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Heather Davidson

Heather Davidson is a qualified, caring and friendly acupuncture practitioner based in Summertown, Oxford.​ She practices Japanese, Five Element & Traditional Chinese Acupuncture.
She is qualified in Japanese “touch needle” Toyohari Acupuncture and is the President of the Toyohari Association in the United Kingdom.
She heads the Practical Skills Programme and is a clinical supervisor and lecturer at the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine in Reading.
She has a broad knowledge of conventional Western medicine and is DBS checked for working with children and vulnerable adults.

Training

College of Integrated Chinese Medicine

Heather’s initial training was at the internationally renowned College of Integrated Chinese Medicine in Reading, U.K, where she gained a BSc(Hons) and Licentiate of Acupuncture (LicAc). Her training also included biomedical sciences. She is a faculty member at the college where she leactures in the Practice and Theory of East Asian Medicine and Acupuncture.

Toyohari

An interest in Japanese acupuncture led her to complete a postgraduate qualification in Toyahari, an advanced form of acupuncture that uses precise methods for taking pulses and providing treatment. It was initially developed and practised by blind practitioners in Japan, highly revered for their heightened sensitivity and perceptive skills.
It remains a growing and dynamic tradition of acupuncture, where practitioners train continuously in groups to improve their skills.

Postgraduate studies include:

  • Trauma, anxiety and PTSD
  • Fertility, Pregnancy and post-natal care
  • Advanced acupuncture needling and pulse techniques
  • Advanced Moxibustion (moxa)
  • Two post graduate qualifications in Japanese Acupuncture
  • NADA protocol (for addiction and trauma)
  • She continues to do postgraduate studies related to her practice.
With a single acupuncture session per week, Heather treated the depression that had burdened me all my life within 3 months.

Appointment Information & Bookings

Bookings

Bookings are made online here.
Please book appointments online and not by phone or email as this can result in delays. The clinic is usually very busy, and people are booking well ahead of time. All available new patient and follow-up appointments are visible online.

Need more information?

Email is the best way to contact me if you’d like to discuss anything or ask for advice before booking an appointment. heather@oxfordacupuncture.com

Waiting list: Once you have booked, email if you wish to be placed on the waiting list for an earlier appointment. If an appointment becomes available, you will automatically be offered it. Please reply to waiting list emails within 24 hours, or the appointment may be offered to someone else. Appointments within 24 hours are offered on a first-come-first-served basis. All bookings are subject to the fee and cancellation policy.
Appointments are up to 40 minutes per session.

Clinic Opening Hours

Thursday: 10.30am – 6.30pm
Friday: 10.30am – 6.30pm
Saturday: 10am – 5pm

Payment

Payment is made online. For convenience the link for payment can be found on each appointment confirmation email. If you prefer to pay cash for follow-up appointments, please let me know.

Insurance

Some health insurance companies cover acupuncture. Treatments need to be paid for on the day, proof of appointment and payment can be provided for you to claim this back from your provider.

Fees & Cancellations

Appointments must be paid for before the appointment. Appointment are paid for online. If you prefer to pay cash please pay at the appointment.

Appointments cancelled or changed without 48 hours’ notice will incur the full fee. Oxford Acupuncture reserves the right to charge this fee automatically.
Because 94% of appointments are made at the previous appointment, I, and other patients, appreciate at least a 7 days’ notice so that other patients do not lose out.

Any items purchased are to be paid for on the day. Oxford Acupuncture reserves the right to charge for unpaid items automatically.

Please find our full Terms and Conditions here

Price List

First appointment

£80

Please fill in the form when you book the appointment. During the appointment I’ll take a medical history and assess your main complaint. I’ll also ask you about symptoms and other related information.
The first appointment will include a treatment.

Follow up appointments

£50

Follow-up appointments are initially usually one week apart and will be spaced out as your condition improves. You can either wait to book these after your first appointment, or, if you don’t want too big a gap between the appointments, you can book a few in at the same time.

“First Five” package

£245

For the best results, five consecutive weekly treatments are recommended after the initial appointment. To take up this offer please email me first and I’ll send a link to pay and book. Please book all five sessions at the same time. Please note this doesn’t include the First Appointment.

Community Acupuncture Rates

These follow-up appointments can take up to 30 minutes and are charged at £40 per session.

Community acupuncture rates are for those on a low income, including pensioners and students. You will receive the same quality of treatment as the regular appointments. Not all conditions lend themselves to this shorter session time, we can discuss this at your first appointment.

Book online

I was diagnosed with Generalised Anxiety Disorder.
Since coming to acupuncture I have regained a great deal of my confidence and life that I thought I had lost. My appointments are a highlight in my calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I wear?

Please wear loose clothing. You’ll need to remove shoes, socks, tight clothing and tights for the session. I will need to be able to access your lower legs and arms from the knee and elbow down. I will also need to access your back and belly. You won’t ever need to remove underwear. Please let me know if you have concerns. Your comfort will always come first, and I will do my best to work with you in the best way possible.

Please turn your phone to silent for appointments.​

How many appointments will I need?

The number of appointments will depend on a few things: how long you’ve had your issue; how your lifestyle impacts this; how acute or severe the complaint is. This can be assessed in the initial appointment, and a treatment plan will be discussed.​

Will it hurt?

No! The needles are fine – about the thickness of a human hair – and very few people ever feel them. Having trained in gentle needling, I make an effort to ensure the needling is entirely painless. You might feel a sensation after the needle is inserted, but this isn’t painful. People usually feel very calm and peaceful during the session. This feeling can last for a while after the session.

Is it safe?

Research shows that acupuncture is one of the safest treatments in the UK. There are seldom side effects, the most common being feeling tired after treatment. Very occasionally a tiny bruise might appear at an acupuncture point. More information on the safety of acupuncture can be found here: British Acupuncture Council.

Is there any research?

Acupuncture is one of the most researched alternative medicine therapies. Research is ongoing and carried out most notably by Harvard University, the University of Beijing, and the University of York. Please visit the British Acupuncture Council for more information on specific research.

Do you accept insurance?

Yes. Some health insurance companies cover acupuncture. Treatments need to be paid for on the day, proof of appointment and payment can be provided for you to claim this back from your provider.

​Are Covid Secure steps in place in the clinic?

Since the Covid outbreak, many aspects of clinic management have changed, including regular covid testing. Many of these will remain in place from now on.

The menopause hit my like a freight-train with hot flushes, anxiety and memory loss. I have acupuncture once a mnth and this is keeping all my menopausal symptoms at bay completely naturally – I have my life back!

Treatments

Fertility & women’s health

She helps women through the stages of fertility, pregnancy, labour, post-natal care and the menopause.​

Chronic and Acute conditions

She treats men and women for both chronic illnesses and acute conditions, including pain management and symptom control, supporting them to prevent further illness and get their lives on track.

Mental health

She has studied and practised meditation for 30 years and has a particular interest in mental and emotional issues, including trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and depression. She is approved by Anxiety UK to treat anxiety.​

Approach

She creates a safe therapeutic environment for her patients. Her approach emphasises the whole person and can bring about profound emotional change and wellbeing.

She helps people solve both the causes and the effects of illness. Getting to the root of the condition helps to achieve long term health improvements, enabling the body and mind to truly repair and re-balance.

Acupuncture works by improving system function, rather than by suppressing symptoms. Along with the reduction of immediate symptoms, people often report a reduction of stress, better sleep, increased energy, feeling “better in themselves” & feeling “more like themselves”.

Focus on the Cause

Heather works by looking for the underlying cause or imbalance of a symptom or condition. This approach leads to a longer-lasting resolution of symptoms and often seemingly unrelated problems can be resolved at the same time.

Individual Treatments

The make-up of these underlying patterns are specific to each person and are often historical. Treatment plans can be complex and are tailored to each person.

Comfortable Treatments

Heather practices a method of acupuncture that is not painful. Your comfort is a priority and treatments will focus on ensuring that you get the maximum possible benefit from each session.

Methods used to maximise treatment

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a tried and tested 2000-year-old medical system that uses very fine needles gently inserted into points on the body. The effect is both stimulating and calming and influences the function of the organs, muscles, autonomic and other systems of the body.

Toyohari

​​Toyohari is a Japanese acupuncture school that uses an advanced “touch-needle” technique. This is a specialised technique that uses silver and gold needles to influence the body without penetrating the skin. It feels very gentle and relaxing and is excellent for children and needle-wary adults.

Moxibustion

Also known as Moxa. A herbal treatment used to warm the body, improve immunity and the quality of the blood, replenish reserves and activate weak and tired systems. Especially useful for people who feel the cold.

Cupping

Glass suction cups move and oxygenate the blood and fluid in the muscles, releasing knots and stiffness. It is a very effective deep tissue therapy, reducing pain, muscle tension and inflammation, while improving movement in muscles and joints.

Diet & Lifestyle

There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to diet, exercise and lifestyle. You will receive specific individualised advice from an oriental medicine perspective that fits with the acupuncture treatments.

Electro Acupuncture

Electroacupuncture works by attaching a controlled current to acupuncture needles to stimulate the points and reduce healing time. This is especially effective for muscular-skeletal pain, stroke rehabilitation and Bell’s Palsy.

Health and Safety

New, individually packaged and gamma-ray sterilised needles are used for each client and every treatment. All other equipment is sterilised according to established NHS and PSA guidelines. Additionally, some equipment is also UV sterilised.

Like many after covid I got long-covid that forced me to leave my job. I tried may things that hadn’t worked, and tried acupuncture as a last resort – I wish it had been a first resort!

Appointment information

The following are regularly seen at the clinic. If your condition or concern is not on the list, please email me – the list is not comprehensive.

For additional information on research carried out on these and other areas, please visit the British Acupuncture Council website and World Health Organisation information on acupuncture.

Anxiety
Depression
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress
Stress
Trauma
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Long Covid
Fatigue
Fibromyalgia
Insomnia & sleep disorders
Menieres
POTS
Digestive Issues
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Bloating & cramps

Headaches & Migraines
Hypertension – High blood pressure
Dysmenorrhoea & Cramping
Amenorrhea
Hypomenorrhea
Menorrhagia
Polymenorrhea
Premenstrual syndrome
PMDD
PCOS
Endometriosis
Fertility
Gynaecology
Menopausal Symptoms
Obstetrics & Childbirth

Skin Conditions
​Allergic Rhinitis
Hayfever & Allergies
Sinusitis
Arthritis
Back Pain
Sciatica
Frozen Shoulder
Tennis Elbow
Joint Pain
Sports & Other Injuries
Chronic & Acute Pain
Peripheral Neuropathy
Chemo & Radiotherapy symptom management
Cancer support
Low Immunity

I see Heather for allergies and gut disorders which she has managed to alleviate completely.

Conditions regularly seen at the clinic

The following are regularly seen at the clinic. If your condition or concern is not on the list, please email me – the list is not comprehensive.

For additional information on research carried out on these and other areas, please visit the British Acupuncture Council website and World Health Organisation information on acupuncture.

Anxiety
Depression
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress
Stress
Trauma
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Long Covid
Fatigue
Fibromyalgia
Insomnia & sleep disorders
Menieres
POTS
Headaches
Migraines

Hypertension – High blood pressure
Dysmenorrhoea & Cramping
Endometriosis
Fertility
Gynaecology
Menopause
Obstetrics & Childbirth
PCOS
Premenstrual syndrome
Digestive Issues
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Bloating & cramps

Skin Conditions
​Allergic Rhinitis
Hayfever & Allergies
Sinusitis
Arthritis
Back Pain
Sciatica
Frozen Shoulder
Tennis Elbow
Joint Pain
Sports & Other Injuries
Chronic & Acute Pain
Peripheral Neuropathy
Chemo and Cancer support
Low Immunity

After the loss of my wife I found life increasingly difficult. I started drinking more frequently, stopped eating, and felt completely lost. One year later and I still could find no reason to carry on without her. A friend recommended I go see Heather and I’ve never looked back. Not only did the acupuncture help, but having someone receptive to talk to was a tremendous help.

About Acupuncture

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a therapy that has been used for thousands of years to treat a wide variety of conditions. Its usage stems from traditional Chinese medicine which soon spread to neighbouring areas like Korea and Japan.

It views the body as an integrated whole. By asking questions and using pulse diagnosis, the practitioner can identify which systems are weak, blocked and over-active. The practitioner then chooses appropriate acupuncture points to treat the symptoms and the root cause simultaneously. By doing this, the person can be brought back into balance, restoring health and well being, and increasing resilience to future problems.

What can it help?

Acupuncture is recognised to be effective by a variety of organisations, including the World Health Organisation, the NHS, Cancer Research, the Drugs Rehab Service and the Stroke Association amongst others.

It is used to help a wide range of conditions, both physical and mental. It is often considered better at managing chronic conditions, it can also be effective with acute conditions.

It is most often seen as a good way to manage pain, but is also very effective in dealing with other system or organ based diseases and illnesses.

A more comprehensive list can be found on the UK based British Acupuncture Council website, And from the World Health Organisation who list the wide variety of diseases or disorders for which acupuncture therapy has been tested in controlled clinical trials.

WHO Acupuncture Report

WHO list of conditions effectively treated with acupuncture

How does it work?

From a traditional Oriental medical view point acupuncture works by stimulating the subtle meridians of the body. A practitioner is able to adjust the strength of each meridian using different acupuncture points. Points can be reduced, tonified or harmonised to help bring the body back to balance. A body and mind in balance can better withstand diseases, repair from injury and illness, and maintain healthy function.

There are a few theories on how acupuncture might be achieving this. One is that it the needling itself acts as a micro-trauma which stimulates the immune system with healing compounds. This accounts for local healing effects of dopamine, the body’s natural pain killer, and natural anti-inflammatories.

Most often, however, acupuncture uses points on the lower arms and legs to effect organs and entire physical systems (cardiovascular, hormonal, digestive etc). A needle inserted into a particular point in the wrist can affect the lungs, and one in the foot can affect the stomach. It is possible that acupuncture uses the network of neural pathways to change the way the body functions.

I started having acupuncture with Heather in and initially this was specifically to treat the migraines. The migraines became very few and far between and I actually cannot remember the last one I had one!

Acupuncture Research

How much research is there?

There is a growing body of research evidence showing that acupuncture is effective, and in many cases more effective than standard medical treatments.
Acupuncture is by far the most researched of all alternative or conjunctive health practices.

See below for various articles and pieces of research on a variety of conditions treated with acupuncture.

Understanding the Research

Scientific research uses very particular and precise language that is not always easy to understand.
Some care must be taken when interpreting the results of any research. Treatment outcomes are dependent on the quality of the practitioner and the surroundings. Fully trained acupuncturists study for at least four years at degree level to understand the very complex principles and techniques in East Asian acupuncture.

Research is often carried out by medically trained acupuncturists who may have trained for only a handful of hours. This is adequate for running trials but does not accurately reflect the results that can be achieved by degree level trained practitioners. Nonetheless the research into acupuncture remains robust.

Cochrane Research

The Cochrane research group is highly regarded in scientific research. They collate and analyse unbiased, high-quality studies and research from multiple sources. They are tentative at drawing conclusions making their results particularly valuable to the scientific community. They have a large body of acupuncture research, see the list below. Find their research here….

  • assisted conception

  • asthma

  • attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD

  • autism spectrum disorders ASD

  • back pain

  • bell’s palsy

  • breech presentation

  • cencer: chemotherapy and radiotherapy side effects

  • cancer-related pain

  • carpal tunnel syndrome

  • constipation

  • depression

  • dyspepsia

  • breech presentation

  • dysphagia and poor nutrition following a stroke

  • elbow pain

  • endometriosis

  • epilepsy

  • fertility

  • fibromyalgia

  • fibroids

  • frozen shoulder

  • gastroparesis

  • hordeolum (stye)

  • hot flushes (cancer, non-hormonal and hormonal menopausal)

  • hypertension

  • IBS irritable bowel syndrome

  • insomnia

  • labour induction

  • labour pain

  • menopausal hot flushes

  • migraine

  • neck pain

  • neuropathic pain

  • osteoarthritis

  • pain management

  • pelvic and back pain in pregnancy

  • period pain

  • PMS premenstrual syndrome

  • polycystic ovarian syndrome

  • post-operative nausea and vomiting

  • recurrent uti

  • rotator cuff injusry and pain

  • rheumatoid arthritis

  • shoulder pain

  • schizophrenia

  • stroke rehabilitation

  • tension headaches

  • vascular dementia

British Acupuncture Council
British Acupuncture Councils research fact sheets – from acne to vertigo

The NHS
NHS on acupuncture

York University
York University – acupuncture for depression

World Health Organisation
World Health Organisation on acupuncture

Cancer Research
Cancer Research UK on acupuncture

Other Articles
The Independent‘Best way to treat back pain is with acupuncture’
The Guardian‘Acupuncture relieves back and pelvic pain during pregnancy’
British Medical Journal (BMJ) – ‘Acupuncture for low back and/or pelvic pain during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials’

I’m so pleased I started acupuncture not just for fertility but for my overall well-being.

Find us

Contact

heather@oxfordacupuncture.com

The Practice Rooms
The Old Bakehouse, 2A South Parade, Summertown, Oxford, OX2 7JL

The Practice Rooms at the Banbury Road end of South Parade, Summertown. The building is immediately behind the hairdresser, ‘A Cut Above’.

When you arrive:

There is no reception area at The Practice Rooms, so please arrive at the time of your appointment. At the main entrance is a keypad with coloured buzzers. I am in the white room. Please press the white room button, and wait for me to buzz you in.

Getting here

Bus

There are regular buses from Oxford City Centre to Summertown. Banbury road buses include 2, 2A, 2B, 7A, 7 gold, 94, 250. The nearest stop is ‘Shops’.

Cycling

We have a bicycle rack for your bike.

Driving

Roadside: There are two disabled parking bays at the beginning of South Parade and some free two-hour parking bays along South Parade and on the surrounding roads.

Carparks: There are three carparks in Summertown. The closest (although small) car park is Alexandra Courts Park, just off Middle Way (a two-minute walk). The Summertown Car Park on Diamond Place (just behind Co-op supermarket off Banbury Road) and the and the Ferry Leisure Centre Car Park off Marston Ferry Road are larger and a five-minute walk.