Functional Nutritional Therapy

How Integrated Functional Nutrition Supports Acupuncture

As an acupuncturist, I often see the best healing outcomes when acupuncture is supported by a functional nutrition approach. Both therapies work to restore balance—but they also nourish the mind-body connection, especially when someone is healing from chronic stress, anxiety, or past trauma.

 

1. Acupuncture Calms the Nervous System—Nutrition Helps It Stay Calm

Acupuncture gently activates the parasympathetic nervous system, your body’s “rest and digest” state, helping you shift out of chronic stress or fight-or-flight mode. If your body is depleted of essential nutrients (like magnesium, B vitamins, omega-3s), it can be hard to stay in that calm, grounded state.

Functional nutrition helps restore these key nutrients, supporting neurotransmitter balance and healthy adrenal function so your nervous system can hold onto the calm that acupuncture creates.

 

2. Healing Trauma Through the Body

Trauma is stored not just in the mind, but in the body. Acupuncture helps release held tension, regulate energy flow (Qi), and support emotional processing without needing to talk about the trauma directly. It gently helps your body feel safe again.

Functional nutrition plays a crucial role here by reducing inflammation and stabilizing blood sugar—two major factors that can trigger anxiety, mood swings, and emotional reactivity. When the body feels physically safe and nourished, the mind begins to follow.

 

3. Creating a Stable Inner Environment for Emotional Healing

Chronic stress and trauma can disrupt the gut-brain axis, throw off hormones, and deplete your body’s resilience. Acupuncture supports emotional regulation and energetic balance, while functional nutrition rebuilds the foundations of that resilience.

Together, they:

  • Rebuild healthy gut function (critical for serotonin and mood)
  • Support sleep and energy regulation
  • Reduce anxiety and irritability
  • Increase emotional adaptability

This integrated approach gives your body and mind the resources to feel again, process safely, and recover deeply.

 

4. Whole-Person Healing

Both acupuncture and functional nutrition honor the interconnection of body, mind, and spirit. They don’t pathologize stress responses but they help you understand them and heal at the root.

If you’ve experienced burnout, emotional trauma, or ongoing stress, this integrative approach offers a safe, supportive pathway back to balance—physically, emotionally, and energetically.

Work with me

OPTION 1

CREATE SOLID FOUNDATIONS FOR HEALING BY OPTIMISING YOUR BLOOD CHEMISTRY

VITAMINS
Using an analysis of your blood with Medichecks lab. We work to optimise any levels that are low. Typically, B12, Folate, Ferritin and Vitamin D are often found to be sub-optimal in functional illnesses. Deficiency can contribute to a spectrum of symptoms including anxiety and depression. Ensuring optimised blood chemistry is the cornerstone to my approach.

Initial package consisting of:

  • Instructions on how to order blood tests
  • An online intake questionnaire
  • Individual dietary recommendations based on your results
  • A bespoke supplement programme to safely optimise your levels of tested vitamins.
  • To answer any queries as they arise, support will be available via WhatsApp
  • Personal discussion regarding changes observed, resulting in recommendations to move forward. In the form of a 20 minute video call via Zoom to be scheduled 4 weeks after the commencement of the nutritional and supplement programme.

£200 (not including test or supplements)

Add on appointments via Zoom 45 minutes £125

 

MINERALS
Enhance your baseline knowledge to include minerals via a Hair Mineral Analysis. Minerals are considered the “spark plugs of life” and this non-invasive test measures levels of essential nutrients and toxic heavy metals in the hair. Looking at your biochemical profile over the past 3 months it detects mineral deficiencies, accumulation of toxic metals and areas of support for imbalance leading to adrenal fatigue, inflammation, and poor metabolic health.

  • Instructions on how to order test
  • A report based on results giving a bespoke 2-3 month supplement and nutritional program
  • To answer any queries as they arise, support will be available via WhatsApp
  • Personal discussion regarding changes observed, resulting in recommendations to move forward. In the form of a 20 minute video call via Zoom to be scheduled 8 weeks after the commencement of the nutritional and supplement program

£100 (not including test or supplements)

Add on appointments via Zoom 45 minutes £125

OPTION 2

A BESPOKE WELLNESS PROGRAM

A 3 month deep dive into the root cause of your health problems. We will work together to identify areas that need support and implement strategies to build strong foundations for improved health over the course of the 3 months. Using the Functional Medicine Matrix, a systems based clinical tool, this highlights the interconnectedness of your health issues, genetics, lifestyle and environmental factors to identify the root causes of your health symptoms. With 2 appointments per month and support via WhatsApp you will feel supported and championed in your journey to regaining your health.

Areas that we will focus on are:

  • An in-depth intake questionnaire and appointment devoted to a 360 degree look at health and lifestyle history to create a comprehensive and bespoke plan.
  • Blood and hair mineral testing to build good foundations for healing
  • Identifying foods that could be contributing to symptoms
  • Implementing strategies to manage blood sugar regulation to support health
  • Building a healthy and nutritious food plan by identifying imbalances in current macro and micro nutrition intake
  • Recipe ideas
  • Optimising gut health
  • Working with a “stress bucket” to identify areas that need support to reduce stress load and lifestyle interventions to support mental health

£850 (not including tests or supplements and cost can be split over the 3 months)

OPTION 3

CHRONIC FATIGUE AND FIBROMYALGIA INTEGRATIVE WELLNESS PROGRAM

This 8 week immersive course integrates 6 weeks of functional nutrition with a weeklong retreat style program of acupuncture treatment in the clinic in Thame and a follow up appointment in week 8 to consolidate the improvements, gains and changes to lifestyle.

Please click here for more information

Testimonials

After losing my dad two years ago, I was left feeling exhausted, anxious and suffered with low moods. Nothing I tried seemed to make a difference.

Working with Nyki has been completely transformative. She is incredibly knowledgeable and knew exactly which tests were needed to get to the root of what was going on. Once we got started, the whole process felt clear and manageable. Nyki explained everything in a way that made sense and never felt overwhelming.

Now, I feel like a different person. My mood has lifted, I have energy again, and that cloud that was hanging over me has lifted. I’m genuinely so grateful to have worked with Nyki – I truly believe I wouldn’t be in the place I am now without her.

Amy, exhaustion and anxiety

I see Nyki on a regular basis for Acupuncture. Nyki has helped me so much not only with acupuncture but also with my vitamin B12 deficiency. Her expertise in both fields, as well as her professionalism and friendly, understanding manner has helped no end with my health. I’m so grateful to Nyki for her expert advice but also her understanding. She has I believe, no doubt, helped me get to feel great again.

Jo, stress and Vitamin B12 deficiency