Sarah Waterfall Acupuncture

12/03/2026

A gap in the diary this morning means time for learning:

First, an interesting piece in the BMJ about the potential for integrating traditional medicine, using TCM as an example. This is so pertinent as my first patient of the day was advised by her GP this week to "stop wasting your pennies" on acupuncture and osteopathy for back pain.... not the first time i've heard this.

Next, some online learning about the origins of the names of acupuncture points. I have to admit, this was a bit heavy, even for me as someone who once had a reasonable level of Chinese language. Treatment planning using point names isn't really good clinical reasoning, but it's valuable to maintain the awareness that tge points were not named at random - far from it in fact.



https://blogs.bmj.com/medical-ethics/2026/03/11/when-doctors-disagree-integrating-traditional-medicines-and-bifurcations-in-beneficence/?fbclid=Iwb21leAQfeopjbGNrBB96emV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHh3cbyWxMjYuKzjmp2dqS2qI2R3uAIcLhtQJK3ky7fWQQy9e-E2cS-EPTFO8_aem_qKIigSohHJE8DkU3TlCafw

08/03/2026

Happy International Women's Day!

I'm thankful for all the amazing women in my life - family, friends, colleagues, patients.

03/03/2026

I was trained to take a very detailed case history when I start work with new patients. It covers their current symptoms and medical history as well as wider lifestyle such as digestion and appetite, sleep, and energy levels.

As a holistic approach, Chinese Medicine looks at symptoms as part of a picture, so having this additional information is useful to look at where there might be other imbalances. It all contributes.

Mainly though, it gives the person opportunity and space to talk. There may be connections they hadn't noticed themselves. Emotion can come to the fore as necessary.

Healing starts here.

23/02/2026

Always learning, thinking a lot about my PCOS patients at the moment

17/02/2026

Happy Chinese New Year!

Xin Nian Hao is more colloquial than Xin Nian Kuai Le, but the sentiment remains the same.

I have such fond memories of Chinese New Year in China ❤️ 🇨🇳

There seems to be a lot of attention around Year of the Fire Horse, let's see what it brings. Hopefully health and happiness.

16/02/2026

Monday Funday

09/02/2026

What a way to end/start the week!!

Awesome Florence and true beauty in the harp

04/02/2026

This is what a new patient said after their first session this week.

Turns out they had tried acupuncture before, but more physio/medical style.

Unfortunately there is very little out there to let people know that there are different styles of practice within acupuncture. Traditional acupuncture is holistic, and looks at any symptoms as part of a bigger picture. Other styles of acupuncture may focus more closely on the symptoms, similar to conventional healthcare approaches.

I don't need to jab at an area of pain to help someone. Traditional acupuncture has many more sophisticated ways of working, and gentle needling techniques are just as effective. It's really not a no pain no gain type therapy.

The patient also did not expect to be truly listened to, and apologised for "talking too much". This is a regular occurrence as we're all used to getting a mere few minutes with a medical professional. The consultation that forms part of the first acupuncture appointment is a time and space to tell me whatever it is I need to know, and there is no judgment or expectation from me about that.

So yeah this person is coming back.

31/01/2026

21/01/2026

Traditional acupuncture impacts mind and body without distinction

13/01/2026

This is the word my patient used to describe how they felt after their treatment yesterday.

So eloquent.

06/01/2026

First day back of 2026