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College of Integrated Chinese Medicine

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College of Integrated Chinese Medicine

The College of Integrated Chinese Medicine teaches Five Element and TCM styles of acupuncture

The College was created in 1993 and is one of the largest in the UK. Our reputation is founded on the quality and unique nature of our acupuncture course, which is validated as BSc honours degree by University College of Osteopathy. This course brings together the strengths of Five Element acupuncture and TCM theory in a style known as integration.

14/11/2025

Whether you graduated in the last month, or in the last decade, you can join our fabulous programme leaders for Point Location and Practical Skills - Nicola Gibbs & Kasia Orzechowska - to spend the day going over points, pulses, cupping, moxa and more...

The day is aimed at alumni and is an opportunity to practice and refresh skills where there may be a lack of confidence or knowledge.

You will cover points, needling, cupping, moxa, gua sha, tongue and pulse, starting with a brief Q and A to assess the areas/skills those attending wish to be covered. Our programme leaders will then work the day around what best suits the requirements of the attendees on that day.

There will not be a strict agenda, but our programme leaders will focus on what is requested. They will email everyone beforehand, to get the techniques, points and niggles that you want to focus on…

Therefore it is the perfect time to locate and needle points which cause YOU concern, get any pulse and tongue queries answered, and practise any skills that you may not be as confident with - all in a safe and supportive environment, with the fabulous teachers many of you had whilst at the college!

📚 Alumni Points & Practical Skills Refresher
🎓️ 1 day CPD event
👨‍🏫 Nicola Gibbs & Kasia Orzechowska
📆 Sunday 8th February 2026
🏫 In-person at CICM
💰 £70
🐦 Early bird rate £60 - if booked more than 6 weeks before
🤲 Open to CICM graduates only

Nicola Gibbs is the Programme Leader for Point Location at the college. She has a BSc (Hons) in Financial Services and 20 years' experience in corporate and personal banking. Her interest in oriental medicine led to her studying at CICM where she graduated in 2009 with a BSc (Hons). She has undertaken post graduate study in tuina, musculoskeletal treatment and auricular acupuncture. She runs a clinic in South Oxfordshire.

Kasia Orzechowska is the Programme Leader for our Practical Skills module at CICM. She graduated from the college in 2016. She lives in St Albans where she runs her practice. She came across Chinese medicine, and five elements based nutrition guidelines in Poland through her interest in eastern philosophy, and meditation. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge, with a particular focus on supporting others to develop their practical skills.

For more information and to book your place before it sells out, click here - https://www.acupuncturecollege.org.uk/cpd-courses/alumni-only-points-practical-skills-refresher-day/

13/11/2025

**TONIGHT!**

Thinking of becoming an acupuncturist? Are you seeking a more fulfilling career? Want to help support other people?

Come to one of our next open day events and find out more about our BSc acupuncture degree...

📆 Thursday 13th November - 19:00 - 20:30 | online
📆 Saturday 10th January - 11:30 - 13:30 | at the college

➡️ Book your place by commenting OPEN DAY below, and we will send you the details via messenger!

☎️ Or get in touch with our lovely registrar Jo on 01189 508 889 or email her at jobrown@cicm.org.uk

🎓 See more info about our degree here - https://www.acupuncturecollege.org.uk/bsc-hons-acupuncture-degree

📣 And if you are already an acupuncturist, we would love for you to share this post with your patients too - we know that so many of us have trained at CICM because of our own acupuncturists!

12/11/2025

⚡️ Want to learn more about electroacupuncture, or refresh your skills in this area of practice?

Stephen Lee, author of the 'Electroacupuncture Handbook' will be back at CICM in the new year, to present a number of treatments that he has developed over the last 40 years to help chronic musculoskeletal problems that don't respond to manual acupuncture.

These electroacupuncture techniques are indispensable in treating intractable chronic musculoskeletal problems and pain.

The course will impart the theoretical and practical skills to enable you to perform electroacupuncture successfully.

So whether you are new to electroacupuncture, or whether you just want to refresh your skills in this area, this one day course is for you!

In this workshop the following conditions will be covered:

⚡️ neck pain
⚡️ shoulder pain
⚡️ tennis and golfers elbow
⚡️ carpal tunnel syndrome
⚡️ finger and thumb joint pain
⚡️ lower back pain
⚡️ hip pain
⚡️ groin strain
⚡️ knee pain
⚡️ achilles tendon pain
⚡️ plantar fasciitis
⚡️ scar tissue

You will leave this workshop equipped with a number of very effective practical techniques that will be of immediate benefit to your patients.

📚 Electroacupuncture for musculoskeletal problems
🧑‍🏫 Stephen Lee
📆 Saturday 7th February 2026
🏫 In-person at CICM
💰 £150
🤲 Open to qualified acupuncturists

We encourage you to purchase your own electro machine so that you can continue the practice once you have completed the course. If you already own a machine, then please bring this with you on the day.

Only 20 spaces available on this course - book now to avoid disappointment as it always sells out very quickly!

You will also receive a copy of Stephen's book as a gift on this course, in addition to the CPD resources.

Please note - to attend this practical course, you must have current and valid insurance for practising acupuncture in the UK. You will be asked to show photo proof of this insurance when booking your place.

For more information and to book your place, click here - https://www.acupuncturecollege.org.uk/cpd-courses/electroacupuncture-for-musculoskeletal-problems/

Stephen Lee’s initial training was at the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Leamington in the early 80s, followed by the Journal of Chinese Medicine course in TCM. He went for a month’s clinical practice in China in 1987. In the late 80s he studied Chinese herbal medicine. From 2001 to 2006 he was a committee member of the RCHM and editor of the RCHM Journal.

11/11/2025

🖐️️ Listen to Alex Evans, the course director, talk about our newly revamped and refreshed post-graduate Tuina course.

It now runs as a 6 month program at the college, starting on Friday 9th January 2026.

The course is continuing to be presented by principal teacher Alex Evans, alongside Kevin Young with his 20+ years experience, plus a special addition of internationally renowned tuina author and teacher Sarah Pritchard, who is focusing on tuina and moxa for menstrual and fertility issues.

Given that tuina is one of the four main pillars of Chinese Medicine, this course will equip you to use tuina as a stand-alone therapy or as an effective therapeutic addition to your acupuncture practice.

Tuina is a complete medical system, with a comprehensive set of diagnostics and techniques. As such, it can increase the effectiveness of your treatments by:

✅ adding a thorough hands-on palpation-based approach to your existing skill set, diagnosing and treating a wide range of issues, from muscular-skeletal injuries to internal organs disharmonies, to Shen based issues

✅ enhancing your palpation abilities to be able to diagnose a wide range of pathologies by feeling the body’s qi and blood imbalances.

✅ providing you with a deeply calming and relaxing treatment which yields powerful results

✅ allowing you to apply pressure and stimulation to acupuncture points for needle phobic patients

✅ combining tuina with acupuncture to strengthen your treatments, speeding up the healing process and outcomes

✅ allowing you to stimulate parts of the body with appropriate tuina techniques, to address disharmony and nourish patients

📚 Tuina Diploma - 6 months
🧑‍🏫 Alex Evans, Kevin Young & Sarah Pritchard
📆 Starts Friday 9th January 2026
🏫 In-person at CICM
💰 £1850
💳 Payment plans by monthly direct debit also available
🤲 Open to those with a recognised 3 year qualification in acupuncture

As a highly practical course, there is a focus on developing the physical skills and techniques needed to become a competent tuina practitioner.

🖐️ Phase 1 - Techniques

Introduces you to the 20 most common techniques used in clinical practice, and the most common sinew stretches. This module will teach you to be able to use structural analysis and channel palpation skills, be able to diagnose and differentiate various pathologies by practicing on each other, match techniques with diagnosis, and protect yourself using qigong.

🖐️ Phase 2 - Diagnostics

You will be taught how to increase your palpation skills to diagnose and differentiate a wide range of pathologies - Qi Stagnation versus Blood stagnation for example. You will be able to use structural analysis and channel palpation skills by practicing on each other to match techniques with diagnosis.
�
🖐️ Phase 3 – Applications and Specialist Combined Techniques

Building on the techniques already taught and assessed, students will learn how to apply these techniques to a wide range of symptoms, including an in-depth focus on using tuina and moxa for menstrual and fertility issues. Compound tuina techniques will be demonstrated, as well as how to effectively combine acupuncture and tuina, such as using Master Tung points in tuina.

🖐️ Phase 4 - Pre Clinic Preparation

Prior to clinic, students will understand optimum patient positioning, and identify red flags or blocks to treatment. You will devise a treatment plan and be able to demonstrate this on a classmate.

🖐️ Phase 5 - Clinic

This takes place in the college clinic under supervision and will be assessed on an ongoing basis. In addition to clinic, there will be class discussions on patients, and lectures on various topics including standard treatments for common ailments, treating chronic conditions and the use of balms and oils.

For more information, course dates and to book your place, click here - https://www.acupuncturecollege.org.uk/info/courses/post-graduate-courses/tuina-2026/

Or get in touch with our registrar Jo Brown, who will be happy to answer any questions you may have about this course - registrar@cicm.org.uk or on 01189 508 889

10/11/2025

Today marks the start of this year’s Acupuncture Awareness Week in association with the British Acupuncture Council.

The focus is on the benefits of traditional acupuncture as a personalised, preventative, lifestyle medicine – one that connects mind and body, and encompasses a whole system of health.

During the campaign week 10-16 November 2025, acupuncturists across the UK will be informing and educating the public, other healthcare practitioners, professional bodies and key healthcare stakeholders, about how they can utilise the skills of degree-level trained acupuncturists - such as those who studied with us here at CICM - practising in their communities.

One of the themes this awareness week is around acupuncture for mental health support.

New research suggests that there has been a significant rise in people seeking treatment with acupuncture for mental health issues, with over two thirds (68%) of acupuncturists asked admitting that the prevalence of patients seeking support for mental health concerns had increased over the past year.

Furthermore, a staggering 93% of acupuncturists said they had supported a patient for mental health issues in the past 6 months. The most prominent condition amongst these patients was generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), followed by depression. Encouragingly, 99.5% of the acupuncturists reported that patients had generally experienced positive results.

If you would like to try acupuncture at the college to support your mind and body as a whole system of health, our low-cost student clinic runs on Tuesdays and Saturdays, see here for more information - https://www.acupuncturecollege.org.uk/clinics

Or if you are ready to help support people in this incredible way, find out more about becoming an acupuncturist and come to our next open days:

📆 Thursday 13th November - 19:00 - 20:30 | online
📆 Saturday 10th January - 11:30 - 13:30 | at the college

Book your place here - https://www.acupuncturecollege.org.uk/info/courses/bsc-acupuncture/open-days/

09/11/2025

This is where the magic happens! Room B is one of our main classrooms where lectures are held…

These lectures could include topics such as:

✨ Traditional Chinese Medicine

✨ five element skills

✨ conventional medical sciences

✨ research and reflective practice

✨ patient in class

If these walls could talk, they’d impart all the ancient wisdom that has been shared over the years since 1993!

All the knowledge learnt over the 3 year degree that’s gone on to help so many patients… (if you’re one of our grads, care to share some of your memories of being in this classroom?!)

So many classes have passed through this room – and if you’re new here, we’d love to welcome you too!

Our next open days:

📆 Saturday 10th January - 11:30 - 13:30 | at the college
📆 Thursday 12th February - 19:00 - 20:30 | online

➡️ Book your place by commenting OPEN DAY below, and we will send you the details via messenger!

☎️ Or get in touch with our lovely registrar Jo Brown on 01189 508 889 or email her at registrar@cicm.org.uk

🎓 See more info about our degree here - https://www.acupuncturecollege.org.uk/bsc-hons-acupuncture-degree

📣 And if you are already an acupuncturist, we would love for you to share this post with your patients too - we know that so many of us have trained at CICM because of our own acupuncturists!

08/11/2025

Thinking of becoming an acupuncturist? Are you seeking a more fulfilling career? Want to help support other people?

Come to one of our next open day events and find out more about our BSc acupuncture degree...

📆 Thursday 13th November - 19:00 - 20:30 | online
📆 Saturday 10th January - 11:30 - 13:30 | at the college

➡️ Book your place by commenting OPEN DAY below, and we will send you the details via messenger!

☎️ Or get in touch with our lovely registrar Jo on 01189 508 889 or email her at jobrown@cicm.org.uk

🎓 See more info about our degree here - https://www.acupuncturecollege.org.uk/bsc-hons-acupuncture-degree

📣 And if you are already an acupuncturist, we would love for you to share this post with your patients too - we know that so many of us have trained at CICM because of our own acupuncturists!

07/11/2025

Will you be stepping through the big red door soon?! We are currently enrolling for our Spring degree intake that starts in April 2026!

This is our weekend course with lectures on Saturdays and Sundays (our Autumn intake is a weekday course).

We have some open days coming up where you can learn more about becoming an acupuncturist and getting a BSc degree in acupuncture with us…

Choose to attend either online, in-person, or come to both:

📆 Saturday 10th January - 11:30 - 13:30 | at the college
📆 Thursday 12th February - 19:00 - 20:30 | online

➡️ Book your place by commenting OPEN DAY below, and we will send you the details via messenger!

☎️ Or get in touch with our lovely registrar Jo Brown on 01189 508 889 or email her at registrar@cicm.org.uk

🎓 See more info about our degree here - https://www.acupuncturecollege.org.uk/bsc-hons-acupuncture-degree

🚪 We would love to welcome you and our big red door is always open!

📣 And if you are already an acupuncturist, we would love for you to share this post with your patients too - we know that so many of us have trained at CICM because of our own acupuncturists!

06/11/2025

🖐️ This popular post-graduate course now runs as a 6 month program at the college, starting on Friday 9th January 2026.

The course is continuing to be presented by principal teacher Alex Evans, alongside Kevin Young with his 20+ years experience, plus a special addition of internationally renowned tuina author and teacher Sarah Pritchard, who is focusing on tuina and moxa for menstrual and fertility issues.

Given that tuina is one of the four main pillars of Chinese Medicine, this course will equip you to use tuina as a stand-alone therapy or as an effective therapeutic addition to your acupuncture practice.

Tuina is a complete medical system, with a comprehensive set of diagnostics and techniques. As such, it can increase the effectiveness of your treatments by:

✅ adding a thorough hands-on palpation-based approach to your existing skill set, diagnosing and treating a wide range of issues, from muscular-skeletal injuries to internal organs disharmonies, to Shen based issues

✅ enhancing your palpation abilities to be able to diagnose a wide range of pathologies by feeling the body’s qi and blood imbalances.

✅ providing you with a deeply calming and relaxing treatment which yields powerful results

✅ allowing you to apply pressure and stimulation to acupuncture points for needle phobic patients

✅ combining tuina with acupuncture to strengthen your treatments, speeding up the healing process and outcomes

✅ allowing you to stimulate parts of the body with appropriate tuina techniques, to address disharmony and nourish patients

📚 Tuina Diploma - 6 months
🧑‍🏫 Alex Evans, Kevin Young & Sarah Pritchard
📆 Starts Friday 9th January 2026
🏫 In-person at CICM
💰 £1850
🐦 Early bird discount of £100, if paid in full by 9th Nov 2025
💳 Payment plans by monthly direct debit also available
🤲 Open to those with a recognised 3 year qualification in acupuncture

As a highly practical course, there is a focus on developing the physical skills and techniques needed to become a competent tuina practitioner.

🖐️ Phase 1 - Techniques

Introduces you to the 20 most common techniques used in clinical practice, and the most common sinew stretches. This module will teach you to be able to use structural analysis and channel palpation skills, be able to diagnose and differentiate various pathologies by practicing on each other, match techniques with diagnosis, and protect yourself using qigong.

🖐️ Phase 2 - Diagnostics

You will be taught how to increase your palpation skills to diagnose and differentiate a wide range of pathologies - Qi Stagnation versus Blood stagnation for example. You will be able to use structural analysis and channel palpation skills by practicing on each other to match techniques with diagnosis.
�
🖐️ Phase 3 – Applications and Specialist Combined Techniques

Building on the techniques already taught and assessed, students will learn how to apply these techniques to a wide range of symptoms, including an in-depth focus on using tuina and moxa for menstrual and fertility issues. Compound tuina techniques will be demonstrated, as well as how to effectively combine acupuncture and tuina, such as using Master Tung points in tuina.

🖐️ Phase 4 - Pre Clinic Preparation

Prior to clinic, students will understand optimum patient positioning, and identify red flags or blocks to treatment. You will devise a treatment plan and be able to demonstrate this on a classmate.

🖐️ Phase 5 - Clinic

This takes place in the college clinic under supervision and will be assessed on an ongoing basis. In addition to clinic, there will be class discussions on patients, and lectures on various topics including standard treatments for common ailments, treating chronic conditions and the use of balms and oils.

For more information, course dates and to book your place, click here - https://www.acupuncturecollege.org.uk/info/courses/post-graduate-courses/tuina-2026/

Or get in touch with our registrar Jo Brown, who will be happy to answer any questions you may have about this course - registrar@cicm.org.uk or on 01189 508 889

05/11/2025

Alex Evans

🖐️ This popular post-graduate course now runs as a 6 month program at the college, starting on Friday 9th January 2026.

The course is continuing to be presented by principal teacher Alex Evans, alongside Kevin Young with his 20+ years experience, plus a special addition of internationally renowned tuina author and teacher Sarah Pritchard, who is focusing on tuina and moxa for menstrual and fertility issues.

Given that tuina is one of the four main pillars of Chinese Medicine, this course will equip you to use tuina as a stand-alone therapy or as an effective therapeutic addition to your acupuncture practice.

Tuina is a complete medical system, with a comprehensive set of diagnostics and techniques. As such, it can increase the effectiveness of your treatments by:

✅ adding a thorough hands-on palpation-based approach to your existing skill set, diagnosing and treating a wide range of issues, from muscular-skeletal injuries to internal organs disharmonies, to Shen based issues

✅ enhancing your palpation abilities to be able to diagnose a wide range of pathologies by feeling the body’s qi and blood imbalances.

✅ providing you with a deeply calming and relaxing treatment which yields powerful results

✅ allowing you to apply pressure and stimulation to acupuncture points for needle phobic patients

✅ combining tuina with acupuncture to strengthen your treatments, speeding up the healing process and outcomes

✅ allowing you to stimulate parts of the body with appropriate tuina techniques, to address disharmony and nourish patients

📚 Tuina Diploma - 6 months
🧑‍🏫 Alex Evans, Kevin Young & Sarah Pritchard
📆 Starts Friday 9th January 2026
🏫 In-person at CICM
💰 £1850
🐦 Early bird discount of £100, if paid in full by 9th Nov 2025
💳 Payment plans by monthly direct debit also available
🤲 Open to those with a recognised 3 year qualification in acupuncture

As a highly practical course, there is a focus on developing the physical skills and techniques needed to become a competent tuina practitioner.

For more information, course dates and to book your place, click here - https://www.acupuncturecollege.org.uk/info/courses/post-graduate-courses/tuina-2026/

Or get in touch with our registrar Jo Brown, who will be happy to answer any questions you may have about this course - registrar@cicm.org.uk or on 01189 508 889

04/11/2025

Building upon Clive’s Level 1 Practical Gua Sha for Health & Wellness, this 2-day advanced course tailored to acupuncturists at CICM further deepens your understanding of EIM™ Gua sha.

You’ll explore new fascia-muscle pathways, advanced techniques, and treatments for the chest and abdomen to address a wider range of conditions.

With a focus on pre- and post-treatment methods, this course ensures optimal clinical results.

Course Highlights:
+ Further exploration the nature-based theory of Gua sha
+ Research-backed procedures for common clinical issues
+ Debunking commonly believed myths surrounding Gua sha
+ Practical application of zone-based protocols
+ Techniques for chest, abdomen, arms, hands, legs & feet
+ More practical clinical tips & patient communication
+ Plus marketing ideas, and Q&A sessions

You will leave with a confident understanding of the application of techniques and Chinese medicine nature-based theory and be able to use them immediately in everyday treatments in the clinic.

Successful participants are certified at Level 2 at the completion of this course.

Please note - Level 2 can ONLY be attended if level 1 has been completed.

Gua sha tools will be supplied on the day, but participants are welcome to bring their own.

📚 Gua Sha for Acupuncturists - Level 2
🧑‍🏫 Clive Witham
📆 Sat 15th & Sun 16th November
🏫 at the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine
💰 £300
✅ For practitioners who have completed Level 1

To secure your place, go to our website -https://www.acupuncturecollege.org.uk/cpd-courses/practical-gua-sha-for-acupuncturists-level-2/

Clive Witham is director of the Komorebi Institute and co-runs a Research clinic in Barcelona, Spain. He is an acupuncturist and health promotion specialist and has been using and researching Gua sha for over 20 years, ten of these in his chronic illness clinic in North Africa.

He teaches classes all over the world, runs international projects with the use of Gua sha in low-income communities and his five books which feature Gua sha have been published in six languages.

03/11/2025

We are seeking a new Professional Practice Programme Leader. This role has responsibility for the organisation, management and operation of matters relating to the design, delivery and evaluation of the Professional Practice programme at the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine (CICM).

💼 Professional Practice Program Leader
⏰ Flexible working
💰 Estimated 240 hours per year @ £32 per hour
✅ Ready to apply? See below for details
📝 Application deadline - Thursday 20th November 2025
1️⃣ Interviews - Thursday 27th November 2025

You can see the full job specification here -https://www.acupuncturecollege.org.uk/media/880392/prog-lead-pp-job-description-2025-amended-for-website.pdf

To apply, please send your CV & a covering letter, explaining why you think you would be suitable for this role.

Please direct any questions & return all applications to the Academic Director, Lynda French, at LFrench@cicm.org.uk

Address

19 Castle Street
Reading
RG1

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9:30am - 5pm
Sunday	9:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+441189508889

Website

https://www.acupuncturecollege.org.uk/

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Our Story

The College was created in 1993 and is the largest acupuncture college in the UK. Our reputation is founded on the quality and unique nature of our acupuncture course, which is validated as BSc honours degree by the University College of Osteopathy. This course brings together the strengths of Five Element acupuncture and TCM theory in a style known as integration.