Acupuncture Community Clinic in Edinburgh

On a budget but need that knee treated? Restricted by time to get acupuncture treatment? The acupuncture Community Clinic may be for you! We run most Thursday mornings between 08:30 and 12 at the Centre for Holistic Health, 5AYork Place.

The CC has for over two years now been available to many who would usually have no access to this alternative therapy. The no-frills treatment means that more patients can be seen at one time, reducing the cost considerably. We believe that health care should be more accessible to all that need it regardless of their financial situation. We will try to accommodate as many patients as we can.

Our community clinic sessions cost £15 whereas private acupuncture sessions in Edinburgh range between £35 and £60 per session.

Multi-bed clinics have grown in popularity in recent years and enabling many more people to access the benefits of acupuncture without excessive costs.  It may not be suitable to everyone, especially if you have a complex condition that needs dedicated time. However, most people enjoy the more social environment where human connections can be made. Please call me at 0131 556 8440 to discuss whether your condition could be treated within the multi-bed clinic”.

Please note that new patients must have an initial one hour consultation in order to take a full medical history (£45) before joining the multi-bed clinic. To find out more, please call the Centre for Holistic Health on (0131) 556 8440.

By Charmaine Shepherd  B.Sc. Biomed., N.dip. Ac, MBAcC
Charmaine Shepherd is an Acupuncturist, Director of the Centre for Holistic Health and Author of Is it all in your mind? 10 Steps to Resolving the Underlying Causes of Anxiety and Depression. Available on Kindle!

Charmaine has a sensitive and holistic approach to health-care. She is dedicated to helping individuals take control of their own health. "I believe in supporting the innate healing ability of the body through the use of natural remedies, nutrition and lifestyle,” Charmaine Shepherd.

Be free from Depression - even if you think you've tried everything!

Is diet coke driving you crazy? Is bread making you blue? Is milk making you sad? Could chocolate make you happy? Based on her own personal journey coupled with years of clinical experience assisting sufferers of anxiety, depression and panic attacks resulting from the same physiological causes, Charmaine Shepherd B.Sc. Biomed., N.dip. Ac, MBAcC decided to make her expertise available to the world in her eye opening book; Is it all in your Mind? 10 Steps to resolving the underlying causes of anxiety and depression.

Written in an easy to follow, supportive style, the reader will undoubtedly identify with aspects of the authors own journey through depression and anxiety as well as many of the case studies from the authors own therapy practice. This book dispels the erroneous idea that depression and anxiety are all in the mind and with it, the burden felt by those sufferers who have been unable to 'think' themselves better using traditional therapy or through the use of antipsychotic drugs.

The book outlines an easy to follow, 10 step plan designed to empower the reader to identify their own triggers and make small, positive changes to beat their own blues. The book contains a preface, introduction and 9 chapters followed by a synopsis of the 10 step plan and a brief conclusion.

There are other causes; it's not all in your mind. It could in fact, be in your gut! The book begins by defining the difference between anxiety, depression and panic attacks and then goes on to describe how the brain actually works and what makes a person feel happy - or not. Serotonin is the neurotransmitter most closely linked to happiness and as the author points out, this is not exclusively a brain chemical - 90% of serotonin is found in the gut linking intestinal health to happiness, a concept well understood in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Taking the body-mind-soul premise, the author argues that a combination of genetic disposition, early adversity, nutrition, environment and trauma equate to a persons propensity to develop anxiety and depression. Building on the importance of gut health to happiness, the devastating impact of food intolerances are stressed. Yes, bread, milk, fizzy drinks and a whole host of other things you eat and drink could be causing your anxiety and depression. And prescription antipsychotic drugs could be making the problem worse. The author then outlines a plan for identifying the reader's own triggers, including nutritional advice, helpful therapies, tips for emotional wellbeing and lifestyle factors.

Utilizing a truly holistic approach embracing nutrition, lifestyle, environment and energy medicine that can be tailored by the reader to remedy their own individual triggers, relief from depression and anxiety is possible! A must read for those plagued by negative emotions who feel they have tried everything. Try this - happiness could be just around the corner.

Is it all in your mind? 10 Steps to resolving the underlying causes of anxiety and depression is available on amazon.com for £1.92 [kindle edition].

Review by Dr. H.J. Blenkinsop

HJ Blenkinsop PhD is a writer, researcher, web tinkerer, social media meddler, mythology nut, world traveler, and author of Story Master and The Penny Well. She also blogs about life on Chicken Road and is committed to the pursuit of happiness! @hjblenkinsop