‘I feel grounded, connected and realigned – like my body finally got the memo my mind had been ignoring.’
Johnny Childs Five Element Acupuncturist
The scent of smoky moxibustion herbs drifting downstairs to Johnny Childs’ clinic instantly soothes the soul – it’s that kind of grounding scent that makes your shoulders drop before you’ve even sat down. The esteemed Five Element acupuncturist, Johnny Childs, is known for his holistic approach and expertise in everything from fertility and anxiety to hormonal imbalance and mental health. He’s fast becoming one of the most sought-after appointments booked by beauty and wellness insiders whenever we need a seasonal reset.
In Five Element acupuncture, each season is aligned with one of the five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Autumn belongs to Metal – the element of fine-tuning, clarity, and letting go. It’s the season when energy turns inward; nature slows, trees shed, and we, too, are invited to release what no longer serves us.
There’s no endless essay of forms to fill in here. Instead, you begin with a one-to-one consultation. The first appointment is longer, designed to really understand your needs, your symptoms, and most how you want to feel when you walk out the door after being treated. Johnny lets you do the talking. There’s no judgment, no clipboard ticking, a chat like you would with a friend. When he asked me how I wanted to feel, my answer was simple: “Less stressed. More energy.”
You then lie down, and Johnny listens to the rhythm of your pulse. In Five Element acupuncture, diagnosis draws on the core five areas of investigation: colour, sound, odour, emotion, and the pulses. For me, Metal was where the blockage sat. Fine needles are placed into specific points; there’s a small pinch, and in some spots, like fingertips and toes, expect a fiery, bee-like sting – before fading to a dull ache as the energy releases. This is combined with moxibustion, a traditional technique using dried Mugwort. A pinch of the herb is placed on the skin and lit with incense until you feel the heat.
I found the whole experience super interesting and have been researching the ancient history of Five Element acupuncture ever since. Three sessions in, and I can honestly say I feel more connected to my body than I have in months. One of the things I found different and as Johnny explained, is part of the healing journey is the distinctive odour Metal oozes. As Childs explains, “Metal is the element of purification and release, where the body naturally clears what it no longer needs, which is why the skin is often called the ‘third lung,’ reflecting inner detox through the pores and true skincare from within.” Just like that, after a sweaty morning gym session, the scent had completely disappeared.
The timing couldn’t be better. Transitioning from summer to autumn has always been tricky — my energy dips, my to-do list feels endless, and I tend to run on overdrive. This season, though, something’s changed, I feel grounded, connected and realigned – like my body finally got the memo my mind has been ignoring. My new motto? Less is more: choosing quality and letting go of what no longer serves me. I’m learning to pause, to recognise when my body needs rest instead of another gym class, and to be okay with it. The guilt of skipping a daily workout is gone.
You can find Johnny at Kite Clinic on Wimpole Street, and now at Liberty London, offering his results-driven sessions. When not with clients, he trains the next generation of practitioners in Traditional Chinese Medicine at Yellow Path Training.