I ‘ m a little behind my blogging, so I thought you might all be interested in a nice story:

Dear Maria,

Thank you so much for the fantastic treatment. My vertigo was so bad two weeks ago that I couldn’t even drive, now I not only can I drive but I am back at work.

I also have an extensive list of previous injuries and between the combination of acupuncture and TuiNa Chinese massage I have got far better movement and feel like I have much more energy.

Thank you so very much,

Michelle P.

This lady developed dizziness whilst going up in a fast lift whilst holidaying in Dubai four months ago.  Western medicine was unable to sort out her problem ( surprise surprise!!! )  My Chinese diagnosis was Liver Yang rising and disturbing the ear function. She most probably already had the problem developing and the speed of the lift most certainly was tantmount to triggering the dizziness. It is a good example of how treating the Chinese symptoms with Chinese medicine produces such amazing results treating the patient’s holistically.

Michelle had come to me for her dizziness problem, but I discovered she had had keyhole surgery for her shoulder which she damaged pushing a car. It was still causing her some pain &  stiffness  so I suggested treating her shoulder simultaneously with her dizziness.

Four treatments later and Michelle was delighted with more mobility and reduced discomfort with her shoulder.

If you have a problem and are not sure whether acupuncture can help, just comment on here and I will answer you.

I am a fitness instructor and pilates teacher of over 25 years standing, and right now I am on an anatomy & physiology course. Why? I already hold qualifications in A&P. There are two answers. Firstly, I believe you should constantly strive to update or refresh your knowledge, complacency is the start of your decline. Secondly, this particular course is being run by Maria Mercati’s BodyHarmonics centre in Cheltenham. As someone with a passing interest in Tui Na Massage, this was the place for me.

What I did’nt know before I came here, was that Maria is one of the leading authorities in acupuncture, not just in the UK, but worldwide. “Needling”, to use her affectionate term, is her passion. Maria offered to “needle” any students who wanted it, and the rest of us could watch. When you have an opportunity to watch a master at their craft, I believe you should seize it.  I also have a long standing neck injury, and I secretly hoped that Maria may have time to “needle” me, to see if it would help.

Approx 20 minutes later and my curiosity had changed to horror. I was opting out, and fast! I had never witnessed acupuncture before, and what I saw scared the life out of me. Deep needles, very deep. Although not one of my fellow students experiencing treatment complained, quite the contrary, I convinced myself it had to hurt, alot! I was grateful I had had the opportunity to watch Maria, she is passionate about her craft. The needles are almost like a natural extension of her, so fluid and natural is she with them, but I was out of there.

I had reckoned without Maria’s 6th sense. She had worked out that I was about to scarper, and my name was called next. Angie, she said, you mentioned your neck, and with me gibbering futilely that I did’nt think acupuncture was for me, I was led like a lamb to the slaughter to a chair, with Maria saying, “lets just have a look”.

Thank God for Maria’s 6th sense. Thank God for Maria’s passion, and thank God for Maria’s unique ability. Why? Because today, for the first time in 3 years, I have something close to normal range of movement in my neck. Maria’s skill is such that she has an incredible ability, an intuitive ability, to know how to “needle” someone who is nervous about the treatment. As each needle went in with nothing more than a slight tap, the more relaxed I became. I had stopped worrying long before the last one went in. However, for acupuncture to be truly effective, it has to be deep. So Maria adjusted the needles, twice. On both occasions telling me what she was about to do, and asking me with each needle adjustment if I was OK, giving me the impression throughout that I was in charge of my body, when really she was! Such is her amazing skill.

I have just 2 days left, and my utter turnaround in my attitude to Maria’s acupuncture is such that I am wondering whether  I can fit another session in before I leave, and whether I should mention my low back pain, sustained in a car accident 12 years ago. Can acupuncture, specifically, Maria’s acupuncture, have an effect on an injury so old? Watch this space!