Meet Saskia: Why I became an acupuncturist

My pull towards natural health goes back to a young age. I was in my early teens when I developed severe eczema. It felt like we’d tried everything, from steroids and cortisones to diet restrictions. Nothing made it disappear long-term. My mother took me to a wonderful French herbalist, ‘Docteur Maletau’. I still remember his calm demeanour. He always started our sessions by taking my pulse, and I was amazed he could tell what day of my cycle I was on. The rest is history. That’s where my interest in natural health really began.

I have herbalists and acupuncturists in the family, so illness was and is often supported by some kind of natural therapy. It goes without saying (but I’ll say it anyway) that I’m a firm believer in Western medicine. I just wish it sat more neatly alongside natural health therapies, the way it does in Asia. I aim to bring that to my clinic - working within what I’m trained and qualified to do as an acupuncturist, but drawing on my knowledge and training in Western medicine to help guide people through the information overload out there.

My family kindly passed on all their amazing books, many no longer in print. They sit proudly in my treatment room, and I still refer to them regularly.

Finding my way to acupuncture

I went to university and studied biology, a step closer to human health. But after university I got swept up, as one does, in wanting to live in the big city, having been raised mostly in rural France, and in the need to find a job, whatever it was. I fell into marketing. I worked for some amazing companies, and it gave me great experience that still feeds the work I do today. But I also saw the corporate burnout around me, and felt it too. During this time I went to a lovely acupuncturist in Old Street who supported me hugely.

Then my Dad fell seriously ill. The strongest drugs wouldn’t ease his pain. He’d never been into complementary health, in fact he was mostly against it, until he went into palliative care. Some of the only treatments that put his mind at ease were aromatherapy and reflexology. When he came home for a few days, I couldn’t believe it: Dad was making essential oil concoctions. That was my calling. I needed to gain the skills to help people. I couldn’t help my Dad, but I can help others now.

I went part-time in my marketing job and studied full-time alongside it for three years. It’s the best professional decision I’ve ever made.

Why acupuncture?

I chose to study acupuncture because it has a long history of practice alongside a growing body of modern clinical research. The studies are challenging and rigorous. As a member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC), I practise within its professional standards for ethics and safety. The principles are fascinating – they feel both logical and intuitive. It’s part of why I trust this work.

Today, I do the job I love. It challenges me daily in lots of ways, but starting acupuncture felt like coming home to the right work, so I could help others the way it helped me, and still does. No day is the same, no client is the same. That’s one of the founding principles of Chinese Medicine I love most: treat the individual.

The work I do today

In practice, I support a lot of women navigating fertility, hormonal health, and the transitions that come with it - PCOS, endometriosis, pregnancy, menopause - alongside people managing stress, burnout, or chronic conditions. Giving women and men clear answers about their reproductive health means a lot to me; there’s so little support out there for it, and too much conflicting information. That’s partly why I split my time between a fertility focus and general health - I love this work, but I equally enjoy treating the full range of conditions that come through my door, where people can finally feel heard. Even when I’m treating someone for fertility specifically, I still look at their wider health, because treating the whole person matters just as much there as anywhere else.

How I work

I look at more than just your current signs and symptoms. I want to understand your whole health journey - what’s brought you here, what you’re dealing with now, and where you want to get to. I stay closely engaged with current research. Sessions are calm, but the thinking behind them is careful and well-informed. I think of each session as something we build together, through trust, listening, and paying attention to the whole of you.

My aim is to create a calm, inclusive, non-judgmental space where you feel supported and heard. I keep developing my knowledge through ongoing training and research, so I can bring you up-to-date information and expertise. I’m also part of Don’t Tell Me To Relax, the UK’s leading team of fertility specialists and led by the renowned Hannah Pearn.

For some people, support looks like focused treatment around a particular concern. For others, it’s a quieter, restorative session, like Rest & Reset.

Part of the Blackheath community

I moved to South East London over 10 years ago – I love it here and have built a network of colleagues and practitioners I trust in Blackheath and the surrounding areas - osteopaths, nutritionists, functional medicine practitioners, private GPs, therapists - who I’ll always recommend if I think it would help you.

Whatever brings you in, I’m here to listen, and to help you find your way back to feeling like yourself. If this feels like it might be for you, I’d love to hear from you.