Seahorses       

Why write about Seahorses onSpiny Seahorse an Acupuncture website? I am associated with the Chinese Medicine trade by the fact that I practice Chinese Acupuncture. I used to use Patent herbal remedies but under pressure from the Pharmaceutical Industry the EU stopped Acupuncturists from using Patent herbs even though we are trained in this. I used to have good ethical Herbal suppliers here in the UK but because of the EUs actions they went out of business. I no longer use herbs and if a Patient wants them they will have to go to a Chinese Herb Shop who are not so choosy about what they sell. Every year a staggering 150 MILLION (plus) seahorses are used in the Traditional Medicine Trade, this is just not sustainable, they could be extinct in the wild within the next 20 to 30 years, unless we urgently address the problems facing them.

 

I support a UK charity called The Seahorse Trust which ironically is run by my Brother Neil. The Trust has set up projects in Cambodia and Ireland and has helped with many other projects around the world. In the UK, Neil got Seahorses to be listed as a 'Protected Species' and are now legally protected, he has also persuaded e-bay to stop selling live and dried Seahorses. He does a lot of research on Seahorses and has bred nearly every type of Seahorse in the world, he advises the Sealife Centres and the National MaSeahorse Trust Logorine Aquarium on how to keep Seahorses. I am a volunteer Diver with the Trust and we are trying to get an area at South Beach, Studland, Dorset protected as a Marine Protection Zone, unfortunately there are a lot of 'not in my backyard' yacht owners there but we will win in the end. This is a major Seahorse breeding area and is of world importance.

 

 

Please if you care about wildlife, donate to the Seahorse Trust. The Trust is supported by many people and two of it's Patrons are Chris Packham and Kate Humble but most of the big charities are getting all of the money at the moment and the Trust is struggling to survive, it may not last much longer and there is a lot more work to do. To visit the Trust click on the letters or the Seahorse Logo. To donate click on the Logo at the top or visit the Trust and click on there 'Donate' button. Any amount will help.

 

Thank you for your kindness, Kim Maidment       

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What's happening here at Torbay Acupuncture Clinic

 

This is my news page for present and prospective patients

I am an individual practitioner who has time to give you one to one treatment based on my experience since 1995. Whist treating a Patient I like to sit and read the Patient's notes, then if I have a question I can ask the Patient more questions before consulting my books, this is the way I have built up my knowledge over the years.

Well it looks like most of the Chinese Clinics and some of the English one's have not survived the recession or COVID. I am sad in a way, I would much prefer a thriving Bay where there is enough work for everyone to be busy. It would be nice for me to employ other Therapists and a Receptionist but I don't think that will happen. I did look at other premises but the cheapest I could find nearby was £16,000 per year so that is out of the question. If I can keep my costs down by leasing my smallish Clinic I can keep my overheads down and the fees I charge to my patients, so it is good for everyone. The surviving local Acupuncturists seem to go from one place to another on a day to day basis, personally I like to be in one place so I can have larger Reading Dragonequipment such as a heat lamp and all of my books are at hand.

 

 

I have now taken a Battlefield Acupuncture course, it is used for painkilling and is actually used in field hospitals in the US Army. The protocols were put together by my Mentor, Colonel, Dr Richard Neimtzow. I have to do Continuous Professional Development and this means doing lots of additional training. Sometimes, I do struggle to find courses that interest me but this one seems to be good.

I have noticed the amount of influence a campaigning group called 'Sense about science' are having on the government. They are trying to destroy Complementary therapies especially Homeopathy it seems. Their 'evidence' is so flawed, they insist on having Placebo Controlled Trials for Acupuncture research but what do you use as a Placebo? You cannot pretend to insert Acupuncture needles and if you do, they must be away from Acupuncture points or you are still influencing the process. This is setting back the NHS and NICE years because they are now saying that Acupuncture is not recommended for back pain whereas they did previously! There is tons of good research on Acupuncture and Back Pain but because a placebo is not used then NICE will not accept the research. Half of my work is treating Back Pain and the vast amount is successful if it wasn't I couldn't stay in business. Here is a good article about Sense about Science. LINK to article. I have noticed that one of their Trustees is CEO of the British Pharmacological Society, glad they are not biased!

 

On a personal note, I am now trained as an Advanced Sub Aqua Diver, this is so I can continue my work, helping my Brother in Seahorse conservation. I am a volunteer Diver for the Seahorse Trust We had a massive breakthrough in protecting the Seahorses at Studland in Dorset. It is now a Marine Conservation Zone and we have put in Environmentally friendly moorings. On top of this we have formed a group including the National Trust and Natural England to put in more moorings! so brilliant news!

Me Diving


Best wishes and hope to see you soon,

Kim

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