College of Integrated Chinese Medicine

College of Integrated Chinese Medicine The College of Integrated Chinese Medicine teaches Five Element and TCM styles of acupuncture in a BSc (hons) degree.

The College was created in 1993 and is one of the largest in the UK. Our reputation is founded on the quality and unique nature of our acupuncture course, which is validated as BSc honours degree by University College of Osteopathy. This course brings together the strengths of Five Element acupuncture and TCM theory in a style known as integration.

In May, our pop-up Tuina Massage clinic opens its doors to patients at a reduced cost. This traditional Chinese therapeu...
30/04/2026

In May, our pop-up Tuina Massage clinic opens its doors to patients at a reduced cost.

This traditional Chinese therapeutic massage involves various hand techniques to manipulate the soft tissue, muscles & joints of the body.

Tuina massage is known for its relaxing and stress-relieving effects, as well as helping with musculoskeletal pain, stimulating blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, thereby promoting better oxygen and nutrient delivery to tissues and enhancing the body’s natural healing processes.

Just like acupuncture, Tuina is also based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, which involve balancing the body’s vital energy, or Qi.

By manipulating specific points and meridians, Tuina massage aims to restore the harmonious flow of energy throughout the body.

The Tuina clinic runs on Fridays throughout May, plus Friday 5th June, with appointment times to choose from between 1pm and 4pm.

Each session in this teaching clinic is at a reduced cost of £20.

This pop-up clinic opens on Friday 8th May 2025 & finishes on Friday 5th June 2025.

Treatments in the Tuina clinic are carried out by already qualified acupuncturists, who are fully supervised whilst studying our Tuina diploma at the college.

Book your session by emailing admin@cicm.org.uk

Or call the college on 0118 950 8880 for more information, to ask any questions, or to book your appointments over the phone.


If you treat ANY women in your clinic, no matter what age or life stage they are at, then this post-graduate course is f...
29/04/2026

If you treat ANY women in your clinic, no matter what age or life stage they are at, then this post-graduate course is for you!

It is also FULLY online, so that you can study in the comfort of your own home, from anywhere in the world!

For many of us, a high proportion of the patients we treat in clinic every day are women. And these are women at various different stages of their lives...

🌼 young women with challenging or debilitating menstrual cycles
🌼 women who are seeking support on their fertility journeys
🌼 pregnant women who want you around the birth of their baby
🌼 women who are heading towards perimenopause & may not realise
🌼 menopausal women with hot flushes, insomnia & night sweats

This course covers most things we see in clinic when supporting our female patients through their lives! Feel confident when walking alongside them in their journey...

Conventional medical physiology is integrated with Chinese medicine diagnosis and treatment throughout.


📚 Gynaecology, fertility & obstetrics
🧑‍🏫 Jill Glover, Kim Chan, Clare Venters & Sharon Yelland
📆 Starts Thursday 10th September 2026
💻️ Fully online post-graduate course for 1 year
💰 £1950
🐦 Early bird discount of £100, if paid in full before 31st July
💳 Payment plans by monthly direct debit also available
🤲 Open to those with a recognised 3 year qualification in acupuncture


Over the year, you will learn:

🌼 Practical application of acupuncture in the treatment of gynaecological issues, infertility and obstetrics, including but not limited to - disorders of the menstrual cycle, unexplained infertility, PCOS, endometriosis, immunology and recurrent miscarriage, menopause.

🌼 Supportive treatment for assisted reproductive techniques (ART & IVF), morning sickness, breech presentation, induction of labour, and treatment during labour.

🌼 How to take a comprehensive gynaecology history, create an accurate, effective diagnosis and treatment plan in Chinese medicine.

🌼 Diagnosis and treatment of male infertility and the importance of both male and female health.

🌼 Deepening understanding of medical physiology of the female reproductive systems, pregnancy and labour in health and disease, including discussion around medical tests and treatment.

🌼 Comprehensive overview of the red flags of reproductive system diseases and understanding disease from TCM perspective.

To see all the online class dates and to book go here - https://www.acupuncturecollege.org.uk/info/courses/post-graduate-courses/gynaecology-fertility-obstetrics-2026/


🎉 This weekend we welcomed another fabulous brand new class to the college - 26.1!🤗 Our Principal Jo Rochford, and Vice ...
28/04/2026

🎉 This weekend we welcomed another fabulous brand new class to the college - 26.1!

🤗 Our Principal Jo Rochford, and Vice Principal Sara Lacey, were there on Saturday ready to welcome the 19 new students on their first day…

⭕️ The welcome circle was laid out especially for that first bonding of the class, getting to know a little about each other…

🙏 “Listening to their self introductions, it seems that 26.1 are a very determined class, passionate about making change in the world through acupuncture.” Jo Rochford said.

👏 We are all so excited for you starting your journey towards becoming acupuncturists!

🤞 Good luck, breathe & hope you had a great first weekend at the college…

💛 Hope you settle in & feel as "at home" as we all do at CICM!


Learn to use the Balance Method for instant results with pain, as well as for internal systemic conditions, and mental-e...
27/04/2026

Learn to use the Balance Method for instant results with pain, as well as for internal systemic conditions, and mental-emotional disorders. Also learn how to integrate this with TCM acupuncture & Master Tung.

The Balance Method is one of the world’s most renowned distal acupuncture systems, celebrated for its effectiveness, instant results, and structured logic.

In this 3 day course at CICM, Sergio will guide participants in a comprehensive journey through the method — from its core principles, through to more advanced applications.

You’ll start by mastering the 1-2-3 System to treat pain through ‘Local Balance’, then progress to ‘Global Balance’ for internal medicine and complex systemic conditions.

The course will also explore advanced techniques such as channel conversion according to the Ba Gua, including their use in helping patients with mental and emotional disorders.

Throughout the course, there is a step by step process from diagnosis to clinical reasoning to point selection, with a strong focus on practical application and real clinical results.

Finally, Sergio will show you how to integrate the Balance Method framework with Master Tung’s system, and / or classical TCM acupuncture, helping you build a unified and powerful clinical approach.

By the end of this training, you’ll be ready to apply these techniques immediately and see measurable improvements in your patients’ outcomes.


📚 Balance Method for Pain, Internal Medicine & Mental Health
🎓️ 3 day CPD event
🧑‍🏫 Sérgio Ferreira
📆 Fri 17th, Sat 18th & Sun 19th July 2026
⏰ 10am - 5pm each day
🏫 at CICM
💰 £350 fixed rate
✅ For acupuncture graduates


Please note - to attend this practical course, you must have current and valid insurance for practising acupuncture in the UK. You will be asked to show photo proof of this insurance when booking your place - without providing this, you will not be able to attend the course.


Sérgio Ferreira is an Acupuncturist from Oporto, Portugal, with an MSc in TCM and a background in Biochemistry. He has dedicated the past decade to distal acupuncture techniques, focusing on Master Tung and Balance Method Acupuncture.

Sérgio studied directly with Richard Tan and several first-generation Tung disciples, including Palden Carson, Young Wei Chieh, and Chuan Min Huang. Alongside his clinical work, he has taught these methods to hundreds of practitioners worldwide through in-person and online courses.


For more information and to book your place, click here - https://www.acupuncturecollege.org.uk/cpd-courses/balance-method-for-pain-internal-medicine-mental-health/


26/04/2026

Saam acupuncture is a 400 year old Korean monastic tradition, often performed by "wandering monks" who would walk from village to village, helping heal the community.

It is a quick and effective, 4 needle technique, that uses the classical texts within the framework of Yin/Yang, Five Elements, and Six Conformation (divisions) based principles.

The Saam tradition offers practitioners the invaluable opportunity to diagnose and treat using the most fundamental concepts of classical Chinese medicine.

Clinicians in this tradition assess and remedy relative states of heat and cold, excess and deficiency, aggression and peacefulness, dryness and moisture - whether their patients are suffering from the common cold or cancer.

For example, in the Saam tradition each channel is counterbalanced by a channel that manifests the opposite characteristics. The Heart channel characteristic of strong fire and love, is counterbalanced by the Bladder channel characteristic of cold water and strong fear.

To supplement the Heart channel, the clinician may directly supplement the Heart channel, or choose to drain the Bladder channel. The decision to supplement the main channel or drain the counterbalancing channel is made by assessing the overall strength of the patient.

Participants will develop competency in evaluating these physical, mental, and emotional signs and symptoms, and will learn to correlate these findings with appropriate point selection and treatment methods.

There will be a particular emphasis on the critical importance of accurate diagnosis and the correction of faulty treatment protocols - for those times when the points have not done what you expected them or wanted them to do!

The course will also analyse the distinctive characteristics of the Saam tradition in comparison to other acupuncture methodologies, so you can see where this style sits alongside your current understandings of TCM.

Saam acupuncture is a powerful and fundamental intervention that offers the quickest and longest lasting clinical results of the acupuncture traditions.

Finally, a special emphasis will be placed on seamlessly applying the system into your own clinic, so you can start treating straight away, after the weekend!


📚 Introduction to the Saam Acupuncture Tradition
🎓️ 2 day CPD event
👨‍🏫 Toby Daly
📆 Sat 20th & Sun 21st June 2026
🏫 In-person at CICM
💰 £275 fixed rate
🤲 Open to qualified acupuncturists


Toby Daly, PhD, LAc, is the developer of the apps “Chinese Nutritional Strategies” and “Chinese Medical Characters”, and the author of “An Introduction to Chinese Medicine” and “The Saam Acupuncture Tradition”. His current focus is on sharing his almost 30 years of clinical experience with the Saam tradition.


For more information and to secure your place, head to our website - https://www.acupuncturecollege.org.uk/cpd-courses/introduction-to-the-saam-acupuncture-tradition


Women have always navigated the profound life transitions of menarche and menopause. For some, these shifts pass smoothl...
25/04/2026

Women have always navigated the profound life transitions of menarche and menopause. For some, these shifts pass smoothly. For others, they bring deep challenges - physically, emotionally, and at the level of identity.

In recent decades, Western medicine has responded to each with two main solutions: the oral contraceptive pill or HRT - different forms of the same approach.

But many women either cannot, or choose not to, take this path. Increasingly, they are looking to acupuncturists for holistic, effective support.

We see women in our clinics who are:

➡️ Experiencing early fertility decline and premature ovarian insufficiency
➡️ Struggling with the unpredictability of perimenopause
➡️ Transitioning through the cessation of the menstrual cycle into menopause and beyond

All of these reflect the profound changes of Jing decline and the shifting balance of life energy.


This online seminar is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to:

➡️ Gain a deeper energetic understanding of the transition into and beyond menopause
➡️ Work with practical, elegant acupuncture approaches to diagnose patterns and treat effectively
➡️ Confidently use the extraordinary vessels where appropriate
➡️ Diagnose and treat premature ovarian insufficiency
➡️ Understand the range of Western medical treatments, including HRT, and how to work alongside
➡️ Offer informed dietary and lifestyle advice to support your patients


Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your skills, deepen your understanding, and transform your clinical practice.

You will gain a clear and comprehensive understanding of the transition into and beyond menopause, and learn how acupuncture can simply and elegantly support this process.


📚 From Chaos to Clarity: Acupuncture Treatment Through Menopause Transitions (Online)
🎓️ 1 day CPD event
👨‍🏫 Jill Glover
📆 Thursday 2nd July 2026
💻 Online (with recording for 3 months)
🐦 Earlybird - £130 (if booked no later than 6 weeks before)
💰 £155
🤲 Open to acupuncture graduates & 3rd Year Clinical Students


To get the most out of this course, we highly recommend that participants attend live. However, the session will be recorded and the replay made available for a limited time of 3 months, for anyone unable to attend on the day.


Jill Glover has over 40 years of experience treating fertility and women's health issues with both acupuncture and Chinese herbs.

She has been teaching since 1993, and frequently presents postgraduate seminars on premature ovarian insufficiency and menopause.

She is passionate about both educating and treating women to support through the major life transition of menopause.

She combines her knowledge of Chinese medicine and biomedical tests and treatments to inform both her practice and her teaching. She runs a busy complementary health clinic in Bristol.

For more information and to book your place, click here - https://www.acupuncturecollege.org.uk/cpd-courses/from-chaos-to-clarity-acupuncture-treatment-through-menopause-transitions-online/


Thinking of becoming an acupuncturist? Are you seeking a more fulfilling career? Want to help support other people? Come...
23/04/2026

Thinking of becoming an acupuncturist? Are you seeking a more fulfilling career? Want to help support other people?

Come to one of our next open day events and find out more about our BSc acupuncture degree...

📆 Thursday 23rd April - 19:00 - 20:30 | online
📆 Saturday 20th June - 11:30 - 13:30 | at the college


➡️ Book your place via WhatsApp here - https://wa.me/13343578459?text=Click%20send%20to%20book%20open%20day

☎️ Or get in touch with our lovely registrar Jo on 01189 508 889 or email her at jobrown@cicm.org.uk

🎓 See more info about our degree here - https://www.acupuncturecollege.org.uk/bsc-hons-acupuncture-degree

📣 And if you are already an acupuncturist, we would love for you to share this post with your patients too - we know that so many of us have trained at CICM because of our own acupuncturists!


🔥 Moxibustion applies heat to acupuncture points, or areas of the body. The material burned is mainly “moxa-wool” in the...
22/04/2026

🔥 Moxibustion applies heat to acupuncture points, or areas of the body. The material burned is mainly “moxa-wool” in the form of a cone or stick.

There are a number of plants that can be used for moxa, including the Artemisia Vulgaris, a type of chrysanthemum, similar to mugwort.

It is warming, bitter and acrid in its energetics, allowing it to:

🔥 warm meridians and expel cold
🔥 induce the smooth flow of qi and blood
🔥 strengthen yang from collapse
🔥 prevent diseases and keep healthy

Moxa can be done directly, with cones placed directly on the skin, upon an acupuncture point and set alight.

A cone may also be placed upon a slice of ginger, garlic or some salt, for indirect moxa that does not rest on the skin directly, but is insulated by the material chosen.

Indirect moxibustion can also be done with a moxa stick (looks like a cigar!) which warms the point from above, or it may also be used with a “pecking” motion.

Moxa may also be placed upon the end of the needle, to transmit heat deep into the acupuncture point. This method functions to warm the meridians and promote free flow of qi and blood, so as to treat painful joints caused by cold-damp.

This is part of our TCM curriculum at the college… if you wish to know more about our degree, come to one of our upcoming open days.

📆 Thursday 23rd April - 19:00 - 20:30 | online
📆 Saturday 20th June - 11:30 - 13:30 | at the college

➡️ Book your place via WhatsApp here - https://wa.me/13343578459?text=Click%20send%20to%20book%20open%20day

📧 Or just get in touch with our lovely registrar Jo Brown directly - registrar@cicm.org.uk or on 01189 508 889

🎓 See more info about our BSc degree here - https://www.acupuncturecollege.org.uk/bsc-hons-acupuncture-degree

📣 And if you are already an acupuncturist, we would love for you to share this post with your patients too!

👍 Every like, comment, save and share helps us spread this amazing ancient wisdom, with the wider world!

📕 Excerpt from “Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion” by Cheng Xinnong.


Many children find it difficult to pay attention, stay still, focus, process information and regulate their emotions. Wh...
19/04/2026

Many children find it difficult to pay attention, stay still, focus, process information and regulate their emotions. When these children come to the clinic, we often find that there are commonalities in the patterns of imbalances they display.

Acupuncture and related techniques can have a hugely positive impact on these children. It can reduce their suffering and striving, enabling them to begin to thrive, both at home and at school.

During the day, we will look at factors that could be driving what is sometimes referred to as an ‘epidemic’ of ADHD in children.

We will look at how to identify the Chinese medicine patterns of imbalance that are often present and will suggest effective approaches to treatment, both acupuncture and non-needle techniques.

Supporting children who are struggling in this way can be nothing short of life changing. It benefits not only their ability to learn but also to have better relationships. It can improve family dynamics and boost the child’s sense of self.

When we treat a child, we are also treating the adult they are to become. Addressing these issues in childhood can have a lifelong positive impact.

Whether you treat children and teenagers in your clinic, or you want to learn more to support the young people in your life / at home, this course will give you more understanding and tools to help.


📚 Supporting Young People with ADHD
🧑‍🏫 Rebecca Avern
📆 Wed 17th June 2026
⏰ 10am - 5pm
🏫 at the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine
💰 £130 fixed rate
✅ For acupuncture graduates


Book on to this 1 day in-person workshop at the college here - https://www.acupuncturecollege.org.uk/cpd-courses/supporting-young-people-with-adhd-through-traditional-east-asian-medicine/


Rebecca teaches paediatrics both at undergraduate and post-graduate level, in the UK, online and internationally. Her clinical work is solely with children, both in her private paediatric practice and a low-cost community clinic for children.

She is the author of the textbook Acupuncture for Babies, Children and Teenagers, which is now used in colleges all over the world. She has also written a book for parents and practitioners called Chinese Medicine for Childhood Anxiety and Depression.

Rebecca is also the founder of The Hub Of Paediatric Acupuncture – an online, worldwide community for paediatric acupuncturists. Rebecca is known for her clear and warm teaching, which is informed by her experience of working with hundreds of children and their families.


Address

19 Castle Street
Reading
RG1

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9:30am - 5pm
Sunday 9:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+441189508889

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when College of Integrated Chinese Medicine posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to College of Integrated Chinese Medicine:

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Our Story

The College was created in 1993 and is the largest acupuncture college in the UK. Our reputation is founded on the quality and unique nature of our acupuncture course, which is validated as BSc honours degree by the University College of Osteopathy. This course brings together the strengths of Five Element acupuncture and TCM theory in a style known as integration.