About Acupuncture
Traditional acupuncture is a system of medicine used worldwide, informed by classical theory and contemporary research.
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About Emma Hart Acupuncture
Hello, I’m Emma (she/her), a licensed acupuncturist practising Traditional Acupuncture in the beautiful village of Ketton.
After years of burnout and menstrual fatigue, I turned to Chinese medicine for support and it transformed both my health and my life. I became deeply drawn to its wisdom and clinical effectiveness, and went on to found Emma Hart Acupuncture in 2025 following four intensive years of clinical training.
Chinese medicine provides a clinically informed, person-centred approach to health. It understands wellbeing as a balance between physical, emotional, and environmental factors, and works with the body’s natural capacity for regulation and repair. This integrated perspective supports sustainable, long-term improvements in overall health.
I’m committed to creating an inclusive, welcoming space for everyone - especially those who may have felt overlooked or excluded in typical healthcare settings.
My clinical interests include supporting people with emotional balance, pain management, menstrual or menopausal cycles, and aiding better digestive health.
Emma Hart | Lic.Ac
Member of the British Acupuncture Council
Below explains how acupuncture works, and what current evidence says about its effects on the body.
What is Traditional Acupuncture?
Traditional acupuncture promotes the smooth circulation of breath, blood, and bodily fluids through the body’s internal systems. When this flow is disrupted or diminished, it can contribute to imbalances that may manifest as physical or emotional symptoms, sometimes developing gradually, or even suddenly.
The foundational principles of acupuncture are based on clinical observations recorded over two millennia ago, when Chinese medicine physicians documented how to adjust bodily rhythms, hormonal imbalances, and circulatory patterns. These classical observations continue to inform my practice today.
Acupuncture uses the precise insertion of single-use needles into specific points on the body to stimulate physiological responses and support the body’s capacity to repair itself.
Diagnosis considers symptoms and underlying functional patterns, individual constitution, lifestyle factors, mental health, and environmental influences. These patterns often relate to organ systems, emotional states, seasonal changes, or significant life events. Because it is whole-person medicine, treatment often addresses multiple areas simultaneously for example, pain, digestion, and mood.
Treatment is cumulative and works best over a series of sessions to support long-term recovery. Chinese medicine is patient-centred medicine, and I feel very honoured to learn, share and practice it.
Acupuncture vs Dry Needling
You may have come across the term medical acupuncture. This is a Western therapy sometimes used by GPs, physiotherapists, massage therapists, osteopaths, and chiropractors. Despite the name, it is not a distinct form of medicine. Most clinicians who practise dry needling are trained through short courses, typically a few weeks, and apply needling to a limited range of musculoskeletal symptoms.
Traditional acupuncture also uses dry needles, but in a different way. Acupuncturists trained in eastern medicine often use thinner, finer needles with gentler techniques.
In some cases, no needles are used; instead, practitioners may work with moxibustion, cupping, guasha, or palpation techniques. Traditional acupuncture in the UK is taught at degree level over a number of years, in my case - four years, full-time with rigorous clinical training and safety standards.
Trigger-point dry needling is often confused with acupuncture, but the two are not the same. Dry needling focuses on inserting needles into muscle knots to relieve tension. It often uses longer needles and stronger techniques, and aims to reduce local pain.
Traditional acupuncture, by contrast, is a complete medical system rooted in Chinese medicine and underpinned by thousands of years of history and philosophy. The practise of traditional acupuncture combines classical theory with modern biomedical and pharmacological study. This allows for an individualised approach that considers the whole person.
What Does the Research Say?
While traditional explanations focus on energetic or neural pathways, contemporary research highlights acupuncture’s initial action as mechanical. The gentle insertion of needles stimulates connective tissue and cellular activity, which may explain acupuncture’s efficacy across multiple traditional systems, including Chinese, Korean, and Japanese approaches.
Functional MRI studies show that stimulating specific acupuncture points can activate correlating areas of the brain. For example, vision-related points have been linked with activity in the visual cortex. Research suggests that acupuncture can influence the autonomic nervous system, reduce inflammation, enhance circulation, and modulate neurochemicals such as endorphins, oxytocin, and serotonin.
Over 2,000 clinical trials on acupuncture have been published to date, exploring its effects across pain, mental health, reproductive health, and neurology.
This evidence supports acupuncture as a safe and effective complementary option for a wide range of people seeking support for chronic or acute conditions relating to their physical or mental health.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends acupuncture for chronic pain and tension-type headaches or migraines. The evidence base for acupuncture continues to grow, with ongoing research exploring its possibilities. Discover more about acupuncture research.
If you’d like to explore whether acupuncture might be suitable for you, you’re welcome to get in touch or book a consultation.
Training and Accreditations
Undergraduate training
◦ Completed 3,600 hours of degree-level training over four years at the City College of Acupuncture (CCA), studying Chinese medicine and Western medical sciences, including 400+ hours of clinical practice.
Training accreditation
◦ Level 6 Licentiate Diploma in Acupuncture (Lic.Ac), accredited by the British Acupuncture Accreditation Board (BAAB), the highest recognised standard of training in the UK.
Professional Memberships
◦ Voluntarily regulated by the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC), whose register is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA), ensuring rigorous standards in healthcare and patient safety.
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Acupuncture (zhēnjiǔ, 針灸)
針 = needle
灸 = moxibustion
Rooted in Chinese medicine principles, acupuncture works by supporting the body’s ability to rebalance and repair itself over time (homeostasis).
Fine, single-use needles are placed with care into specific points along the body’s meridians to regulate the nervous system, ease pain, and strengthen the mind-body.
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Moxibustion (àijǐu, 艾灸)
艾 = mugwort
灸 = moxibustion
Meaning: ‘moxa + combustion’ – the burning of mugwort as a form of heat therapy.
A cigar-shaped stick of mugwort or cone of moxa punk commonly referred to as moxa (artemisia vulgaris) is carefully lit and held near acupuncture points on the body.
The warmth from the moxa gently penetrates into the skin and muscle tissue to disperse any cold or stagnation in the area.
I use moxa a lot for symptoms of pain, menstrual irregularities, digestive discomfort and post-natal support.
Read more here. -
Guasha (guāshā, 刮痧)
刮 = to scrape
痧 = reddish marks that appear on the skin known as ‘sha’.
Meaning: ‘scraping + sha’.
A smooth-edged tool is gently rubbed or scraped across the skin to ease muscle tension and improve blood flow around areas of stagnation or inflammation.
I use guasha techniques when addressing muscular pain or tension particularly in the jaw, neck or upper back. -
Fire Cupping (báhuǒguàn, 拔火罐)
拔 = pull
火 = fire
罐 = jar/cup
Cupping therapy has roots in many cultures, including Ancient Greek, East and South Asian, and North African traditions.
A vacuum is created inside a sterile glass cup by briefly igniting a flame within it, then applying the cup to the skin.
The warmth and suction can move stagnation, relieve muscle tightness, and encourage better circulation. -
Electroacupuncture (diànzhēn, 電針)
電 = electricity
針 = needle
A modern form of acupuncture that combines electrical stimulation with traditional needle placement.
Once needles are inserted into the body, electrodes are attached to the needles passing a gentle, low-voltage electrical pulse between each needle via the body tissue to aid pain relief and muscle recovery.
Electroacupuncture (EA) has been proven effective in addressing chronic reproductive health conditions such as endometriosis and PCOS.
EA can also be effective in managing neuropathic pain and chronic conditions affecting nerves, muscles and joints like fibromyalgia and arthritis. -
Auriculotherapy (ěrzhēn liáofǎ, 耳針療法)
耳 = ear
針 = needle
療法 = therapy
Also known as ‘ear acupuncture’ or ‘auricular’, it’s a subtle and powerful therapy often used to manage symptoms of anxiety, addiction, sleep disorders, and hormonal disregulation.
Auricular acupuncture targets specific points on the ear that are connected to the auricular branch of the Vagus nerve. The Vagus nerve is crucial for maintaining the body’s physiological balance and regulating the autonomic nervous system.
During your appointment I may softly apply needles or after your session stickers known as ear seeds to your outer ear to boost your treatment. -
Infrared Heat Therapy (hóngwàixiàn rèliáo, 紅外線熱療)
紅 = red
外線 = external rays
熱療 = heat therapy
As we lead busy lives in a cold, damp climate, pain (whether systemic or caused by injury) can linger in the body.
When Cold is trapped in our muscles and tissues, it can lead to stagnation and discomfort.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), heat therapy is used to expel Cold. A heat lamp is positioned above the body to offer a deep-penetrating warmth that soothes pain by promoting circulation, enhancing tissue repair, and supporting cellular regeneration.This therapy works well alongside acupuncture for menstrual irregularities, digestive disorders, or slow recovery following injury or surgery.
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Yangsheng (yǎngshēng, 養生 – “nourishing life”)
養 = nourish
生 = life
Yangsheng refers to a set of self-cultivation and lifestyle practices from Daoist and Chinese medical traditions that promote long-term resilience.
During your session, I may offer lifestyle advice drawn from these teachings around ways in which food, movement, and seasonal habits can support your health.
Learn about my practice
To support physical and emotional wellbeing, I sometimes combine acupuncture with gentle adjunct therapies rooted in Eastern medicine like moxibustion, guasha, and cupping.
I believe Traditional Acupuncture should be accessible to everyone and recognised as a valid form of healthcare
I want to support people in feeling at home in their bodies again. My work is about restoring connection to yourself, others, and to the planet.
