medicine | Emotional Bodywork | Trauma-Informed Healing

17/06/2025

🌿 Daily Self-Care Ritual for Fatigue & Low Energy 🌿

Waking up tired? Feeling foggy or flat? Here’s a gentle, energising morning ritual inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine to help you reconnect, recharge, and restore your natural vitality — no coffee required ☕✨

💛 Morning Energy Boost Ritual 💛
A beautiful way to wake up your body and mind when you're feeling low on energy:

1. Gentle Movement & Breath
Stand with your feet hip-width apart. Begin lightly bouncing on your heels, letting your arms relax by your sides. Inhale deeply as you bounce, exhale with a soft sigh.
Next, bend gently side to side, sweeping one arm overhead and breathing into your ribs. This helps Qi move through the Liver and Spleen channels — great for motivation and clarity.

2. Scalp Massage
Using your fingertips, massage your scalp in slow circular motions — especially around the crown and back of the head. This increases circulation to your brain and refreshes your senses.

3. Ear Awakening
Rub your ears from top to lobe using your thumbs and fingers. Gently tug the ears out and up. This mini-map of your body helps reset your whole system — a powerful TCM secret!

4. Stimulate STOMACH 36 (Zu San Li – “Leg Three Miles”)
Find this point about 4 finger-widths below your kneecap, slightly to the outside of your shinbone. Massage with firm circular pressure for 1–2 minutes. It boosts energy, supports digestion, and helps strengthen your body.

5. Warm Hydration
Sip warm lemon water or ginger tea to activate digestion and promote Qi flow. Avoid cold drinks first thing — they can slow your system down.

6. Set a Gentle Intention
Close your eyes, place one hand on your chest or belly, and ask:
“What do I need most today?”
Listen. Trust. Write it down or carry that word with you.

🌞 This whole ritual can take just 5–10 minutes. A small shift in your morning can ripple through your entire day.

With warmth,
Leah Cross Acupuncture & Wellness
✨ Reconnect. Rebalance. Replenish. ✨

05/06/2025

🌟 Post for Parents

🌀 Why I Made the Hard Decision to Remove PlayStation Completely

As a parent, I get it — I really do.
My child loved their PlayStation. All their friends had one.
It felt like “normal fun” — something harmless.

But slowly, I began to notice changes:

Shorter attention spans.

Mood swings and frustration over small things.

Trouble sleeping deeply.

Less interest in simple, creative play.

At first, I thought, "We just need more limits."
But even with time restrictions, the pull was strong — the games didn’t just entertain — they hijacked his focus, his mood, his ability to enjoy ordinary moments.

🧠 The Science Behind the Decision

Gaming floods the brain with dopamine — the “feel-good” chemical.
But too much changes how the brain works:

It makes kids crave constant stimulation.

It shrinks their ability to be patient or focused.

It disturbs natural sleep cycles, making true rest harder.

It wires them for quick rewards — not for deep thinking or calm.

Over time, it risks leading to attention issues, mood instability, and anxiety — things no parent wants for their growing child.

🌿 What Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Taught Me

In TCM, the mind and body are one system.

Excess stimulation stirs up Heart Fire, leading to restlessness and unease.

Too much screen time drains Kidney Essence, which TCM sees as the deep well of energy children grow from — their storehouse of strength, learning, and joy.

Gaming creates a Yin deficiency — too much motion, not enough true rest, making it harder to feel calm, steady, and grounded.

In simple terms:
Gaming was scattering his vital energy, not building it.

🏝️ What Opened My Eyes

When we were away on holiday in Greece — no PlayStation, no screens — I saw my child come back to life.

He slept deeply and woke up energized.

His curiosity and excitement returned.

He became calmer, more joyful, more himself.

It reminded me what a healthy, screen-free brain looks like — not rushed, not restless — but alive.

🧘 The Decision

So we made a hard but simple decision:
No more PlayStation.
Not just less time — none.

Not to be harsh.
But to protect something more precious:
🌀 His developing brain.
🌀 His ability to grow strong roots of calm, focus, and creativity.

🌿 If you’re standing in this hard place too, wondering if it’s too much — you’re not alone.
It’s hard — but sometimes protecting their future means making the brave choice today.

05/06/2025

🌿✨ The Power of Acupuncture ✨🌿

Sometimes healing works quietly — and sometimes, it surprises even the experts.

A client recently came to me facing a difficult decision: they had been advised to have a major dental procedure due to a “dead nerve.” But after a series of acupuncture treatments focused on reducing inflammation and supporting the body’s natural healing processes, something incredible happened.

At their follow-up appointment, the X-ray showed: ✔️ Healthy nerves
✔️ No signs of infection
✔️ No more pain

The dentist even advised against further intervention — the tooth was healthy and didn’t need the originally planned procedure.

💫 Acupuncture doesn’t just treat symptoms — it helps the body find balance, repair, and restore itself.

Whether it’s for pain, stress, or deeper healing, acupuncture taps into the body’s innate ability to recover — often in ways we might not expect.

🌸 Curious about how acupuncture could support your own healing journey?
Feel free to reach out — I'd love to answer your questions.

27/05/2025

To the Acupuncturists around the world…

You are the quiet revolutionaries.
You don’t just treat symptoms—you treat stories.
You listen to pulses, to pain, to what’s unspoken.
You hold space for healing in a chaotic world.

From New York to Nairobi, Tokyo to tiny villages—
You move Qi, calm minds, and bring ancient wisdom to modern lives.
You are the bridge between tradition and transformation.

So here’s to you—
The needle-wielding, energy-balancing, soul-soothing healers.
The world needs you now more than ever.

26/05/2025

"He stopped smiling. I just knew something was wrong."

A while ago, my son was being bullied at school. Not the kind that leaves bruises—but the kind that chips away at your confidence, your joy, your sense of safety.
He became anxious, withdrawn, and dreaded school mornings. I recognised the signs not just as a mother—but through my lens as a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner.

In TCM, emotions are deeply linked to the body. Worry affects the Spleen. Fear impacts the Kidneys. Sadness and grief are held in the Lungs. When a child experiences bullying, it can disrupt their inner balance—physically, emotionally, and energetically.

Here are some signs your child might be experiencing bullying:

Sudden mood changes, fear of school, or frequent tummy aches

Withdrawal from friends or interests

Trouble sleeping or eating

Refusal to talk about school or friends

Physical symptoms without a clear cause

After withdrawing my son from school, I began supporting him with TCM-based techniques: acupressure, nourishing foods for the Spleen and Heart, gentle body movement, and emotional release through art and connection.

If you’re a parent sensing something’s not right—trust your instinct.
I now offer gentle, child-safe support for emotional imbalances using natural, non-invasive tools from acupuncture and holistic healing.

Feel free to reach out. You’re not alone—and your child doesn’t have to walk this path unsupported.

—Leah
Leah Cross Acupuncture & Wellness