In this special Cultivating Tradition podcast episode, BAcC CEO, Alex Jacobs sits down with Colette Assor (first recorded in February 2025), a fellow of the British Acupuncture Council, who has dedicated over 25 years to advancing acupuncture as a trusted, evidence-based profession. Colette shares her journey — from her early training in traditional Chinese medicine to becoming a passionate advocate for integrated healthcare, where acupuncture works hand-in-hand with conventional medicine to support patients’ physical and emotional wellbeing.

Together, we explore how acupuncture is making a real difference — in mental health, fertility care, menopause management, and beyond — and why regulation, education, and professional standards are vital for the future of this ancient yet evolving practice.

This is a conversation about trust, collaboration, and the power of holistic care — where tradition and modern healthcare come together for the benefit of every patient.

Are you a UK-based acupuncturist with degree-level qualifications in acupuncture? If so, and you’d like to join our network of professional practitioners to elevate your practice and enhance your skills with free CPD (including additional content available exclusively to members), click here to find out if you qualify - https://acupuncture.org.uk/join-the-bacc/

If you are not an acupuncturist but are interested in studying acupuncture to degree-level qualifications, click here - https://acupuncture.org.uk/about-acupuncture/becoming-an-acupuncturist/

If you’re simply interested in receiving acupuncture, please check out our register of highly qualified and professionally recognised acupuncturists here - https://acupuncture.org.uk/find-an-acupuncturist/

Have you ever wondered what the difference between the way Chinese, Ayurveda and Western herbalists think? Chinese herbalist and CEO of the British Acupuncture Council*, Alex Jacobs hosts a unique cross-herbal tradition roundtable discussion with Ayurveda practitioner, Dr Ayu Sathyavathi S. and pan-herbal tradition expert Simon Mills at the University of Bristol Botanic Garden (recorded in May 2024). The three experienced herbal practitioners discuss how they use the same herbs in different ways in their own traditions. Herbs discussed include ginger, cinnamon, fennel seed and turmeric.

*Note: at the time of recording Alex Jacobs was the CEO of the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine.

The Cultivating Tradition podcast: new episode available!

We're thrilled to share our latest podcast episode with you - a panel discussion from The UK Conference of Chinese Medicine 2025: 'The global future of Chinese medicine'

Chinese medicine has the potential to revolutionise healthcare. Everyone has a personal view of how it has transformed countless lives. So, why does it often feel like a struggle to really help it to land fully in modern Western society? We have made progress, but we can go so much further. The room heard from John Hughes PhD, head of the WHO co-operating centre for Traditional Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) in the UK, as he explained the soon-to-be-published 10 year WHO strategy on TCIM. John was then joined for a further panel discussion on the global future of Chinese medicine, by representatives from the BAcC, RCHM, ETCMA and ATCM and it is this panel discuss that we bring to you this week.

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