Feeling the pulses before commencing acupuncture treatment is like shining a torch at night on the path you wish to follow. Not only does it illuminate the direction you need to travel, but also highlights possible obstacles that may litter the path, For example it can help to differentiate between whether a headache is caused by an excess or deficiency of circulation to the head, or if a digestive upset is due to involvement of the liver rather than just an issue related to the stomach. Where there are multiple possible causes to a condition, feeling the pulses and interpreting their f ..read more

  Our time is precious and can never be reclaimed or regained. Time wasted is a misery, spent wisely it’s a marvel. In the words of William Penn, ” Time is what we want most, but….what we use worst ” Having spent my fair share of sitting in waiting rooms as my appointment time slips off into the distant past, I wondered why this occurs and how it can be remedied. In the context of my acupuncture clinic I view the patient as the sum of many parts. Time, in relation to the clinic, can be viewed likewise. The divisions are as follows : Our appointments – divisions of time. Clocks – our meas ..read more

Observing the tongue and feeling the pulse are cornerstones of diagnosis in Chinese medicine. Many of us were told as kids that it was rude to poke tongues. In the clinical context it can be a great help in determining the cause of an ailment. Asking a patient to show me their tongue elicits a range of responses from immediate confession of foods just eaten to childlike defiance or inquiry as to what can be interpreted from such examination. The colour and shape of the tongue body plus the colour consistency and distribution of the tongue coating reveal much about the state of someone’s healt ..read more

    Did your older siblings,neighbours or schoolyard bullies ever grab your arm and give you a Chinese burn ? You know,when they grab your limb and twist their hands in opposite directions to give the feeling of skin burning whilst turning it a red colour. Even though this may have felt like torture at the time,your oppressors were actually using a legitimate Chinese massage technique – albiet in an extreme form. When used with some lubrication,or lightly employed over clothing,the Chinese burn is  very effective in releasing and invigorating tired and sore arms.From hairdresse ..read more

Much is said about the use of special needles ( usually superfine ) to allow painless insertion during acupuncture treatment.This approach however,ignores a crucial factor…the need for practitioner skill.To use a motoring analogy,only a good driver will get good lap times at the racetrack – in any car. Over the course of 30+ years of practice,one of the main causes of painful insertion I’ve noted is patient tiredness.In this case the insertions have an increased tendency to be sharp,and so I vary my technique to allow for this. Learning on the job is an integral part of being a successful acu ..read more

  How often have you felt a change in the way you’re being massaged, towards or at the end of the treatment as the oil is being wiped off ?  It’s like the atmosphere changes from a caring, rhythmic ” conversation ” to a detached business like interaction.You can often feel the withdrawal of the healing space and sense that the therapist is already focused on the next job at hand. I have felt this numerous times as a recipient of massage over many years. As a masseur my main goal is to make the special connection that I build with each client last, until I leave the room.In the same ..read more

A – cupuncture, the Ancient Wisdom, Still in demand these modern days. C  – HI, invisible, precious energy, That may be blocked or has gone astray. U – nder Roger’s needle-artistry, patients submit trustingly to their magic. To miss out on such natural potency really would be tragic… P – ain is a fear That can turn some folk off, U – ntil you’ve actually tried it, however, who are you to scoff???? N – eedles, oh so dainty, So fine and so neat. C – HI cannot resist them and so swiftly admit defeat. T – ranquil and relaxed patients wait While the needles do their stuff U – niversal ene ..read more

Together with each client, I aim to find out the cause of their ailment or discomfort and the intent of their visit to me. These issues are then addressed as meaningfully as our time together will allow. Each treatment is approached as a journey of discovery. Thus, I tend to spend more time with clients than less, as this often allows information to surface that a brief consultation would not allow. Acupuncture is extremely flexible in its application to the many and varied body and personality types. For this reason, I prefer it over all of the modalities available in Traditional Chinese Medi ..read more

Gua means to scrape, sha is the redness that follows. It is an ancient therapeutic practice, said to come from the Stone Age in China.   The Guasha tool: the black item in the front.   Sha is the accumulation of blood and heat in the subcutaneous levels of the body. Gua Sha draws the Sha to the skin surface appearing as red spots on the skin (where it is released into the atmosphere. It is often recommended as the first treatment to give as once the sha is moved, the client usually feels more comfortable and able to move more freely. The Gua Sha tool is generally ..read more

If it’s your first time coming to the Centrepoint Acupuncture Clinic, here are a few things to expect on your visit. We are located at 88 Palmerston Street, Gulliver. Palmerston is a busy road and there should be plenty of parking on the side of the street. You will see the sign to the right of the property with the fence. Please enter through the gate on the right-hand side and walk up the pathway to the waiting room. Removing your shoes before entering is appreciated. Refraining from smoking on the property is also very much appreciated. If Roger is not there to greet you, he will be with a ..read more