The New Age of Acupuncture
The newest recruit to our instore wellness offering, Five Element Acupuncturist Johnny Childs shares the magic behind the treatment that promises to rebalance mind, body and spirit
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The New Age of Acupuncture
The newest recruit to our instore wellness offering, Five Element Acupuncturist Johnny Childs shares the magic behind the treatment that promises to rebalance mind, body and spirit
By: Shannon Peter
Feeling a little... off kilter? Join the club. It seems that as a nation, we’re all looking for ways to feel grounded, connected and rebalanced. And that collective urge has led many of us to discover – or at least, rediscover – acupuncture. Hailing from Traditional Chinese Medicine, it’s the practice of treating the body’s vital energy, through the insertion of tiny needles into specific points of the body.
So, aas we continue to provide a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of Soho, it only seems right that we add acupuncture to our wellbeing offering here at Liberty. And to do so, we’ve found the very best. Meet Johnny Childs, renowned Five Element Acupuncturist. Having learned his craft underneath the watchful eye of celebrated master, Gerad Kite at the Kite Clinic, he brings his deeply intuitive, transformative approach to acupuncture to Liberty’s beloved halls.
Here, Liberty sits down with Childs to better understand why acupuncture is having such a moment, as well as unpacking his unique approach and the distinct benefits of Five Element Acupuncture.
Five Element Acupuncturist, Johnny Childs, now in residence at Liberty
Why do you think acupuncture is seeing such a resurgence in 2025?
We’re in the midst of a collective shift—a longing for something deeper, slower, and more truthful. After years of chasing quick fixes and suppressing symptoms, people are waking up to the understanding that real wellness isn’t about patching things up, it’s about coming home to yourself, fully.
Five Element Acupuncture speaks directly to this need. It doesn’t just treat what’s going wrong. It helps us remember who we are at our core.
This resurgence is also rooted in trust. As more people experience tangible shifts – better sleep, brighter energy, a calmness they didn’t know they were missing – they naturally start to share it. Word of mouth has become a quiet revolution.
There’s also a new generation of practitioners being trained with great care and integrity. I’m proud to be part of the Yellow Path School in Shoreditch, which holds close the lineage and principles of this tradition, cultivating acupuncturists who are deeply attuned, grounded, and heart-led.
What does acupuncture offer that perhaps other therapies can’t?
At its core, acupuncture is about alignment, gently guiding the body back to its natural rhythm. It doesn’t override or force; it listens. It works with the body’s own intelligence to restore balance, rather than simply silencing symptoms.
What sets Five Element Acupuncture apart?
Think of the body like a house: if one part, like the plumbing or roof, is off, it can affect the whole structure. In the same way, symptoms are often signs of deeper imbalances beneath the surface.
Rather than just patching the cracks, Five Element Acupuncture looks at the foundations. It sees the body as part of a much bigger picture. Everything in manifestation is made up of the five elements, and we’re no exception. We’re part of nature, not separate from it. This approach works with the same natural rhythms that move through the seasons—and through us.
In treatment, I don’t just address what’s out of balance. I look for the root cause. Diagnosis is a sensory process, used to identify which one of the five elements holds the key. It’s this original imbalance that disrupts the others. The needles act as a conduit for change, guided by clear intention. By treating that one element, we allow nature to restore balance throughout the whole system.
What makes my approach distinct is a blend of careful listening, intuition, and precision. It’s not just about needles. It’s about creating a space where you feel seen, and treatment becomes a quiet but powerful conversation with the body. This is never one-size-fits-all. It’s a process of realignment that supports lasting wellness and the unfolding of your full potential.
What are the most common concerns clients come to you to address?
Patients come seeking support for a wide range of challenges – burnout, anxiety, hormonal imbalances, fertility, sleep disturbances, and digestive concerns – but what they’re really after is reconnection. They want to feel like themselves again: alive, purposeful, and well.
I’m often known for my work supporting fertility, helping individuals and couples navigate natural conception, IVF, and reproductive health, but that’s just one part of the story. The beauty of Five Element Acupuncture is how it unfolds beyond fertility, supporting emotional wellbeing, restoring vitality, and reconnecting people with their deepest selves.
What are the biggest misconceptions around acupuncture?
That it’s just about pain relief or that it’s something you go to when nothing else works. Acupuncture is so much more than a last resort. Iit’s preventative, restorative, and transformative.
Many people also have misconceptions about the treatment itself, especially around the needles. In this style of acupuncture, we don’t leave needles in for prolonged periods. Once the needle is gently inserted through the skin, it makes contact – at just the right depth – with the energy of the acupuncture point. The patient feels a sensation, often described as a dull ache or heaviness. The needle is then rotated to strengthen the point, and immediately removed. It’s a precise and intentional process, one that communicates directly with the body’s energetic system to create meaningful change.
Another misconception is that it’s something you need weekly just to keep things at bay. In reality, once we’ve kick-started the process with a couple of closer-together sessions, treatments are spaced further apart. The aim is not dependency, but to support the body’s own innate capacity to heal. Eventually, we move to seasonal check-ins. And often, what’s most powerful is what happens in between. That shift – whether subtle or profound – unfolds in its own time, and witnessing that transformation over weeks or months is one of the most rewarding parts of the work.
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