Acupuncture with Bridie, BSc (Hons), LicAc, MBaCC
Bridie practices an integrated style of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Five Element Acupuncture (College of Integrated Chinese Medicine). With a particular interest in women’s cyclical health, Bridie also incorporates insights from her training in Menstruality (Red School) where appropriate. This combined approach gives her the knowledge and skills to be able to address acute symptoms, chronic conditions and underlying constitutional factors equally in her practice — in those with one central rhythm (daily) and those with two (daily and monthly).
Patients may come for a short series of sessions to ease or resolve an acute pain / discomfort or stress, a longer series to support healing in the function of a body system/s or an aspect of their inner experience, or for maintenance visits to support the prevention of disease and optimise wellbeing.
Common complaints Bridie works with (usually presenting in a combination) are: fatigue, stress and burnout; digestive, detoxification and elimination problems; mental-emotional and relational difficulties; headaches and musculoskeletal pain; gynaecological, perimenopausal and fertility challenges; and more.
Bridie’s focus is in helping you to follow a natural path to health and fulfilment, through working with the wisdom in your body, energy and awareness.
Bridie is fully insured and a member of The British Acupuncture Council (BAcC).
Availability And Booking
Bridie sees patients from: Kyrle House Practice in Central Hereford on Tuesdays between 1 and 5pm and Wednesdays between between 9 and 1pm; and from Melanie Leeson Acupuncture Clinic in Clifton, Bristol on Fridays between 10am and 6pm.
Appointments for the Hereford practice can be made through reception at Kyrle House. Please call: 01432 273234, or email: enquiries@kyrlehouse.co.uk and Karen, Nina, Julie or Connie will be able to help you. Appointments for the Bristol practice can be made through Melanie Leeson. Please call: 07855 820259 or email: melanie@melanieleesonacupuncture.com and Melanie will be happy to help.
If you’d like to speak with Bridie before booking in, please call: 07730 498606, or email: hello@bridieshaw.com.
All appointments can be paid for in clinic on the day of your appointment. The clinics accept all regular forms of payment.
Please note: for cancellations within 48 hours of the scheduled appointment, a cancellation fee will be charged.
Process And Prices
All new patients start with an initial acupuncture session, allowing time for a more detailed consultation and account of your health history, before your first acupuncture treatment. Initial appointments are 60-80 minutes.
Returning patients can book in for a follow-up acupuncture session, which offers the space to discuss how you’re progressing, before continuing with your treatment. All follow-up appointments are 45-50 minutes.
Pricing is different at each clinic and can vary with appointment needs / options, so please enquire with each clinic for details.
Each appointment may utilise a variety of different diagnostic tools and practical techniques — from pulse and tongue diagnoses (all sessions) to moxibustion, guasha and cupping for further detox support, pain relief or depth of nourishment (you can find out more about these tools and techniques below).
What To Wear And Bring
Whilst any choice of clothing can be worked around (or removed if necessary), for ease of access and comfort please opt for looser fitting tops and bottoms; leggings / relaxed fit over skinny jeans (that can be pulled up) and skirts over dresses (should Bridie need to access points on your abdomen).
Please bring your diary as well as your preferred means of payment.
The Hereford clinic has a waiting room, a WC and drinking water facilities. The Bristol clinic has a WC and drinking water facilities but no waiting room, so please arrive on time for your appointment.
Bridie’s toolkit
Acupuncture – the use of fine, sterile needles usually inserted into acupuncture points – and on occasion into ‘ashi’ pain points – to detoxify, regulate or fortify the flow of energy along meridian pathways and so to tissues, organs and organ systems throughout the body.
Moxibustion – the use of moxa (mugwort) ‘wool’ cones or charcoal sticks burnt (directly) onto or (indirectly) just above acupuncture points – or a wider surface area – to warm and invigorate the flow of energy along a meridian pathway and/or within certain tissues, organs and organ systems.
Guasha – the use of a smooth-edged tool ‘scraped’ gently and repeatedly across an area of tension / accumulation, to increase energy / blood flow and detoxification in that area or in one connected via a meridian pathway.
Cupping – the use of glass cups, heated with a lit mediswab before placement onto the body, to create suction used to draw out toxins and increase energy / blood flow in an area of tension / accumulation or in one connected via a meridian pathway.
And for her cycling patients… Bridie may encourage:
Menstrual cycle awareness – the tracking of cyclical signs, symptoms and patterns, to increase self-connection and self-awareness through the phases — and so support aligned and effective self-care.
Testimonials
“I came to Bridie as I was feeling really overwhelmed and stressed. Bridie was a wonderful mix of extremely supportive, empathetic and insightful throughout my course of treatment. I felt I could confide in her all of the strange symptoms, dreams and thoughts I was experiencing and she would take them seriously – although she often made me laugh too which was always very welcome!
Between each session my symptoms improved (i.e. less stressed, new perspective, better sleep, better digestion, more energy).
I am very grateful for Bridie’s highly professional treatment and would not hesitate to recommend her.”
– Nicola
“I loved Bridie’s attentive presence and felt really heard and validated when sharing what was going on for me.
When it came to working with the needles, I found her to be very diligent in ensuring each point was spot on - I’ve been to several acupuncturists and never experienced such care in application.
The sessions felt very relaxing and I felt very safe in Bridie’s care.
The part that really blew me away came when I was driving away from our second session together - I felt like a part of my soul had come back to me! A part of me that I wasn’t sure if I may had lost in the motherhood journey. I was reminded of my younger, more carefree self and have since been feeling much more centred and resilient.
Thank you so much for your care Bridie, your healing is a gift!”
– Imogen
“I have seen Bridie for hormone related issues and menstrual support, a chronic health condition (CFS / ME) and general health maintenance.
Bridie is an excellent acupuncturist and menstrual cycle mentor. Since our sessions I am more knowledgeable and have more wisdom when it comes to my menstrual cycle, and have implemented useful lifestyle changes and methods for tracking my cycle – I now work with my cycle and tailor my life around it for the better.
I have been quite unwell with CFS / ME and have been unable to do day to day tasks as I once did both physically and mentally. Since seeing Bridie my symptoms have eased and I am very grateful for her expertise and knowledge which has given me a much better quality of life.
Visiting Bridie is the highlight of my week. She approaches sessions with warmth, respect, compassion and professionalism. I feel safe and reassured in Bridie’s hands. I cannot recommend her enough.”
– Emily
“Bridie has supported my daughter, with a gentle and intuitive nature. Her clear knowledge and understanding of the whole person, along with her ability to truly listen and her skill as an acupuncturist, has helped in a profound way to nurture a sound, safe and creative foundation in her. This has been a much needed support during my daughters transition from a child to a young woman.
If only we could all give this gift to our daughters! I cannot recommend Bridie highly enough.”
– Nada
“I have been to see Bridie on a number of occasions for acupuncture and always for the offering of some insight into my own health that I was not able to see myself. The greatest benefit I’ve received from acupuncture with Bridie has been in moving stagnation, both physical and emotional.
At times of feeling emotionally stuck in unhelpful negative thought patterns, seeing Bridie has offered something different; space and ease. Physically these benefits have manifested in ways such as the reduction of tension and helping to bring on menstruation after a long wait; such relief and gratitude.
I would highly recommend acupuncture with Bridie to help bring back flow and ease in times of constraint, tension and resistance.”
– Anna