About the Business
Francois has been practicing Acupuncture for over 30 years in Cambridge, Guildford and London. He graduated in 1982 with a degree in Acupuncture from The International College of Oriental Medicine, UK. This was followed by Post Graduate studies in London with the Journal of Chinese Medicine.
In 1986 he travelled to China to attend an intensive Post Graduate Clinical Acupuncture Course at the Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. His additional training seminars include Integrated Acupuncture for Fertility with Jane Lyttleton at The Royal College of Physicians, supported by The Prince’s Foundation for Integrated Health, as well as seminars on Acupuncture in Pregnancy and IVF support.
Francois is the co-founder and co-director of The Beechwood Practice for Complementary Medicine in Cambridge, which was established in 1998 as a centre of excellence for an integrated approach to Medicine. Francois now works solely from his Cambridge and Guildford Clinics. Francois very much enjoys working as a “General Practitioner” of Chinese Medicine, treating a wide range of conditions. Over his many years of experience in practice, he has developed some areas of specific interest and expertise in treating fertility problems, chronic pain, respiratory and digestive disorders, migraine, sinus problems, chronic fatigue and stress. Link to tab of conditions treated.
Francois is a longstanding Member of the British Acupuncture Council, which guarantees codes of ethics and codes of practice, and provides professional liability insurance. He is also an Associate Practitioner Member of the Professional Register of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dublin.
Francois is past President of The Register of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which has now merged into The British Acupuncture Council. For over ten years he was a Senior Lecturer and Academic Board Member at The London School of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, now integrated into the University of Westminster. He has also been an external examiner at The Northern College of Acupuncture and a guest Lecturer in Dublin.
Business Services
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a safe treatment for all. It has proved to be effective in pregnancy management and for the relief of pain in childbirth. Acupuncture is also helpful for people trying to overcome addictions such as those related to smoking, alcohol, food or drugs. Some people may choose to have Acupuncture as a preventative measure to strengthen their constitution or simply because they feel unwell in themselves, without being “ill” in the Western sense.
What Happens During Treatment?
Traditional Acupuncturists are trained to use subtle diagnostic techniques that have been developed and refined over thousands of years. We begin by taking an in-depth case history together with looking at the tongue and feeling the pulse. From this we can establish a diagnosis and formulate a treatment plan.
Fine needles are inserted into very specific combinations of Acupuncture points which lie beneath the surface of the skin. The needle insertion is virtually painless and the sensations which arise as a result are often described as a tingling or a dull ache. The needles remain in place for up to twenty minutes and during this time patients commonly experience heaviness in the limbs and a pleasant feeling of relaxation.
Response to Acupuncture varies from individual to individual as does the number of treatments needed depending upon their conditions. Acute conditions tend to respond faster than chronic conditions. As a general rule, some change is usually experienced within the first five treatments.
What Is Acupuncture?
Traditional Acupuncture is a well-established system of diagnosis and treatment, which has been practiced in China and other Eastern countries for thousands of years. Although often described as an effective method of pain relief, it is in fact used to restore good health and relieve symptoms in a wide range of illnesses. Its focus is to improve the overall well being of the patient, by a method of holistic medicine which does not see specific symptoms in isolation.
The philosophy of Acupuncture is based on an energy system known as Qi which moves through a series of channels in the body. When this Qi, or energy, is disturbed it becomes unbalanced and dis-ease may result. The overall aim of treatment is to restore the body’s equilibrium. Acupuncture treats the patient on all levels, to restore mental, emotional and physical balance, treating the root cause of the disease as well as the symptoms. It can be used alongside conventional medicine in the treatment of both acute and chronic disease.
Location & Hours
41 Hills Road
