About Jess

Jess Birmingham treats adults and children with Japanese style acupuncture in mid-Cornwall. She continues to take advanced classes in Japanese style acupuncture, most particularly, intensive courses in Tokyo and Shikoku and with Koshiishi sensei (below right) also in Tokyo. Jess began studying with Koshiishi sensei in 2015 and uses this style of moxibustion, shiunko-kyo, extensively and effectively in her clinic. In 2016, she was invited to observe at Koshiishi sensei's Clinic in Tokyo, returning in 2017 and 2023. 

Since 2020, Jess has incorporated her extensive plant knowledge into her practice, training in Chinese Herbal Medicine at the White Crane Academy under the tutelage of Andrew Flower PhD and Simon King PhD. This is a source of great joy to Jess; it brings the other 'heavyweight' strand of East Asian Medicine into her practise and gives patients reliable access to both herbs and acupuncture, alongside the dietary and lifestyle knowledge that Jess shares throughout patient's treatment. She gratefully continues to be mentored by Simon King.

Jess' initial acupuncture training (Lic.Ac) began in 1994 at the CICM, Reading, treating people from 1996 and fully qualifying in 1997. In 2008 she completed a further two year Certificate in Acupuncture for Children (Cert.Ac.(paed.) with Julian Scott et al, and went on to study Shonishin (needle free paediatric treatment) with Stephen Birch, and Japanese Kiiko Style Acupuncture with Kiiko Matsumoto from 2009. 

Jess is a Member of both the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) and Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM) and rigorously observes their Codes of Professional Practice. These are the pre-eminent organisations in Britain, with the BAcC further registered by the Professional Standards Authority. Strict Codes lay down stringent levels of hygiene, requiring the use of sterile disposable needles; and safety of herbal medicinals, with among the strictest levels of research and supply chain rigour in the world. These Codes are recognised by the government as providing robust self-regulation which meets the needs of the general public.

Jess has been in continuous practice, apart from maternity breaks, for nearly 30 years. She has worked at several complementary health clinics in Bristol, both private and as part of an NHS GP practice, including one of UK's first multi-bed clinics, before coming back to work in Cornwall. Jess now works at Forge: health. art. space. in Trebyan, Lanhydrock and lives locally.