YOUR FIRST TREATEMENT

We will begin with an in-depth conversation about your primary health concerns, as well as your general health and emotional well-being. This comprehensive approach allows me to understand your body as an integrated whole, ensuring your treatment plan is entirely bespoke and designed to bring about lasting change in your health. 

Each treatment will consist of a tailored combination of acupuncture and Tui na massage, along with any other supportive techniques that benefit your condition - more details below. 

It’s completely natural to feel apprehensive about receiving acupuncture. While the insertion of very fine needles is not painful, you will often feel subtle (and sometimes weird!) sensations as the needles interact with your body’s energetics. However, these sensations dissipate almost immediately, and your body can transition into a state of comfortable rest while the needles do their work.

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A gentle acupuncture treatment in progress, showing Ruth Fenton’s hand resting on the patient to ensure comfort during needle placement.

FOLLOW-UP TREATMENTS

In the same way that regular exercise builds lasting strength, acupuncture is a cumulative practice that works best incrementally. The positive effects of each treatment builds on the last as your body finds its flow, leaving you more grounded in yourself. At the end of your first treatment we’ll chat about the most appropriate treatment plan for you, finding the optimal number and frequency of sessions that respects your time and personal commitments.

SUPPORTIVE TECHNIQUES

The practice of Chinese medicine is so much more than just needles. There are a number of supportive techniques I may use during your treatment, with each being selected as the most beneficial in complementing the needling.

Ruth applying a Tui Na massage technique to a patient's arm to increase mobility and release muscle tension.
TUI NA
Tui na (pronounced twee na) is an ancient form of medical massage that predates acupuncture. Translated as “push grasp”, the therapy uses a variety of hand techniques, like kneading and pressing, to activate acupuncture points. Every treatment is tailored to address your specific symptoms, bringing a strong sense of both relaxation and release. This effective method of bodywork is an excellent, needle-free alternative for those who wish to experience the benefits of Chinese medicine.
Ruth performing Gua Sha on a patient's neck with a smooth tool, using gentle downward strokes to relieve muscle tension.
GUA SHA
Gua Sha (pronounced gwah shah) is a technique that involves using a smooth-edged tool to firmly and rhythmically stroke the skin - typically on the neck, shoulders, and back. While it’s a stimulating technique, the experience is also very relaxing to receive, often bringing an immediate sense of relief to areas of pain and tension. This soothing action also activates both the immune and nervous systems to promote healing long after the session ends.
Ruth applying a Tui Na massage technique to a patient's arm to increase mobility and release muscle tension.
TUI NA
Tui na (pronounced twee na) is an ancient form of medical massage that predates acupuncture. Translated as “push grasp”, the therapy uses a variety of hand techniques, like kneading and pressing, to activate acupuncture points. Every treatment is tailored to address your specific symptoms, bringing a strong sense of both relaxation and release. This effective method of bodywork is an excellent, needle-free alternative for those who wish to experience the benefits of Chinese medicine.
Ruth performing Gua Sha on a patient's neck with a smooth tool, using gentle downward strokes to relieve muscle tension.
GUA SHA
Gua Sha (pronounced gwah shah) is a technique that involves using a smooth-edged tool to firmly and rhythmically stroke the skin - typically on the neck, shoulders, and back. While it’s a stimulating technique, the experience is also very relaxing to receive, often bringing an immediate sense of relief to areas of pain and tension. This soothing action also activates both the immune and nervous systems to promote healing long after the session ends.
Ruth applying a Tui Na massage technique to a patient's arm to increase mobility and release muscle tension.
TUI NA
Tui na (pronounced twee na) is an ancient form of medical massage that predates acupuncture. Translated as “push grasp”, the therapy uses a variety of hand techniques, like kneading and pressing, to activate acupuncture points. Every treatment is tailored to address your specific symptoms, bringing a strong sense of both relaxation and release. This effective method of bodywork is an excellent, needle-free alternative for those who wish to experience the benefits of Chinese medicine.
Ruth performing Gua Sha on a patient's neck with a smooth tool, using gentle downward strokes to relieve muscle tension.
GUA SHA
Gua Sha (pronounced gwah shah) is a technique that involves using a smooth-edged tool to firmly and rhythmically stroke the skin - typically on the neck, shoulders, and back. While it’s a stimulating technique, the experience is also very relaxing to receive, often bringing an immediate sense of relief to areas of pain and tension. This soothing action also activates both the immune and nervous systems to promote healing long after the session ends.
Close-up of moxa heat therapy being applied to a patient's leg, with Ruth’s hand resting on the skin to monitor warmth and ensure comfort.
MOXA
Moxa is a deeply warming therapy where dried mugwort, a flowering plant in the daisy family, is burned close to the skin. This controlled heat brings a deep sensation of warmth and relief into the body’s deeper tissues. The warmth stimulates blood circulation to greatly enhance the effectiveness of acupuncture for chronic pain relief. Moxa is also highly effective for treating general coldness, digestive issues, and various menstrual imbalances.
A close-up of Ruth performing fire cupping with professional precision, her hands working confidently to create a vacuum in the glass cup before placing it safely on the patient's back.
CUPPING
Cupping therapy uses heat from a flame to create a vacuum in a glass cup. When the cup is placed on the skin a gentle suction forms, lifting muscle and soft tissue. While the sensation can be strong, deep relief often begins immediately as areas of chronic tightness release. The technique temporarily creates circular marks, signaling enhanced local circulation and an immune response that promotes tissue healing and sustained pain relief.
Close-up of moxa heat therapy being applied to a patient's leg, with Ruth’s hand resting on the skin to monitor warmth and ensure comfort.
MOXA
Moxa is a deeply warming therapy where dried mugwort, a flowering plant in the daisy family, is burned close to the skin. This controlled heat brings a deep sensation of warmth and relief into the body’s deeper tissues. The warmth stimulates blood circulation to greatly enhance the effectiveness of acupuncture for chronic pain relief. Moxa is also highly effective for treating general coldness, digestive issues, and various menstrual imbalances.
A close-up of Ruth performing fire cupping with professional precision, her hands working confidently to create a vacuum in the glass cup before placing it safely on the patient's back.
CUPPING
Cupping therapy uses heat from a flame to create a vacuum in a glass cup. When the cup is placed on the skin a gentle suction forms, lifting muscle and soft tissue. While the sensation can be strong, deep relief often begins immediately as areas of chronic tightness release. The technique temporarily creates circular marks, signaling enhanced local circulation and an immune response that promotes tissue healing and sustained pain relief.
Close-up of moxa heat therapy being applied to a patient's leg, with Ruth’s hand resting on the skin to monitor warmth and ensure comfort.
MOXA
Moxa is a deeply warming therapy where dried mugwort, a flowering plant in the daisy family, is burned close to the skin. This controlled heat brings a deep sensation of warmth and relief into the body’s deeper tissues. The warmth stimulates blood circulation to greatly enhance the effectiveness of acupuncture for chronic pain relief. Moxa is also highly effective for treating general coldness, digestive issues, and various menstrual imbalances.
A close-up of Ruth performing fire cupping with professional precision, her hands working confidently to create a vacuum in the glass cup before placing it safely on the patient's back.
CUPPING
Cupping therapy uses heat from a flame to create a vacuum in a glass cup. When the cup is placed on the skin a gentle suction forms, lifting muscle and soft tissue. While the sensation can be strong, deep relief often begins immediately as areas of chronic tightness release. The technique temporarily creates circular marks, signaling enhanced local circulation and an immune response that promotes tissue healing and sustained pain relief.
A close-up of electro-acupuncture clips being attached to needles on a patient's back, with Ruth’s hand resting reassuringly nearby to safely monitor the treatment.
ELECTRO-ACUPUNCTURE
By adding a mild electrical current to acupuncture needles, the action offers a stronger, more sustained activation of nerve fibers than needling alone. The level of the electrical current is built up very gradually until it creates a gentle tingling sensation in the muscles. The frequency of the current continually alternates, helping to interrupt and retrain the brain’s habitual pain pathways, thereby encouraging your body to change its usual pain relief mechanisms.
A delicate arrangement of tiny gold seeds placed in a patient’s ear, offering a gentle and non-invasive treatment.
AURICULAR ACUPUNCTURE
Auricular acupuncture uses exceptionally fine needles inserted into the ear, a complex meeting point for nerve connections, including the Vagus nerve, which is critical for regulating the nervous system. Activation of these points sends signals directly to the brain, helping to shift the body from a state of high-stress 'fight or flight' toward a calmer 'rest and digest'. Gold ear 'seeds' can then be used to continue this soothing effect through gentle acupressure at home.
A close-up of electro-acupuncture clips being attached to needles on a patient's back, with Ruth’s hand resting reassuringly nearby to safely monitor the treatment.
ELECTRO-ACUPUNCTURE
By adding a mild electrical current to acupuncture needles, the action offers a stronger, more sustained activation of nerve fibers than needling alone. The level of the electrical current is built up very gradually until it creates a gentle tingling sensation in the muscles. The frequency of the current continually alternates, helping to interrupt and retrain the brain’s habitual pain pathways, thereby encouraging your body to change its usual pain relief mechanisms.
A delicate arrangement of tiny gold seeds placed in a patient’s ear, offering a gentle and non-invasive treatment.
AURICULAR ACUPUNCTURE
Auricular acupuncture uses exceptionally fine needles inserted into the ear, a complex meeting point for nerve connections, including the Vagus nerve, which is critical for regulating the nervous system. Activation of these points sends signals directly to the brain, helping to shift the body from a state of high-stress 'fight or flight' toward a calmer 'rest and digest'. Gold ear 'seeds' can then be used to continue this soothing effect through gentle acupressure at home.
A close-up of electro-acupuncture clips being attached to needles on a patient's back, with Ruth’s hand resting reassuringly nearby to safely monitor the treatment.
ELECTRO-ACUPUNCTURE
By adding a mild electrical current to acupuncture needles, the action offers a stronger, more sustained activation of nerve fibers than needling alone. The level of the electrical current is built up very gradually until it creates a gentle tingling sensation in the muscles. The frequency of the current continually alternates, helping to interrupt and retrain the brain’s habitual pain pathways, thereby encouraging your body to change its usual pain relief mechanisms.
A delicate arrangement of tiny gold seeds placed in a patient’s ear, offering a gentle and non-invasive treatment.
AURICULAR ACUPUNCTURE
Auricular acupuncture uses exceptionally fine needles inserted into the ear, a complex meeting point for nerve connections, including the Vagus nerve, which is critical for regulating the nervous system. Activation of these points sends signals directly to the brain, helping to shift the body from a state of high-stress 'fight or flight' toward a calmer 'rest and digest'. Gold ear 'seeds' can then be used to continue this soothing effect through gentle acupressure at home.