WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture is a treatment that uses very thin stainless steel needles inserted into your skin to stimulate specific points throughout your body to regulate the flow of Qi (‘chee’), your body’s vital energy. Recently medical scientists have described myofascial pathways that follow the meridians recorded by early acupuncturists. Growing knowledge of how body cells
communicate with each other may overlap with the concept of Qi. Qi can be disturbed, depleted or blocked for reasons related to lifestyle or the environment and this can result in symptoms of pain, illness or a general feeling of being ill at ease. In some cases, traditional acupuncture can be effective in restoring balance thus promoting physical and emotional harmony.

Treatment is aimed at the root cause of your condition as well as your main symptoms. This helps with resolving your problem and enhancing your feeling of wellbeing.  Because acupuncture is designed to affect your whole body, you may find that other niggling problems also resolve as your main complaint improves.

In clinic we see patients with multiple presentations including:
● Chronic Pain Conditions – Arthritis, Back, Shoulder and Neck Pain, Sciatica, Headaches and Migraine, TMJ, Joint and Muscle Pain, Plantar Fasciiitis, Fibromyalgia
● Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
● Autoimmune issues- Thyroid health
● Digestive Health – IBS, Acid Reflux, GERD, Abnormal Appetite, Constipation, Sinus, Throat Issues
● Long Covid
● Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
● Autoimmune Conditions
● Fertility Issues (male and female) and hormonal imbalances.
● Allergies
● Mental Health – Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, Insomnia, Addictions
● Cancer Support – side effects of conventional treatments including fatigue, pain, nausea, peripheral neuropathy, hot flushes and loss of appetite.
● Tinnitus
● Menopause and Menstrual Cycle Issues – Hot flushes, Night Sweats, Tiredness, Muscle Pains, Brain Fog and Memory Issues, Irregular and Painful Periods, PMS

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I COME FOR TREATMENT?​

As Traditional Acupuncturists, our first step is always to connect with you as a person. We use a number of diagnostic methods to build a complete picture of your health and lifestyle. We will take a full medical history, read your pulses, look at your tongue and may examine the site of your symptoms. We will then develop your personal treatment plan. At follow up
appointments we will combine your feedback with further observations and re-examine your pulse and tongue to continue your treatment.
Each acupuncture treatment involves the insertion of very fine, sterile needles into specific
points in the body, sometimes for just a few seconds or sometimes retained for around 20 minutes. The combination of points used will be determined by your symptoms, general
health and lifestyle. Single-use disposable needles that come in sealed packs are always used.
They are much finer than those used for injections or blood tests when they are inserted, you may feel a gentle tingling sensation or a dull ache. This generally passes quite quickly and is often followed by a feeling of deep relaxation.

IS IT SAFE?

​Acupuncture is one of the safest medical treatments on offer in the UK. Research studies in
2011 and 2012 conclude that treatment with properly trained and qualified acupuncturists
carries an extremely low risk of an adverse event.
*British Medical Journal, 2001:323:467
To find out if acupuncture can help you, contact us to arrange a FREE 15 minute phone
consultation with one of the Team.

​COULD ACUPUNCTURE HELP ME?

​Many clients come for acupuncture for help with specific pain, eg. Osteoarthritis of the knee or headaches, or for more general health issues such as an overactive bladder. A client may have acupuncture because they feel generally unwell but have no conventional diagnosis,
whilst someone else may choose to have acupuncture as a preventative measure to help
maintain good health or to improve their general sense of wellbeing. A pregnant woman
may have acupuncture throughout her pregnancy. Acupuncture is considered suitable for all ages and can be used effectively alongside mainstream medicine. Many people return to acupuncture again and again because they find it relaxing and beneficial. For more information and the latest research please visit the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC)
website: ​https://www.acupuncture.org.uk/
You may be able to reclaim your treatment costs from your health insurance company. Please click the link to find out which insurance companies are working with BAcC https://acupuncture.org.uk/about-acupuncture/private-healthcare/

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

Please click here to link to our Contact Page to book an appointment.

MEET THE TEAM

BRENDAGH O’SULLIVAN – Lic.Ac, MBACC (Member of the British Acupuncture Council) – Available Wednesdays 10am – 7.30pm

DAWN TOWELL -BSc (Hons) Lic.Ac, MAAC (Member of The Association of Acupuncture Clinicians)

Dawn Towell is currently on leave and is not accepting any clients at this time.

Our Acupuncture Team are all fully licensed and insured and are all trained in Five Element Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

JANE BROCKBANK

Jane Brockbank – Degree Level Licentiate. BA (Hons), LicAc, MBACC – Licenced Acupuncturist

Jane is a Traditional Acupuncturist and member of The British Acupuncture Council who graduated with a degree level Licentiate from The Acupuncture Academy, Leamington Spa.
She achieved a Distinction in her Licentiate where she undertook a final year project, looking at the efficacy of acupuncture in supporting patients with Osteoarthritis.
She also undertook a specialist short course in Chinese Dietary and Herbal Theory at The
College of Integrated Chinese Medicine, Reading. She has completed and continues to
undertake various postgraduate courses in areas as varied as Cancer Care, Menopause,
Musculo-skeletal problems and supporting Neurodiversity.
Prior to joining Cowan House, Jane worked in her own clinic in Portishead. She is currently
also the Acupuncturist in an Osteopathic-led Clinic in Bristol.

She loves yoga and cooking.

BRENDAGH O’SULLIVAN

With over 35 years in practice, Brendagh has a wide experience in treating a multitude of
conditions. Her first successful fertility client’s son is now 34 years old!
She has worked at Penny Brohn UK for over 10 years supporting clients through their cancer
journey, mitigating the side effects of chemotherapy and helping restore vitality at the end of treatment.

When not in the clinic, Brendagh is generally outdoors, either gardening, walking or messing about on the water.

DAWN TOWELL

Dawn is a Licensed Acupuncturist and member of the Association of Acupuncture Clinicians. She graduated with a BSc Honours Degree in Acupuncture from Kingston University. She
has undertaken further postgraduate courses including Channel Theory, Musculoskeletal issues, Cancer Support (on which she based her research project) and Facial Acupuncture.
Having previously run her own practice from home in Clevedon, she joined Cowan House in 2022. Please click the link to see which insurance companies work with MAAC https://aac-org.uk/acupuncture-for-patients/

In her spare time, Dawn enjoys walking, outdoor swimming, cinema, mindfulness and
meditation, travel and good food. She has a keen interest in Nutrition.

​