Rebalancing body and mind for better health and wellbeing.

The acupuncture clinic of Jamie Hamilton
Acupuncture for all conditions including fertility, anxiety, and back pain
Located near Farnham with parking right outside the practice
Calm, purpose-designed treatment room

Acupuncture Treatment

Acupuncture is an integral part of Chinese medicine, the original "Holistic Therapy", and is the core modality of the practice. A key benefit is that It sees body, mind and emotions forming a whole, and addressing and one of these three must include the other two to regain balance. As an acupuncturist I am able to take the long view of a person's condition and focus on the innate wellness and wholeness of the body. This shifts the view from a problem centred one to a solutions centred one, and then helps build health and wellness based on concrete changes in the persons balance of vitality.

Testimonials

"My Chinese Medicine experience with Jamie has been superb! I loved the integrated approach of mind- body and emotions that I had heard so much of and can now see how well it all comes together. I came seeking help with my really stuck sleeping problems and have now really improved." Mrs W. T. of Lower Bourne
“4 sessions of acupuncture and your magic heat lamp have totally sorted my back and knees. Thank you! I'll be back for maintenance sessions." Mr. I. F. of Farnham

Blog - Exploring Chinese Medicine

Latest news, thoughts and exploration the world of Chinese Medicine theory and practice, and the therapies of acupuncture, herbal medicine and shiatsu.

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Portrait Jamie Hamilton Acupuncturist

Registered Acupuncturist: Jamie Hamilton

Jamie Hamilton is a degree qualified acupuncturist registered with the British Acupuncture Council, a qualified Chinese herbal medicine and shiatsu practitioner, a teacher of Chinese Medicine, co-prinicpal of a Chinese medicine CPD college and in 2022 a published author in the professional literature.

Jamie Hamilton LicAc LicCCH BSc MBAcC

So: what do the letters after my name mean?
LicAc is Licentiate in Acupuncture.
LicCCHM is Licentiate in Classical Chinese Herbal Medicine.
BSc is a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Acupuncture (2:1 grade at College of Intgrated Chinese medicine validated by Kingston University
MBAcC is Member of British Acupuncture Council, the UKs leading professional body regulating acupuncture practice. See FAQ below for more.

I have been interested in Chinese medicine since 1987 when travelling in China where I was involved in a serious bike accident. I met a blind Chinese medicine practitioner there who used a variety of effective methods to heal my injured arm, and this planted the seed for my Chinese Medicine practice. I have been in practice with Chinese Medicine since 2003. With my training ranging initially from therapeutic massage with the Maitri Foundation and shiatsu with the European Shiatsu School (ESS) with the great Chris Jarmey and George Dellar. I taught shiatsu for the ESS starting in 2006 and for my own school: East West College, from 2009. In that same year I started my acupuncture degree at College of Integrated Chinese Medicine (CICM) with the wonderful Angie and John Hicks who inspired the sense of importance to consider the emotional aspect of treatment.

I continue to teach for colleges in the U.K. and am co-principal of East West College, providing innovative CPD courses for acupuncture practitioners.

Book cover for Essential Pulse Diagnosis in Chinese Medicine, Mai Jing A-B-C Method by Jamie Hamilton

Diagnosis Theory and Practice

In 2015 I began to investigate the diagnostic procedures in Chinese Medicine. This began with the practice of Applied Channel Theory as taught by the incredible practitioners Dr. Wang Ju-Yi, Dr. Jason Robertson. and Johnathan Chang. I have been fortunate to have met and studied with Dr. Wang in Beijing in 2016 as well as taking advanced seminars with Jason and Johnathan in Switzerland and Beijing.

In 2016 I began a major area of personal research into pulse diagnosis culminating in developing an innovative method based on Classical techniques called the Mai Jing ABC method.

I now regularly teach this method and have written a book about it called Essential Pulse Diagnosis in Chinese Medicine, which was published by Singing Dragon in 2022.

Booking

Clinic Hours

Monday to Friday 8.00 am - 12.00pm, 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm

Treatment Fees

Standard Consultations
First Acupuncture – 75 minutes: £95
Standard Acupuncture – 45 minutes: £75

Special Consultations
Access to Medicinal Salves –  20 minutes: £55

Supervision and Tutorials (Acupuncture practitioners only)
Supervision / Tutorial – 90 minutes: £90
Supervision / Tutorial – 60 minutes: £60

Medicinal Herbal Salves
Medicinal Herbal Salve: 120 ml: £65
Medicinal Herbal Salve: 240 ml: £85

Chinese Herbal Medicine per week (fee added during treatment)
Standard Formula Type: (granule style): £30 - 40 depending on size of formula

Online Booking

How to use it:

Most clients find online system easy to use and inutitive. Just choose your appiontment type wanted and choose a time. If it for a "First Appointment" (i.e. your first treatment ever with me) then you will get a form to fill in as well. To finalise your booking you will need to enter payment card details or paying. I'd recommend just leaving the card details, then during the treatment I can finalise the payment.

Once you have booked, you will get a confirmation e-mail. At the bottom of that there are links if you need to change the appointment time. Changes can be made free of charge up to 24 hours before the appointment. You may also cancel a booking in the same way but if you have already paid you will need to write separately to ask for a payment refund.

Also at the bottom of the e-mail is my clinic phone which can be used for more urgent reasons (like you are stuck in traffic on the way). Also there is the clinic e-mail which can be used in the same way, or for other communication. Any problems with the system, please use the enquiry form at the bottom of the page.

Health Insurance

Important note: many insurers will compensate for your treatment. This usually is done via the well tried route of the patient (you) paying for treatments at the time, then the insurer reimbursing you. I will provide an invoice (paid) for treatments.

AXA Patients:
If you are an AXA patient you can let AXA pay for the treatment, depending on your plan. AXA will pay up to £60 a treatment, so for each appointment you will pay the remainder of the fee: e.g. £15 for standard, £35 for first. To book a treatment use the standard online booking and enter your card details, but do not pay. I will then handle the rest.

Help?

If you need any help using the online system first check out the FAQs at the bottom of the page, or if that doesn't help get in touch by using the contact form in the footer to send me an e-mail, and I will get back to you as soon as I can.If you need to text or call on the day of the appointment, look for the mobile number on your booking confirmation email.

Rescheduling

It is easy to reschedule your appointment with my booking system. Refer to your email confirming booking and click on the reschedule button. You can change an appointment at any point up to 48 hours proir to its time.

Cancellation Policy

So that everyone can get access to appointments and allow the clinic to run well I have the following conditions:

Less than  hours notice of change: £25 admin fee
No Show: 100% fee.

However normal extenuating circumstances are considered: everyone has emergencies and I don't like playing hardball.

Directions


Location
Situated about 1 mile south of Farnham in the peaceful surroundings of Lower Bourne. Easy, free, parking at the treatment room.

Address: Farnham Acupuncture and Wellness,

9 Dene Lane,
 Farnham, 
Surrey,
 GU10 3PW

Directions From Shepard and Flock Roundabout At the large roundabout (Shepard and Flock roundabout) go south west on A31 (signposted to Alton) then after about 0.7 mile turn left as if going to the station. Just before the station turn right onto a road running parallel to the tracks. At the t-junction turn left up the hill (and over the tracks). This is Firgrove hill. Continue for about half a mile uphill (in the direction of Hindhead) to the top of the hill and a set of traffic lights. Then cross over in same direction, and the road goes down a hill then back up a little. You have now reached Lower Bourne. You should see a Costcutter shop on your left. Turn left there onto the road called Lodge Hill Road then take an immediate right onto the rough road: Dene Lane. You are nearly there. A playground and cricket/ football area should be on your right.
Coming down Dene Lane from the direction of Frensham Road and Lodge Hill Road my house is 3/4 down the portion of Dene Lane facing the cricket green. My drive is just to the right of the large white house.

Parking is available in my drive, on the left hand side or alternatively in the car park on the Bourne Green (thus avoiding Dene Lane that some people do find quite bumpy). The treatment room (Oak door on black timber surround) is on the left as you look at the house

Common Conditions Treated in the Clinic

Acupuncture Treatment FAQ

What happens during treatment?

I will first take a detailed medical history to better understand the condition that you are coming with, this is an important step, and expect to answer a variety of questions about both your physical and sometimes emotional condition where relevent.

In the clinic you then rest on a comfortable treatment couch in a super peaceful treatment room, and then ultra fine needles are inserted into specific points on the body.

Sometimes I may also use a smouldering herb called ‘moxa’ to warm these points, and cupping therapy to ease muscular pain. A very usual aspect of treatment I add now is the use of a heat lamp and a special salve (made right here in the clinic). This is used to ease muscle and joint pain and is really effective!

What are the benefits of acupuncture?

The benefits of acupuncture therapy can be grouped into three broad categories of action:

Relaxing Tension, Boosting Vitality and Calming Anxiety

These three actions are a catchphrase of treatment, and actually underpin some of the key theories and mechanisms of the method.

Relaxing Tension
is all about stress, and our response to stress. We find a new, very relaxed mode of life.
Boosting Vitality
is about combating tiredness, and increasing our inner spark of vitality.
Calming Anxiety
is about finding a calm core of our being that can't be shaken by life's ups and downs.

Each of these actions correspond to a set of specific channels and points in the acupuncture system. When we rebalance the body by focussing on one aspect, we actually enhance all three, as these actions are mutually interlinked.These states actually underpin our health, allowing our system to work optimally, increase bloodflow, enhance metabolism, boost the immune system, provide good sleep and maintains our fertility.

What is the meaning of the word "acupuncture"?

The meaning of the english word "acupuncture" is interesting. Acu means "sharp" and is also found in such words as accurate. "-puncture" is just like it sounds! In chinese the words used for it is "zhen-jiu" 针灸 which means needling (with an acupuncture needle) and moxabustion. That last word refers to heat treatment, often by using a glowing herbal stick we call a "moxa stick". By the way, it is not spelled "accupuncture", although this often shows up on search results!

Does acupuncture have any side effects?

Acupuncture is an extremely safe technique, with very high standards of hygiene and training. Degree level training and continuing professional development ensure a professional approach. I am a member of the British Acupuncture Council which insists on a code of safe practice, ensuring that levels of hygeine and safety in treatment are extremely high.

In essence there are no negative side effects to treatment. Very few adverse effects of treatment have ever been recorded, and these few were traced to unregistered practitioners. On the contrary, the after effect of acupuncture is overwhelmingly positive, with incresed relaxation and sense of wellbeing.

How does acupuncture work?

How acupuncture works is a really good question! Because acupuncture is a traditional treatment form in China for literally thousands of years, it something of a fact of life that acupuncture gives effective treatments, and ordinary people are not very questioning of "how" and "why" it works. Here in the west, we use the scientific tradition to know and make progress, so to answer this we can approach it from this tradition.

In scientific terms acupuncture is thought to profoundly stimulate nervous system, the cerebellum, endocrine system and immune system. Functional MRI scans show actual changes in the cerebellum (part of the brain) during acupuncture needling that relate to increased parasymathetic sysem function and release of dopamine. These changes are then thought to actually mediate direct changes in physiology.

What exactly are acupuncture points?

It is quite well known that pressing certain points / places has an benficial effect on the body. Acupuncture uses these same places, and with placing a needle to a depth of half an inch or so it can make a very specific change. In fact the traditional Chines terms for these places are actually called "holes" or xué 穴

Knowledge of acupuncture points is well known in the technique of acupressure and uses the same places as acupuncture but with strong pressure applied. This can be very useful for clients to use for themselves and I show some self-care acupressure points here on the wellbeing page of this site.

Does acupuncture work?

Another excellent question. The short answer is "Yes acupuncture works!".

For most conditions that people come to treatment for, they experience a decrease in symptoms.The long answer is that it is actually not so easy to answer this question with 100% certainty. In common with other "complex medical interventions" like physiotherapy, psychotherapy, occupational therapy, surgery and nursing, it is very hard to tell with complete accuracy how well the therapy does. This is because the actual nature of the intervention is completely individualised for each and every client. We do not generally follow standard protocols, and no two treatments will be exactly alike. This means that following more stringent scientific testing is never going to be possible for acupuncture. That being said, there is increasing evidence for the efficacy of treatment for acupuncture. This is reported widely across scientific papers. I use the Journal of Chinese Medicine as my main source of scientific information showing the ways that acupuncture works. for many conditions, there is quite reasonable levels of evidence for treatment, and I often use this information to plan my treatments and communicate with my patients regarding treatment outcomes.

I am passionate about addressing patient's main complaints well, using evidence based acupuncture appropriately and persuing the latest professional training or CPD. These two factors of Evidence based acupuncture and ongoing CPD form the gold standard of acupuncture care.

Booking FAQ

What happens if I need to change my appointment?

It is easy, go to your booking confirmation, and click on "reschedule". It will go to the booking system and you can choose a new time. There's no need to let me know separately about it as I see the schedule change on my system. You can make any change you like up to 48 hours before it is due.

Why can't I change or cancel on the day of treatment with the online system?

Sorry but changes with the system can only be done 48 hours before the treatment time. If you have an emergentcy or very urgent reason to change or cancel contact me directly and I will see what is possible.

Is acupuncture covered by health insurance?

In many case: "Yes" It is something of a misconception that acupuncture is only a private medicine. It is increasingly well covered by standard health insurance. In short: if you have health insurance then it is quite likely that a proportion, or all of your treatment will be covered. N.B. Please note that insurance claims generally must be made via the patients own insurer. To find out about health insurers click here on the page for health insurance.

Do you have parking?

Yes I do. You can easily park in a dedicated space right in from of the treatment room, or in the nearby free public car park on the Bourne Green.

Is your practice near Farnham?

Yes, it is not far Farnham town centre, situated on the south side so nearer to the station in peaceful Lower Bourne, just off the Bourne Green. If you live in South West Surrey (Farnham - Guildford - Hazelmere) or North West Hampshire (Alton - Aldershot) then I am in easy reach.

For IVF/ fertility acupuncture patients they do often look at driving time to CARE Fertility Woking IVF clinic which is approximately 30 minutes to/ from East West Clinic.