Susan Thorne served as Chairman of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) for three years 2009-2012. The BAcC is the largest professional organisation for traditional acupuncturists in the UK. During her tenure, the Council changed its governance structure, recruited a new Chief Executive Officer and continued its quest for regulation and acceptance within the political medical structure of the UK.

Susan graduated from the College of Traditional Acupuncture in 1993. Her practice is firmly based on her 5-Element training although she now incorporates TCM theory.

Acupuncture is Susan’s second career. She spent 25 years in the television industry. She now has a thriving general practice near Guildford and has a purpose built clinic on the small farm that she runs with her husband.

First steps on the journey.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Acupuncture has been used in the East for many thousands of ‘miles’. In the West and in UK we have only taken the first steps.

Susan Thorne will look at the history of acupuncture in the UK and how the British Acupuncture Council came into being and has matured. Nowadays there are many political aspects to be taken into consideration: differences in the practice of acupuncture by medics and non-medically qualified practitioners; should acupuncture be available on the National Health Service or remain mainly private health; should acupuncture be state regulated or not? What are the hopes and possibilities for the future?

A personal journey

Susan Thorne will look at her personal journey in acupuncture from her studies of 5-Element acupuncture at the College of Traditional Acupuncture founded by JR Worsley to her present work as a sole practitioner. There are many ways to practise acupuncture; practitioners come from different backgrounds and study different lineages and then find their own work methods. The common factor is the wish to help patients on their own journey in life.