Nicholas Haines

I often ponder about decisions and how fragile is our destiny.  Obviously, some major decisions will undoubtedly send us a long certain paths.  Others, more mundane will probably have less influence.  But what about all the thousands of in between decisions, and which of them will alter our lives.

In 1980 was studying applied biology at what is now Trent University.  We had to take a year out in industry as part of our course.  I remember standing with a pen in hand, about to sign up for a job which involved videoing chickens and their behaviour. I remember thinking, 'should I sign up or not' in quite irresponsibly, I walked away leaving myself without a job for the next year. Three months later I was in Los Angeles at the California Acupuncture College.

My aim was to be involved in a research project, just starting the college, into Kirlian photography.  What happened was that I discovered Chinese medicine and it changed my life.

Suddenly, I began to understand myself, and perhaps my world a little better.
I met many kind and wonderful people. Susan Wilson was my inspiration: she introduced me to herbs and Chinese culture, and made me laugh.
Then when I returned to England I studied with Giovanni Maciocia, Peter Deadman, Julian Scott and Vivienne Brown and attended many seminars. I trained with herbs with Ted Kaptchuk and visited China.

Happily nearly thirty years later the process of learning, creating and discovering the wonder of Chinese medicine continues.

 I also set up a complementary health centre in Nottingham and helped co-found the Northern College of acupuncture in York.  Taught complementary health nationally and internationally both at colleges and within the NHS.
All along the way as Ted Kaptchuk says at the beginning of his book 'The web has no weaver' , I have learned so much from my patients and my students.

Incidentally the person who took the job videoing the chickens was never quite the same again; but then again, neither was I.

My passion is to help people in 'Undertanding and sustaining the 'real' person they are.