My journey into Chinese Medicine was shaped by both personal experience and intellectual curiosity.

Originally trained in pure mathematics, I spent years working as a craftsperson. But it was acupuncture that changed my life. From a young age, I lived with a long-term health condition that caused chronic pain and restricted movement—by the age of 19 I could barely walk, let alone run. A decade later, as a single mother with two young children, I felt called to study acupuncture. I applied to my nearest college, ICOM, which specialised in wuyun liuqi (五運六氣 ‘Stems and Branches’), and was accepted.

I studied for five years and was then invited to teach. At the time, I had no real understanding of wuyun liuqi and was sceptical of its clinical application. But I committed to applying it in practice for a couple of years—and I’ve been using it ever since. When later asked to teach this very specialised area, I spent a full year researching its roots and context; I couldn’t teach it without understanding where it came from.

Early in my studies, I realised that much of what we were taught was filtered through confusing or inconsistent translations. So in 1996, I began studying Chinese on my own. I attended lectures by Elisabeth Rochat de la Vallée, which deepened my understanding that to truly engage with Classical Chinese Medicine, I had to think with the language and mindset of the classical/medieval Chinese world.

I later became an associate student at SOAS in London, completing both the first- and final-year courses in Classical Chinese. That experience led me to pursue an introductory course in Sinological Methodology at SOAS, and then an MA in the China Health & Humanity pathway within the UCL History department—where I was awarded the department prize for best dissertation. I spent time in Taiwan and China, and have now completed a PhD under Professor Vivienne Lo, researching the Guest-Host relationship in the wuyun liuqi chapters of the Huangdi Neijing.

Over more than two decades I have been invited to teach CPD workshops both online and in person across the world. Throughout these years, I’ve also continued to teach wuyun liuqi at ICOM.

My approach is multi-layered and interdisciplinary. I weave together language, myth, food, movement, and culture to build a broad yet rooted medical understanding. I frequently translate relevant medieval texts to bring historical insight directly into modern clinical practice.

Beyond teaching, I’ve mentored and supervised many acupuncturists as they transition from students to practitioners. I’m passionate about supporting others in deepening their understanding of Classical Chinese Medicine—not just as theory, but as something profoundly alive and clinically relevant.

Students often describe my teaching as inspirational, clear, and transformative, helping them rediscover the deep foundations of this medicine and apply it with renewed confidence and clarity.