Golden
Crane
Acupuncture
with
Lisa Cassidy
Welcome to my 'light-site' - which will fully fledge when I graduate in 2026. I am in my third and final year of training at The Acupuncture Academy, in Leamington Spa, working under the supervision of the highly experienced practitioner, Sara Lucchetti. I currently see clients as a student clinician at Wymondham Chiropractic Clinic, offering professional, effective acupuncture at a reduced rate, while I complete my qualification.
Current Availability & Fees
-
Location: Wymondham Chiropractic
-
Fee: Reduced student rate - £75 for the first 5 sessions and £20 per session thereafter. In the second half of my final year, my fees will increase to around the normal rate - I will let you know when this is going to happen well in time!
-
Sessions: By appointment
Once I graduate in 2026, Golden Crane Acupuncture will expand to offer a full professional practice. Until then, you are warmly invited to join me on this journey.
What happens during treatment?
I use diagnostic methods including lifestyle, personal and medical history and pulse reading to create your unique treatment plan. The first session we have together is longer, enabling me to get a full picture of how and where you are, so that I can create the best treatment plan for you. This is a time for you to relax, to be heard and to enjoy a process which aims to return you to health and your best self.
Acupuncture needles are very fine - about the size of two human hairs, making the treatment gentle and relaxing. You may feel mild tingling or a dull ache when needles are inserted - this is a good sign.
Sometimes needle insertions are brief; other times they stay in while you rest. Treatments may also include moxibustion, in which a warming herb is applied to key points.
Ultimately, most people find the process of treatment relaxing, restorative and calming - perfect!
Why have acupuncture?
Acupuncture has been practised for thousands of years and is one of the most widely used healing systems in human history. With origins reaching back over two millennia and flourishing under the Tang dynasty (618–907 CE), acupuncture has, over the centuries, benefited not just millions but very likely billions of people worldwide! Whether for pain, stress, beauty or simply to restore balance, this system of health is increasingly recognised by researchers, doctors and health organisations as an effective therapy with lasting benefits.
Speaking personally, I first received acupuncture at a pivotal moment in my health. Experiencing the process from 'the other side of the needle' gave me invaluable insight into what it means to be a patient. The treatments were profoundly effective, bringing relief and hope when I needed them most and setting me firmly on the path to recovery. While I did not rely on acupuncture alone, it worked in effective harmony with the Western medicine I received - one of the qualities for which it is renowned. This experience left me with a lasting respect for acupuncture’s power to support both the body and mind in healing.
As Jung suggested with the idea of The Wounded Healer, sometimes our own struggles become the path that allows us to help others. Having felt the benefits of acupuncture personally, I now bring that understanding, empathy, and confidence into my practice. I look forward to seeing you and sharing your journey!
What the Research Shows:
-
Chronic pain relief: Large-scale analyses show acupuncture outperforms usual care for back pain, arthritis, and headaches.
-
Long-lasting results: A landmark UK study found that 85–90% of pain relief from acupuncture persisted a year later.
-
Nausea and sickness: The US NIH concluded acupuncture has 'clear evidence' for post-operative and chemotherapy-related nausea.
-
Safe and drug-free: Acupuncture offers a natural option for those who cannot, or prefer not to, rely on heavy medications.
-
Brain and body effects: Imaging studies reveal real changes in the brain and nervous system, including the release of endorphins and serotonin.
More expert Opinions:
Acupuncture continues to steadily earn respect from doctors and researchers as a treatment that really delivers. The evidence shows it can bring lasting relief, often comparable to the best of modern medicine, while supporting the body as a whole:
-
Studies have found acupuncture works for pain as effectively as leading medications - but without the side effects.
-
Many patients, in the words of Dr. Medhat Mikhael, 'have found relief' where other approaches fell short.
-
Research by Dr. Hugh MacPherson shows that up to 90% of the pain relief from acupuncture can still be felt a year later.
-
Acupuncture doesn’t just calm pain - Dr. John McDonald notes it influences every system of the body, with especially strong anti-inflammatory benefits.
-
For those unable to take standard painkillers, Professor Marc Cohen confirms acupuncture offers a safe and effective alternative.
Art and Science
Early acupuncturists developed a complete system of diagnosis through methodical and detailed observation of the human body. Without the aid of modern equipment, the first acupuncturists discovered, recorded and resolved many now familiar findings of modern biomedical science, including the impact of emotional stress on physical health. Modern science has discovered myofascial pathways that trace the meridians documented by early acupuncturists, and the concept known as 'Qi' (energy) seems to overlap with emerging facts about how the body's cells communicate. (If you are interested in knowing more about Qi, take a look here)
Training -
An overview from my Academy:
'Training as a traditional acupuncturist combines the art of diagnosis with the skills of practice. You are assured of the highest standards with our student clinicians, who have completed two years of their three year honours degree-level course. The course is fully accredited by the British Acupuncture Accreditation Board (BAAB.co.uk) and covers acupuncture theory, clinical skills, point location, conventional medical sciences, research and professional development. Our student clinicians work with patients during their clinical year under the supervision of a highly experienced practitioner.
The Acupuncture Academy (TAA) delivers a BAAB-accredited, degree-level Licentiate in Classical Five Element Acupuncture (with TCM), taught via a blended-learning model. TAA pioneered the UK’s first fully accredited, degree-level blended-learning course focused on Five Element acupuncture.'
In conclusion
The course at The Acupuncture Academy is thorough, erudite and exceptionally well-run, with an academic depth that I deeply value. My background is in music - I hold a Masters degree and two postgraduate diplomas from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland - and it is from this perspective that I can say this training stands alongside the most rigorous and professional I have received.
About me:
I have worked in the arts, as both performer and teacher, for over twenty years, an experience that has nurtured my sensitivity, my ability to listen deeply and cultivated my eye for detail. These are qualities I am delighted to bring to my acupuncture practice.
My background as a singer has given me an awareness of subtle shifts in expression, poise and energy. These sensitivities translate naturally into the practice of acupuncture, where small changes often carry great meaning. I also draw on my study of Qigong, a discipline rooted in flow and balance, which resonates closely with the principles of acupuncture.
I am currently completing the final year of my three-year honours degree-level training at The Acupuncture Academy in Leamington Spa. The programme, accredited by the British Acupuncture Accreditation Board, combines Five Element acupuncture theory with clinical skills, point location and biomedicine. This year, I am treating patients under the supervision of Sara Lucchetti, an experienced practitioner with more than twenty years in the field.
I look forward to meeting you and supporting your journey toward greater balance and wellbeing!
Why 'Golden Crane Acupuncture'?
I thought carefully about finding a resonant and magnetic name for my practice. I wanted to settle on something that felt personal and captured the essence of how I aim to be as a practitioner. In Five Element Acupuncture, one of the key aspects explored in diagnosis is the 'Causative Factor' (CF) or 'Guardian Element'. There are Five of these: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. They constitute both the strengths and the vulnerabilities of an individual. For example, and put slightly into a nutshell, a Fire Element might be warm, radiant, and full of joy, yet also prone to burnout or heartbreak. An Earth Element often carries a nurturing, stabilising quality, but may at times feel burdened or depleted by the needs of others. A Water Element has great depth and endurance, though it can also be shadowed by fear. Wood embodies vision and determination, yet may struggle with frustration or rigidity. Metal, my own CF, carries the gift of clarity, refinement and reverence for what is precious - yet it can also suffer when grief or loss remains unresolved. We are all on a journey in the quest for balancing our Element - once this homeostasis is achieved we have the ability to be our best selves and truly shine
The crane is a powerful symbol within the Metal Element. Its stillness, poise, and elegance evoke the qualities of balance and perspective that Metal seeks. To me, the crane embodies dignity and a quiet strength, lifting us toward the heavens while remaining grounded in the earth. Gold deepens this symbolism, as gold is the most refined expression of Metal: pure, luminous, incorruptible. Also, gold is fabulous!