About Me

Hello, welcome to my site, and thank you for your interest.

A bit of history…

My mother was a Homeopathic practitioner and my father was a Baptist minister; from them I inherited my interest in health and matters spiritual. In my early years, when necessary, I was mostly treated with homeopathy and herbal medicines.

IMG_2929I started growing herbs when I was 13, and began to study herbal medicine in 1980 at the School of Herbal Medicine in Tunbridge Wells. I completed the course, joined the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH – the oldest body of herbalists in the western world being formed in 1864), and commenced practice in Suffolk and London in 1985.

By 1988 I was becoming interested in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM); TCM is a theoretical understanding of health and disease which is different to western bio-medicine. Being familiar with both systems of medicine broadens my understanding of health issues; and at times, seemingly unrelated symptoms can be linked, understood, and a path to wellness found.

The source text of TCM is called The Yellow Emperors Canon sof Internal Medicine, compiled around about 100 BCE. The way that the theory is practically used is through one or more of the following

  • Acupuncture
  • Herbal medicine
  • Diet therapy
  • Massage
  • Qi gong

I studied for 2 years at the School of Chinese Herbal medicine in London, and then went to the Chinese Medicine University hospital in Guangzhou Peoples Republic of China to gain clinical experience. As I so liked TCM as a system, I realised that learning acupuncture was essential. There are certain things that can be done with acupuncture, for instance musculoskeletal problems, that cannot be done as rapidly and effectively with herbs, and other conditions where herbs are best e.g. hormone balancing. However, using both is ideal!

Acupuncture tends to have more of an immediate effect, but also the immediate effects wear off necessitating another treatment – acupuncture is a cumulative process. In acute situations such as intense pain, then having acupuncture more than once a week can be indicated. Herbs tend not to be quite as rapid in action but as they are taken daily the effect is sustained.

I thus went back to Guangzhou in 1993 and graduated from the acupuncture course. I returned in 1995 and completed the advanced herbal medicine and acupuncture course.

As well as continuing with my private practices, I also worked for the NHS at the Gateway clinic in Clapham, the only dedicated TCM clinic in the whole of the NHS where we specialised in treating HIV / AIDS and Hepatitis C with TCM.

From 2000 my London practice was at The Third Space Medicine in Soho where I was Joint Head of Medical Service and Head of Complementary Medicine. In 2006, I was elected President of the NIMH. In 2007, I took 6 students to Guangzhou for their herbal studies, and I learned Tai ji in Yangshuo.

From 2017 I have moved  my London practise to a charming clinic at 58 South Molton Street W1K 5SL

I like to exercise, and practise Tai ji and Qi gong as well as playing the piano and guitar.

 

In the past, I have helped people with things like

  • IBS / colitis / digestive problems
  • Infertility – Male and female
  • PMT
  • Menstrual irregularity
  • Stress
  • Insomnia
  • Cardio vascular conditions
  • Infections
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Back and joint pain
  • Tennis elbow
  • Sciatica
  • Skin problems
  • Headaches
  • Depression
  • Auto immune conditions

And many more

I hope you fine the information here of use and interest. If any pieces are copied then please credit this site.

Thank you

Steve