Healthwise Clinic of Natural Medicine was founded by Andrew Loosely who is currently Director of Chinese Medicine for the Unified Register of Herbal Practitioners.

Andrew, author of '7 Secrets of Healthy Living', is a western practitioner of Chinese medicine and is the founder of the Healthwise Clinic of Natural Medicine. As the fifth generation in his family to use herbal medicine, he learnt about herbs from his mother and grandmother in the south of Germany where he grew up. Years later he went on to study Chinese medicine after his own experience of acupuncture.

Andrew is a registered and qualified practitioner of Traditional Chinese medicine and practices acupuncture, herbal medicine, tui na (Chinese massage therapy) and Barefoot Doctor techniques as practiced in China.

His recent book '7 Secrets of Healthy Living' is written to reveal and simplify the ancient wisdom of Chinese medicine and allow everyday people to use this wisdom to improve their health. It costs £9.99 and can be purchased here.

Dr. Jennifer Harper-Deacon (columnist for the Sunday Times Style magazine) endorses his book by saying "7 Secrets of Healthy Living is a beautifully written book that clearly explains the incredible system of Chinese medicine and makes the subject accessible and alive! It’s full of simple, practical tips and information on diet, exercise, emotional health and how Chinese Medicine can enhance our quality of life and wellbeing."

We give away a session of treatment every quarter of the year as a gift. You can nominate someone you know who might appreciate help and support, and you can nominate yourself at the same time. We always recommend that you talk it through with the recipient before you give us their name, phone number and address and the reason for the nomination. You can let us know by email or at the clinic.

It is important that you feel able to ask any questions you may have. We have compiled the most common which we hope will give you some answers.

Does acupuncture hurt?
You will feel something (which is actually a good sign!) but generally there is little feeling.

Should I be eating five pieces of fruit or vegetable a day?
It is a great idea. However we also recommend that each person has their own nutritional needs assessed individually.

Why do I need herbs if I eat properly?
Herbs provide you with more than just nutrition. They are used to help to change the way that the body functions and treat the root or source of your problem. If you are taking medication we will take this into account if prescribing herbs for you.

Do you feel my blood pressure through the pulse?
Yes we do, although that is not what we are looking for. Each wrist has three pulses which relate to different systems in the body. Pulse diagnosis is almost like an ancient method of scanning the body to see where the problem lies. We can asses many aspects of your body including your energy (Chi) and the way that your body is generally functioning.

I want to relax more – have you got any ideas?
Acupuncture and Massage therapy are the two treatments that can give immediate results. You’ll leave feeling much more relaxed and focused than when you arrived! Herbal medicine is also good for this but takes a little longer and is often used to prevent stress.

I have heard that acupuncture is generally good for the skin. Could I have it as a beauty treatment?
There are special points which relate to the skin so we could give you a specialist treatment to combat signs of aging. As acupuncture activates the body and helps you to detoxify, your skin should improve in quality as your condition improves. A lifeless skin is an indicator of sluggish energy in the body.

Can I have massage therapy instead of acupuncture?
Yes of course. We use acupuncture because it is the most direct and traditional method. We also use massage therapy and cupping which do not involve needles.