Heidi Zollinger-Read

About – Heidi Zollinger-Read

Heidi graduated from the University of Westminster with a BSc in Chinese Medicine Acupuncture after a long career as a nurse in the NHS. She encourages and supports her clients to take control of their own health and lifestyle.

She has a particular interest in educating her clients in the critical role that nutrition and lifestyle play in the support and maintenance emotional well being.

Therapy descriptions

Acupuncture

Chinese Medicine Acupuncture is a system of medicine based on ancient principles going back more than two thousand years. The Chinese philosophy underpinning acupuncture is the concept of Qi, the body’s vital energy, that flows freely throughout the whole body.
When the flow of Qi is impaired or blocked and can no longer flow freely, imbalances can occur. This can manifest itself as pain or illness, both physical and emotional. Many factors can cause a disruption to the free flow of Qi; stress, diet, lifestyle, injury, infection, illness and the environment.
Acupuncture aims to restore balance of mind and body through the insertion of very fine, sterile, single-use needles in specific points on the body. This stimulates the body’s own healing process; to rebalance and thus promote health both physical and emotional
Additional treatments that Heidi provides to compliment Acupuncture include:-

Tuina Massage

Tuina is an ancient style of massage. It is still widely used in China to treat a range of conditions, both internal and musculoskeletal. Tuina aims to alter the flow of Qi in the patient’s body and to stimulate the patient’s natural healing abilities.

Cupping

Cupping is one of the oldest methods of traditional Chinese medicine. Glass cups are applied to the skin using mild heat to create a vacuum. This vacuum, in turn, gently draws the superficial muscles into the cups helping to stimulate the flow of blood. This balances and realigns the flow of Qi and overcomes the obstruction.
Sometimes the cups are placed on specific acupuncture points, particularly in areas of pain. Other times the cups are moved to create a deep massaging effect on the skin and muscles: this is called gliding cupping.

Guasha

Guasha involves gently scraping the skin using a massage tool.
Heidi may use these therapies alongside Acupuncture, where there is chronic pain or tension to encourage the free flow of blood and QI.

Specific Conditions Treatable / Who is the Class for?

Traditional Chinese Acupuncture can help with a wide range of conditions both physical and emotional including:
• Stress and Anxiety
• Chronic and Acute pain (musculoskeletal; eg back pain, tennis/golfers elbow, head aches,  migraines)
• Gynaecological problems (dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea)
• Fertility
• Pregnancy related conditions
• Rhinitis/Hayfever
• Menopause
• Digestive problems (bloating and constipation)
• Insomnia

Benefits of the therapies

• Reduces pain
• Increases mobility
• Improves general wellbeing
• Reduces anxiety and promotes relaxation Increases blood flow

How it works

The Chinese philosophy underpinning acupuncture is the concept of Qi, the body’s vital energy, that flows freely within the meridians and channels throughout the whole body. Pain occurs when the qi cannot flow freely. Acupuncture works to naturally restore the flow of Qi in the channels and thus restores the balance of mind and body. Through the insertion of very fine, sterile, single-use needles at specific acu points these blockages can be released. The needles can stimulate the body’s own healing process by releasing endorphins, and change how pain is processed in the brain. It can also affect the part of the brain that governs serotonin, a brain chemical involved with mood.

The exact mechanism of how acupuncture works is yet unclear. and can also affect the mood This may stimulates the body’s own natural pain killing chemicals endorphins and thus reduce pain. The needles can also and can thus enhance mood. can also affect the healing process to relieve pain by releasing and in the Acupuncture works to naturally restore balance of mind and body through the insertion of very fine, sterile, single-use needles in specific points on the body.

What happens in a session

Please wear loose comfortable clothing when coming for acupuncture as the needles will be left in place for 20 mins . Sometimes acupuncture makes you feel relaxed and calm . We recommend you don’t do any energetic exercise following the treatment. It usually takes more than one session.