PTSD & trauma — Wokingham, Berkshire

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine for PTSD and trauma-related symptoms at my clinic in Wokingham, Berkshire. Post-traumatic stress disorder, complex PTSD and trauma-related anxiety respond well to acupuncture as part of an integrated treatment plan. Acupuncture — particularly the standardised ear-acupuncture protocols (NADA) and Shen-calming body acupuncture — supports nervous-system regulation, reduces hyperarousal and improves sleep without the side effects of psychotropic medication. Best used alongside trauma-focused psychotherapy. Over 25 years of clinical experience.

On this page

1. What is PTSD?
2. Symptoms of PTSD
3. PTSD in traditional Chinese medicine
4. Acupuncture for PTSD
5. NADA ear protocol
6. Chinese herbal medicine
7. Integration with psychotherapy
8. Self-care & nervous system regulation
9. Commonly asked questions

1. What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition that develops in some people after exposure to a traumatic event — combat, assault, accident, childbirth, medical trauma, refugee experience or sustained childhood adversity (complex PTSD). The defining feature is that the trauma response persists or emerges long after the immediate event, with intrusive re-experiencing, avoidance, negative changes in mood and cognition, and hyperarousal. PTSD affects around 4% of UK adults at any time; complex PTSD (cPTSD) from sustained childhood or relational trauma is increasingly recognised as a related but distinct condition.

First-line treatment is trauma-focused psychotherapy — EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) and trauma-focused CBT are NICE-recommended. Acupuncture is a valuable adjunct: it lowers nervous-system arousal, improves sleep and reduces co-existing anxiety and depression so that psychotherapy work is more tolerable and effective.

2. Symptoms of PTSD

1. Intrusive re-experiencing — flashbacks, nightmares, intense distress at reminders of the trauma
2. Avoidance — of thoughts, feelings, people or places associated with the trauma
3. Hyperarousal — startle response, hypervigilance, irritability, difficulty concentrating
4. Negative mood and cognition — persistent fear, guilt, shame, emotional numbing, distorted self-blame
5. Sleep disturbance — difficulty falling or staying asleep; trauma-themed nightmares
6. Dissociation — feeling detached from oneself or surroundings; common in complex PTSD
7. Somatic symptoms — chronic pain, IBS, fatigue, headaches; the body holds the imprint of trauma

3. PTSD in traditional Chinese medicine

Classical TCM did not use the modern PTSD label but extensively described what we would now recognise as trauma response — under categories such as Jing (Fright), Kong (Fear) and Shen disturbance (Shen Bu An). The treatment principles are deeply consonant with modern trauma understanding: settle Shen, anchor the disturbed Spirit back to its organs, regulate the Liver and Heart, tonify Kidney and address the qi-Blood depletion that chronic hyperarousal produces.

Common patterns:

1. Heart and Gallbladder Qi deficiency — the classical pattern after fright; easily startled, palpitations, nightmares, indecision
2. Heart-Kidney disharmony — insomnia with vivid dreams, anxiety, restlessness, racing mind
3. Liver Qi stagnation with Heat — irritability, anger outbursts, tension, chest tightness
4. Heart Blood deficiency — chronic exhaustion, pale complexion, poor memory, emotional fragility
5. Phlegm misting the Heart — dissociation, confused thinking, emotional flatness

4. Acupuncture for PTSD

Acupuncture for PTSD is supported by a growing evidence base, including studies in military veterans and refugee populations. Mechanisms include autonomic nervous system regulation (shifting from sympathetic dominance towards parasympathetic recovery), modulation of the HPA axis (cortisol normalisation), and direct effects on limbic structures shown on fMRI.

Treatment combines:

1. Shen-calming body points — HT 7 (Shenmen), PC 6 (Neiguan), Yintang, GV 20 (Baihui), SP 6 (Sanyinjiao), KD 3 (Taixi)
2. Liver-soothing points — LV 3 (Taichong), LI 4 (Hegu) (the “Four Gates” combination)
3. Auricular acupuncture — NADA protocol (see below)
4. Constitutional tonification — addressing the underlying Qi-Blood depletion of chronic trauma

Treatment is paced carefully. Trauma patients can be more sensitive to needling and to the post-treatment release of held tension; sessions are kept gentle, short and grounded. Weekly sessions for 8–12 weeks is a typical course, with maintenance thereafter.

5. NADA ear protocol

The NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association) ear protocol is a standardised five-point auricular acupuncture treatment that has been used worldwide in addiction recovery, disaster relief and trauma settings. The five points (Sympathetic, Shen Men, Kidney, Liver, Lung) calm the nervous system without verbal processing being required, making it particularly suitable for trauma patients who find talking therapy initially intolerable. Sessions are typically 30–45 minutes seated quietly with all five needles in place. NADA is widely used in UK refugee centres, prisons and trauma services.

6. Chinese herbal medicine for PTSD

Formulas for PTSD-related Shen disturbance include An Shen Ding Zhi Wan (for Heart-Gallbladder Qi deficiency with fright and palpitations), Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan (for Heart-Kidney disharmony with anxiety, insomnia and exhaustion), Gui Pi Tang (for Heart-Spleen deficiency with rumination and poor sleep) and Xiao Yao San or its variants (for Liver Qi stagnation with irritability). The herbs I prescribe are pharmaceutical-grade granules from Sun Ten in Taiwan.

7. Integration with psychotherapy

Acupuncture is best used alongside trauma-focused psychotherapy — not as a replacement. The two modalities are highly complementary: acupuncture lowers nervous-system arousal and improves sleep, which makes EMDR or trauma-focused CBT work more tolerable and productive; psychotherapy works on the cognitive and emotional content that acupuncture alone cannot reach. For combat veterans, sexual assault survivors and complex trauma, this integrated approach produces the best long-term outcomes.

If you are already in psychotherapy, I will not duplicate your therapist’s work — my role is purely the somatic and energetic regulation that supports yours.

8. Self-care and nervous system regulation

Vagal-tone practices

Slow nasal breathing (4-second inhale, 6-second exhale), cold water on the face, humming, singing and chanting all stimulate vagal tone and shift the nervous system from sympathetic hyperarousal towards parasympathetic recovery.

Movement

Trauma is held in the body; movement helps release it. Walking, yoga, tai chi, dance, swimming — whatever feels safe and possible. Avoid pushing into exhausting exercise that re-traumatises the system.

Sleep hygiene

Trauma disrupts sleep; sleep deprivation worsens trauma response. Regular bedtime, no screens for the hour before bed, warm bath or shower, dim lighting, and a cool dark bedroom support recovery.

Connection

Trauma isolates; connection heals. Trusted people, safe groups, animal companions and time in nature all support nervous-system recovery.

9. Commonly asked questions about acupuncture for PTSD

Can acupuncture replace my PTSD medication or therapy?

No — acupuncture complements rather than replaces prescribed medication or trauma-focused therapy. Many patients find their need for short-acting anxiolytics or sleep medication reduces as acupuncture takes effect. Any medication changes should always be made in consultation with your doctor or psychiatrist.

Is acupuncture safe for severe trauma?

Yes, when given by a practitioner aware of trauma-informed care. Sessions are paced gently, the patient remains in control throughout, and the practitioner is alert to signs of overwhelm. The NADA ear protocol in particular is widely used in severe trauma settings precisely because it is non-verbal and low-stimulation.

Will I have to talk about the trauma?

Only as much as you choose. The initial consultation requires enough information to plan treatment safely, but no detailed account of the traumatic events themselves is needed. Acupuncture works somatically without requiring narrative processing.

How long until I notice a difference?

Sleep often improves first — sometimes within one or two sessions. Hyperarousal and anxiety usually settle progressively over the first 4–6 sessions. Deeper trauma patterns take longer and benefit from sustained treatment alongside psychotherapy.

How much does treatment cost?

Full pricing is on the treatment prices page. An initial acupuncture consultation is £70 at Wokingham; follow-up sessions are £60.

Can acupuncture help complex PTSD (C-PTSD)?

Yes, but with the explicit understanding that C-PTSD — trauma arising from prolonged interpersonal or developmental adversity rather than a single event — typically responds more slowly than single-event PTSD. The acupuncture approach is the same (settle hyperarousal, anchor the Shen, support sleep), but the course is longer, sessions are paced more gently, and the work is best done alongside specialist trauma-focused psychotherapy such as EMDR, sensorimotor psychotherapy or Internal Family Systems. Many of my C-PTSD patients are also working with a clinical psychologist or psychotherapist; the combination is more effective than either approach alone.

Does acupuncture help PTSD-related insomnia and nightmares?

Yes — this is one of the most consistently helped symptom clusters. The Shen-anchoring points (Heart 7, Pericardium 6, Yintang, the NADA Shenmen ear point) directly settle the hyperaroused nervous system that drives insomnia and nightmares. Patients commonly report falling asleep faster, fewer awakenings, and a reduction in the intensity and frequency of trauma-related dreams within the first 4–6 weeks of weekly treatment. For severe PTSD nightmares, acupuncture combined with the Chinese herbal formula Suan Zao Ren Tang taken in the evening produces particularly robust improvements in sleep architecture.

Is the NADA protocol enough on its own, or do I need body acupuncture too?

For mild to moderate trauma responses and addiction recovery, NADA alone is often sufficient and is widely used in groups for accessibility. For more severe PTSD, a combination of NADA at each session plus a small number of body points selected for the individual TCM pattern (Heart 7, Pericardium 6, Liver 3, Spleen 6, Yintang) tends to produce deeper and more lasting change. The combination feels less like a generic intervention and more like a tailored treatment, which matters in trauma work where being seen as an individual is itself therapeutic.

What about PTSD in veterans?

Acupuncture is widely used in veteran PTSD programmes in the US (the VA system has adopted NADA and body acupuncture as standard adjunctive treatments) and in the UK (Help for Heroes and similar organisations offer acupuncture sessions). The evidence base for combat-related PTSD specifically is encouraging, with studies showing reductions in PCL-M (PTSD Checklist-Military) scores comparable to those seen with cognitive processing therapy. The pattern in veterans is often Liver Qi stagnation with stuck Heat affecting the Shen plus underlying Kidney Yang deficiency from prolonged hypervigilance — treatment combines Shen-anchoring with Kidney Yang tonification.

How long does the benefit last after treatment ends?

Most patients who complete a course of 12-16 weekly sessions retain the gains for 6-12 months. The benefit gradually erodes over time, particularly under new stress, so most patients return for monthly maintenance sessions long-term. The longer the trauma has been present and the more severe the symptoms, the more important ongoing maintenance becomes. Patients who combine acupuncture maintenance with regular psychotherapy and a daily contemplative practice (meditation, prayer, journaling, time in nature) tend to need less acupuncture maintenance over time.

10. Treatment at my Wokingham clinic

I treat PTSD and trauma at my clinic at 49 Denmark Street, Wokingham, RG40 2AY. Patients travel from across Berkshire — Reading, Bracknell, Twyford, Crowthorne, Sandhurst and the wider Thames Valley — for trauma-informed acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal medicine where appropriate. The clinic is a short walk from Wokingham town centre with on-street parking nearby and good rail links from Reading and Bracknell. The clinic environment is quiet and private, with low lighting and a calm aesthetic chosen specifically with sensitive nervous systems in mind.

The initial consultation lasts 90 minutes. I take a careful, gently paced history that prioritises your sense of control and safety. You do not have to describe traumatic events in detail — only enough to plan treatment safely. We discuss current medication, any psychotherapy you are doing or planning, sleep, hyperarousal symptoms and any somatic symptoms (chronic pain, IBS, fatigue). Tongue and pulse diagnosis identifies the TCM pattern. Most first-session treatments use a small number of body points plus the NADA ear protocol — this is a gentle introduction that lets you experience the technique before committing.

Follow-up sessions are 60 minutes. Weekly treatment for 12-16 weeks is the typical initial course, followed by monthly maintenance. For severe PTSD or complex trauma I work in close communication with the patient's psychotherapist or clinical psychologist where they consent to that. Online Chinese herbal medicine consultations are available throughout the UK for patients who cannot attend in person; for the acupuncture itself you do need to come to the Wokingham clinic. I am a member of the British Acupuncture Council and the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine and follow trauma-informed care principles in all sessions.

11. References

[1] Grant S, Colaiaco B, Motala A, Shanman R, Sorbero M, Hempel S. Acupuncture for the Treatment of Adults with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Trauma Dissociation. 2018;19(1):39-58. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299732.2017.1289493. PMID: 28635587.

[2] Hollifield M, Sinclair-Lian N, Warner TD, Hammerschlag R. Acupuncture for posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized controlled pilot trial. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2007;195(6):504-513. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0b013e31803044f8. PMID: 17568299.