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Acupuncture

This service is provided by Joshua Barrow, an independent practitioner who shares our space within the clinic.

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Why try Acupuncture?

Josh is a trusted friend and part of our team here at Meadowside, where he shares our space and brings his calm, intuitive, and deeply supportive approach to acupuncture. His treatments create an environment where people feel safe, heard, and naturally re-centred.

Drawing on the body’s natural ability to heal itself, Josh works beyond simply addressing symptoms. He helps you reconnect with your own balance and resilience, supporting both physical ease and emotional wellbeing. His gentle yet effective sessions can settle the mind, release tension, and guide you back to a grounded, centred state.

Many people find that working with Josh not only helps with specific concerns—whether acute or longer-term—but also offers a fresh perspective on their overall health, leaving them with greater clarity, steadiness, and a renewed sense of wellbeing.

  • Josh's initial consultations take 90 minutes. This helps us to understand you as a unique individual and create a treatment plan specific to you as a person.
  • Josh is both interested in your physical and mental headspace. Every treatment works on both the body, mind and spirit.
  • Acupuncture is a non-invasive technique with very few (if any) side effects. It can safely improve your health and wellbeing through the insertion of very thin needles.
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What can acupuncture help with?

Chronic & Recurring Pain in the body

  • Migraines & Headaches — Why: to reduce intensity, frequency, and underlying tension Acupuncture can ease pressure, calm the nervous system, and address the deeper patterns that contribute to recurring head pain.
  • ME, Chronic Fatigue & Fibromyalgia — Why: to support energy, reduce flare-ups, and soothe widespread pain These complex conditions often involve exhaustion, muscle pain, and overstimulation. Acupuncture helps regulate the system, reduce sensitivity, and improve overall resilience.
  • Arthritis — Why: to ease inflammation and support joint mobility By improving circulation and reducing pain signals, acupuncture can help manage both osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis naturally.
  • Long COVID — Why: to support recovery and rebalance lingering symptoms Fatigue, breathlessness, headaches, and ongoing inflammation often respond well to acupuncture’s regulating and restorative effects.
  • Diabetes-Related Symptoms — Why: to improve circulation and support overall wellbeing While acupuncture does not treat diabetes itself, it can help with associated pain, neuropathy, fatigue, and stress.
  • Parkinson’s & Neurological Conditions — Why: to support mobility, ease stiffness, and calm the nervous system Acupuncture may help reduce tremors, improve movement, and support emotional steadiness.
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Mental Health & Emotional wellbeing

Mental health concerns are commonly treated in our clinic, whether as a primary condition or alongside other physical symptoms. Acupuncture supports both the mind and body, helping with:
  • Trauma & Overwhelm — Why: to help the body release what feels trapped and restore a sense of safety Trauma affects the mind, body, and nervous system. Acupuncture helps regulate overwhelm, ease tension, and support the body in letting go of patterns held after stressful or traumatic experiences.
  • Anxiety, Hypervigilance & Stress — Why: to calm the nervous system and reduce ongoing alertness Feelings of constant alertness, racing thoughts, or being “on edge” can ease as acupuncture helps shift the body out of fight-or-flight and into a calmer, more grounded state.
  • Depression — Why: to lift stagnation and support emotional clarity When energy feels heavy or stuck, acupuncture helps create movement and balance again, supporting emotional wellbeing and improving mood.
  • Grief & Emotional Disconnection — Why: to support the heart, lungs, and emotional processing In Chinese medicine, grief relates to the Lungs and emotional openness to the Heart. Acupuncture supports these systems, helping people process loss and reconnect with themselves.
  • Sleep Disturbances & Physical Tension — Why: to settle the mind and release the body’s stress response Nightmares, restless sleep, headaches, migraines, and chronic muscle tension often ease as acupuncture calms the nervous system and relaxes the body.

Women’s Health & Fertility Acupuncture with Josh

Josh offers a calm, intuitive, and grounding approach that helps women feel supported, understood, and centred. 
Many women say Josh’s treatments leave them feeling grounded, more balanced, and more connected to their bodies — often noticing improvements well beyond their initial concern.
  • Gynaecological Conditions (Why: to ease symptoms and regulate hormones) Support for endometriosis, PCOS, painful periods, and irregular cycles. Acupuncture can help reduce pain, improve flow, and rebalance hormones naturally.
  • Fertility Support (Why: to improve natural and assisted conception outcomes) Whether trying to conceive naturally or alongside IVF, acupuncture helps regulate cycles, improve blood flow, and reduce stress — all of which can support fertility.
  • Pregnancy-Related Concerns (Why: to relieve discomfort and support a smoother pregnancy) Nausea, back pain, pelvic discomfort, and general tension often respond well to acupuncture, helping you feel more comfortable throughout pregnancy.
  • Labour Preparation & Breech (Why: to encourage optimal positioning and readiness for birth) Acupuncture can gently support the body as it prepares for labour and may assist in encouraging breech babies to turn.
  • Perimenopause & Menopause (Why: to ease symptoms and support emotional balance) Hot flushes, sleep issues, mood changes, and hormonal shifts can improve with acupuncture’s regulating and calming effects.
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Other Conditions & Specialties Josh Supports with Acupuncture

  • Acid Reflux & Heartburn — Why: to settle digestive “rebellion” and soothe inflammation By supporting the digestive system and reducing stress, acupuncture can help ease reflux, chest discomfort, and throat irritation.
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) — Why: to calm the gut and regulate stress-related flare-ups IBS is often driven by both digestive sensitivity and the nervous system. Acupuncture helps ease cramping, bloating, irregular bowel movements, and the anxiety that can worsen symptoms.
  • Peptic Ulcers — Why: to reduce pain and support healing through improved circulation Acupuncture may help calm inflammation in the stomach lining and lessen the stress patterns that often aggravate ulcers.
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (Crohn’s & Ulcerative Colitis) — Why: to reduce inflammation and support overall gut balance While not a replacement for medical care, acupuncture can help with pain, urgency, fatigue, and stress — all key factors in managing IBD.
  • Diverticulitis & Digestive Pain — Why: to ease cramping and support smoother digestive function Acupuncture can help reduce abdominal tension, improve bowel regularity, and calm irritated areas of the gut.
  • Coeliac Disease — Why: to support healing and reduce symptom flare-ups Although acupuncture doesn’t treat the autoimmune root, it can help with bloating, fatigue, nutrient absorption issues, and overall digestive discomfort.
  • Gallstones & Gallbladder Issues — Why: to ease pain and support digestive flow Acupuncture can help relieve upper abdominal discomfort, nausea, and digestive sluggishness linked to gallbladder imbalance.
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Blogs

Our blogs

“You just don’t understand!” – And that’s okay
If you’re a parent of a teen, you’ve probably heard the words, “You just don’t understand!” more than once. These words can hit hard – leaving you frustrated, worried or even start questioning yourself. It can be easy to take it personally, but often, it’s not about you at all.
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Migraines – when your brain suddenly says ‘nope’
Migraines can be scary, confusing, and far more than “just a headache.” Shania explores why migraines happen, what’s going on in the brain when they do, and how osteopathy may help manage some of the factors involved. 
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The Books I Live By
I often end up chatting to patients about books, and writing down the names of ones I’ve found especially helpful in different stages of life. 
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Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) in Pregnancy and Beyond: Emily’s Guide
Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) is common, affecting 1 in 5 pregnant women, and can affect your mobility and quality of life during and
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Bone Health & Maintenance: How my DEXA Scan & Osteopathy kept me confident in my body
It was eye-opening. Everything connected — my body’s history, my injuries, and how it had compensated over time. One thing that really stood out? My back was very strong and rich in density — a reassuring sign that, despite my fracture and years of wear and tear, my spine had recovered well. Seeing that on the scan was empowering and gave me real confidence in my body’s resilience.
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Feeling the Migraine Struggle? Here’s How Your Neck & Jaw Might Be Involved
I get it — migraines, tension headaches, and ear aches can feel relentless and life-controlling. In this post, I share my personal experience with these pains, explain why neck, shoulder, and jaw tension often play a big role, and offer gentle osteopathic techniques and exercises that can help bring relief and restore balance.
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Understanding the Vagus Nerve: How Osteopathy Supports the Body’s Rest-and-Restore System
One of the most fascinating things about the human body is how quietly it speaks — especially when it comes to the nervous system. Lately in clinic, I’ve found myself talking a lot about the vagus nerve, that extraordinary thread of connection between body and mind.
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Why I Love Laser Therapy (and How It Saved My “Gangly Wrist”)
A little while ago, I developed what I jokingly called my “gangly wrist.” The medical term is a ganglionic cyst — a small, fluid-filled lump that can make simple things like gripping, typing, or demonstrating techniques uncomfortable (which, as you can imagine, isn’t great when you’re an osteopath!).
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