Giles Watts – Acupuncture

Ancient Art – Modern Medicine

Giles Watts  – Acupuncture

Acupuncture in the heart of Chapel Allerton, Leeds,
offering professional and friendly treatments for your health and well-being

Contact:

If you would like to book in or have a general enquiry then contact the clinic:

  • telephone: 077 914 76330
  • mail: acupuncture@gileswatts.co.uk

A little about me

I have been practising Acupuncture for over 20 years and have a wealth of experience and a passion for this healing art.

I started practice in the 90’s. Since then I have actively kept up to date with advancements in treatment and have taught to fellow professionals, in Leeds University, and the Northern College of Acupuncture.

Initially I studied Traditional Chinese Medicine. Latterly, I trained in Japanese Acupuncture particularly inspired by my studies in America with Sensei Kiiko Matsumoto. Having studied widely, I can adapt treatments to best suit your needs.

 

Read more about me

I started to practice acupuncture in Leeds in 1995, and have been involved in complementary health some years before that. I have a passion for the wellbeing of others and find acupuncture is a perfect outlet for this. I am a full member of the British Acupuncture Council.

My practice in Leeds is at the Chapel Allerton Holistic Centre – this has easy parking and is easily accesable by public transport.

My Path into Acupuncture

I was involved in Aikido on the Wirral for some years. This is a martial art which uses the idea of energy (termed Ki). I was fascinated by this and wanted to work in an area that I could use this principal that of energy. During this period of studying Aikido, I learnt the basics of Shiatsu and Aromatherapy. This made me consider studying a ‘complementary therapy’, as these use energy.

I found that Acupuncture was the best. It combined the skill of a practitioner with beautiful theory, and the notion of caring for peoples wellbeing. I applied to the Northern College of Acupuncture and was accepted. The course was a four year BSc, and I graduated in 1999, after an initial supervised year.

Since graduating from the Northern College of Acupuncture

The Northern College of Acupuncture gave me a good foundation to practice acupuncture. Since that time I have developed my knowledge of the subject. I have expanded my understanding of Chinese Medicine, and studied the precise art of Japanese acupuncture. In the last five years I have trained with Kiiko Matsumoto in London and Boston, USA considered one of the best practitioners of acupuncture, and one of her top ‘students’ Andy Harrop.

I have always looked for ways to broaden my acupuncture knowledge and to take my skills into groups that would not or may not have access to what is essentially a private practice. During the last 10 years I have worked for the Terrance Higgins Trust, Multiple Choice (a Leeds-based Drugs Project), taught meditation at Leeds Skyline, and been referred clients by Macca (now called ‘Together: Working for Well Being’ a charity that helps carers of others). For three years, I worked part time as a Clinical Supervisor and Lecturer at Leeds Metropolitan University on their BSc (Hons) Acupuncture course. These have been a great experience, expanding my understanding and deepening my commitment to promote acupuncture to others no matter what the background, I am convinced that acupuncture can help.

I work in conjunction with other practitioners – we support and improve our practices and try to meet regularly at seminars and in our small study group to share ideas, and inspirations.

If you are not in Leeds I would highly recomend any one of these fine people:

For Kiiko Matsumoto Japanese style acupuncture in Stroud with Lawrence
visit:- https://www.stroudacupuncture.co.uk/
For Kiiko Matsumoto Japanese style acupuncture in York with Alex visit:-
https://acupuncturealexhumphries.com/
For Kiiko Matsumoto Japanese style acupuncture in Ilkley with Sarah
visit:- http://www.ilkleyhealingcentre.co.uk/
For Kiiko Matsumoto Japanese style acupuncture in Ramsbottom with Tim
visit:- https://www.gardenacupuncture.co.uk/

 

Would Acupuncture treat your condition?

I treat numerous conditions – some that we all know, some straightforward and some peculiar and rare ailments, that are hard to define.

These include:

  • emotional and physical ailments and diseases
  • conditions that conventional medicine finds hard to treat
  • chronic pain that affects mood and energy
  • fertility issues for men and women

Read more about acupuncture and my approach to it

I have developed a gentle and more effective approach over the years that I have been practicing acupuncture in Leeds. I combine techniques from Japanese Styles, including clinical strategies by Kiiko Matsumoto; what is termed TCM, or Traditional Chinese Medicine; and aspects of Five Element Acupuncture, as taught by J R Worsley and from the classics.

The benefit of having two main methods of practice is that there is more depth to treatments; simply put there are more ways to treat a condition. It also allows for the best modality to be used for example Japanese Acupuncture seems more effective than other methods for treating certain liver conditions.

There is a lot of use of the term ‘holistic’. Within the remit of my practice I treat emotional and physical ailments and often both. I see the body as holding emotion for example, when we are stressed we often get tight shoulders. It can be said that tight shoulders and stress are one and the same. Often I see clients that have a particular area of weakness, whether this is digestion, headaches, back ache, etc. Our weakness is often the area that holds the emotional tension. It is in this sense that I use the term ‘holistic’.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine or ‘TCM’, which I studied for four years at the Northern College of Acupuncture, looks at the patterns to our illnesses. For example we may have a ‘hot’ pattern this could be seen in symptoms such as a red face, a rapid pulse, in feeling hot, and wanting to drink cold water. The treatment would be directed by the pattern ‘hot’ treatment would be to cool the person down. The patterns are usually more complex than this, but I hope that this illustrates the style! Some time after leaving college I became interested in Acupuncture as a more physical medicine.

Acupuncture as a Physical Medicine

This style uses acupuncture to relax muscles and clear inflammation. At the time of becoming interested in this area of acupuncture, I was treating a lot of physical ailments – back, shoulder, neck, and knee problems, hence the natural progression to this style. It was great to combine these two styles the pattern based medicine and the physical acupuncture it worked on two levels of treatment, and I saw the benefits to my clients.

Japanese Acupuncture

Japanese Acupuncture works using what are called meridians in fact the theory of meridians is central to all acupuncture but Japanese Styles I have learnt focus primarily on these and the flow or blockage of energy in them. It was after a seminar based on the work of Kiiko Matsumoto that I found a deeper passion for acupuncture.

This style is based on very gentle needling (in fact you usually feel very little). It aims to release energy around organs and in channels to maintain and improve health. It is the most effective style I have come across to date and is very well suited to use of western medical knowledge, as well as the more traditional TCM theories.

How I practice acupuncture

Your well-being and health is my prime concern, so depending on the complaint you have, I incorporate one or more styles of acupuncture into your treatment. During this, I aim to emphasize:

  • Your comfort
  • Gentle needling styles
  • Appropriate use styles for the best results
  • Looking at the bigger picture manageable ways you could improve your own health: diet, lifestyle, the need for other therapies

How much does it cost?

For an initial consultation lasting up to 1 ½ hours I charge £70.

During the initial consultation you will be asked for the main reason you have attended the clinic. I will also ask you about your health as it is now, any medical history and if you have or have had any other ailments. After this you will receive a treatment tailored to your particular needs, and we will discuss how many and frequency of sessions required.

Follow-up sessions last up to an hour. For these I charge £50. These are also individually tailored to your needs on the day as well as treating the underlying conditions.

Some of the ailments I have treated

Within my practice in Leeds, I have treated many conditions some of which you may find surprising. If you have one of the conditions below then I am interested in treating you. The list below are areas that I am researching and in strictest confidence, results from these promising areas will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of, and teach acupuncture:

Addiction/ detoxification
Anxiety/ panic attacks / depression
Arthritis
Asthma / breathing disorders
Digestive disorders (Bloating, Constipation, Diarrhoea, Gastric ulcer (pain relief), Heartburn, Irritable bowel syndrome, Nausea)
Facial paralysis
Fatigue
Hayfever
Headaches
Infertility and support through assisted fertility (I have a special interest in fertility, and can offer support alongside assisted fertility cycles such as IUI, IVF, ICSI, and egg donation)
Insomnia
Menstrual problems (Endometriosis, Fibroids, Heavy periods, Irregular cycle, Mood swings, No periods, Painful periods, Polycystic ovaries (PCOS), PMT)
Menopausal symptoms (Hot flushes, Night sweats, Palpitations)
Migraines
Musculo-skeletal problems (Back pain, Carpal tunnel syndrome, Frozen shoulder, Indeterminate aches and pains, Knee pain, Neck pain, Repetitive strain injury (RSI), Sciatica, Sports injuries, Tennis elbow)
Pregnancy support (many women use acupuncture as a natural method of treatment at this time to help: Breech,
Back pain and discomfort, Constipation, Induce labour if necessary – often preventing the need for medical induction,
Morning sickness & nausea, Pubis symphysis pain)
Sinusitis
Skin conditions (Acne, Eczema, Psoriasis)
Stress
Tinnitus
General health and wellbeing:
Some people have acupuncture as a preventative measure to strengthen their constitution or because they feel ‘unwell’ in themselves without being ill in the western sense.

Sam - Cricket player and Chef

 

Giles is a friendly and professional. After a treatment with him

I feel positive and relaxed, as well as physically much better.

Nick - Statistician

 

After a treatment from Giles, it feels like I’ve cheated nature – my back feels wonderful!

Simon - Senior manager

I have suffered from back problems for over ten years and I had to have an operation. This was successful but left me with back pain and mobility problems I see Giles, and he keeps me active and mobile.

Blog posts and Archive

Support through IVF

At the Chapel Allerton Clinic, we have put into place guidelines that keep you and yours as well as can be. Please read the following if you are attending the clinic – you will also be sent them prior to your appointment.

read more

Acupuncture better than pain medication!

At the Chapel Allerton Clinic, we have put into place guidelines that keep you and yours as well as can be. Please read the following if you are attending the clinic – you will also be sent them prior to your appointment.

read more

Keeping Healthy at the Clinic

At the Chapel Allerton Clinic, we have put into place guidelines that keep you and yours as well as can be. Please read the following if you are attending the clinic – you will also be sent them prior to your appointment.

read more
Address

The Chapel Allerton Holistic Centre

144 Harrogate Road

Chapel Allerton

Leeds LS7 4NZ

Contact:

Mobile: 07791 476330

Email: acupuncture@gileswatts.co.uk
Appointment Times

Wednesday 11am – 7pm

Thursday 10am – 7pm

Friday 10am – 7pm

(other times may be available upon request)