About Ann

Ann qualified with a Diploma in Naturopathy and Acupuncture with the College of Naturopathic and Complementary Medicine, London in 2002. After 18 months in practice, she decided that she wanted to gain further skills in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in order to enhance the care of her clients. Whilst continuing to maintain her practice, she undertook a 4 year degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine at Middlesex University, London.
This course is regarded as Europe's leading TCM programme as it covers the main TCM therapies - acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, cupping and moxibustion and also provides students with a comprehensive understanding of Western medical diagnostic and clinical skills. TCM clinical practice takes place at both the Asanté Academy of Chinese Medicine in Archway, London, and Whittington Hospital NHS Pain Clinic, and is continuous throughout the 4 years. The programme is fully accredited by the British Acupuncture Accreditation Board (BAAB) and the European Herbal and Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association Accreditation Board.

Ann graduated with a First Class BSc Honours degree in TCM in 2008 and was also presented with the University’s Ellis Snitcher prize for Integrative Medicine. Whilst she was undertaking this degree she completed a Diploma in Tuīná (Chinese therapeutic massage) at the Asanté Academy of Chinese Medicine in Archway, London.

She has a great love of China and has visited several times both to travel and work. She has studied at both the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University and The Yunnan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, gaining insight into various specialities such as Rheumatology, Nephrology, Paediatrics, Gastroenterology, Cardiology, Internal medicine and the Acupuncture and Moxibustion Outpatients department.

Ann is also a qualified nurse and has been nursing since 1988. She specialised in intensive care for 10 years and since 2005, has been working in a hospice. Her experience has taught her the value of examining the causes which may underlie current symptoms, whether they are physical, emotional/mental and/or spiritual. Also, her Western medical experience provides an invaluable underpinning of knowledge to the work that she is now doing.
Within the hospice environment, Ann is working towards providing an acupuncture service for in-patients and their families.

Academically, in addition to her Chinese medicine qualifications and nursing registration, Ann also has an Honours degree in Social Anthropology from Kent University and a Diploma in Professional Practice (Acute and Critical Care) from the University of Luton. Following on from voluntary experience working in a clinic for drug users in London, she has contributed a chapter on the use of acupuncture in the treatment of drug addiction to a textbook “Electro acupuncture – a practical manual and resource” edited by David Mayor and published in 2007. She is currently working on the publication of a paper about the use of acupuncture as an adjunct to in-vitro fertilisation treatments.

Her particular interests are in the treatment of

• gynaecological conditions
• male and female fertility issues including preconceptual care
• enhancing natural fertility and supporting assisted conception programmes
• how mental/emotional conflicts may express themselves in physical illness.

Ann is a member of the main professional regulatory bodies for Chinese medicine in the United Kingdom. These bodies - the British Acupuncture Council, the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine and the Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine all require that their members are properly qualified practitioners who are bound by strict Codes of Ethics and Good Practice and have full professional insurance.