Robert Bowley is a qualified and experienced Chinese medicine practitioner specialising in Acupuncture, Tui Na and Indonesian Massage & herbal medicine. He belongs to the internationally recognised regulatory body – The Chinese Medical Institute and Register.

Chinese Medicine uses a holistic approach to treat a whole range of health problems. He believes the best approach to health care is one which takes into account the whole person including the physical, mental and emotional aspects of health.

Whether you would like to have a course of acupuncture to strengthen your immune system as a preventative measure or to address a certain condition the first step is to book in for a full consultation where a detailed case history will be taken, including your medical history, present condition, lifestyle, diet, sleep, emotions as well as your general state of health.

All these elements are taken together to decide on the most beneficial treatment to suit your individual needs.

For those patients who are not keen on needles then Auricular therapy is the ideal alternative.

Since 1990 Robert has also studied under masters of Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong from around the world and has been teaching locally for many years.  Where appropriate Robert will include Qigong therapy to the treatment plan as it has been shown to assist the healing process.

He has competed nationally and won gold medal in the 2006 British Open Tai Chi Chuan competition.

He is a member of Practical Tai Chi Chuan International and the Tai Chi Union of Great Britain.

Auricular Therapy

Auricular Therapy is a highly developed system of diagnosing and treating disharmonies anywhere in the body by expertly examining the ear, by which the practitioner can accurately determine the root cause of disease and disharmony.  Practitioners of the five thousand year old art of Auricular Therapy use the ear as a map of the body. Each part of the ear correlates through the reflex system to a corresponding part of the body enabling a wide variety of health problems to be treated. Specific points on the ear are stimulated with an electronic pulse using a blunt probe to provide treatment for the individual’s condition. Magnets, herbal seeds and tiny press needles can also be applied to aid the treatment process.  It is a safe and effective form of therapy where the patient remains clothed during the treatment

FAQ’s

What happens on the first session?

A detailed case history will be taken at your first appointment.  This will include your medical history, present condition, lifestyle, diet, sleep, emotions as well as your general state of health.  The therapist will feel your pulse noting the quality, strength and rhythm. The structure, colour and coating of your tongue is also a good guide to your physical health. All these elements are taken together to decide on the most beneficial treatment to suit your individual needs. After the consultation is complete you will be offered your first treatment. This is included in your first appointment.

How many sessions will I need?

Usually a course of between 4-6 treatments is advised but this does depend on the condition and age of patient. Patients usually begin with weekly treatments and as the condition improves these are gradually spaced out.

Does acupuncture hurt?

Extremely fine needles are inserted into specific acupuncture points around the body. You might feel a slight pricking sensation as the needle goes in but nothing like you would experience when having an injection. You may not even feel them penetrate the skin and once in place they are hardly noticeable. Patients are often surprised at how tiny the needles actually are.

Once they are inserted your acupuncturist will manually stimulate the needles to generate the ‘Qi sensation.’ This can be felt as a slight tingling, aching, numbness or heaviness and is quite normal. This is one of the signs the body’s qi, or vital energy, has been stimulated.

Your acupuncturist will work with you to determine the optimal strength of sensation within your pain tolerance threshold and the needles can be removed at anytime if necessary.

If you are not keen on needles then Auricular therapy is the ideal alternative treatment for you as this method doesn’t use needles.

Is acupuncture safe?

Acupuncture is extremely safe as all needles used are disposed of immediately after use. A brand new set of disposable needles are used for every patient.

What should I do before a treatment?

It is important not to have a large meal within an hour of your appointment. You should also avoid alcohol and food or drink that colours your tongue such as coffee or strong tea. It is a good idea to wear loose-fitting clothes so that the acupuncture points, especially those on your lower limbs, are easily accessible.

How long does an acupuncture treatment last?

This depends on the condition and varies between 10-25 minutes.

What can I expect after the treatment?

After the needles have been removed you will be asked to slowly sit up. You are most likely to feel relaxed and calm. If the treatment has been strong then sometimes patients can feel tired or a little spaced out which is quite normal. This is important to know if driving afterwards.

Qigong Workshops

Robert also organises regular workshops where you will learn the ancient healing art of Qigong. This is an excellent way of maintaining your health using a gentle form of therapeutic movement. This will strengthen  your body on every level and can help the circulation, breathing, increase mental calm, decrease muscular tension, strengthen the immune system, improves overall joint mobility. It is also well known for helping manage and reduce emotional stress.

Talks

Robert is only too happy to get the opportunity to share his love of chinese medicine and Qigong. So please do get in touch if you would like him to come and give your group a talk.

To book a consultation or treatment please phone 07796 545669

If you would like more information about Acupuncture, Qigong, workshops or talks please visit www.chibodyworks.co.uk or send an email to info@chibodyworks.co.uk