Who can benefit from our care?

Chiropractic and acupuncture treatment at out clinic can be adapted to all types of patients.

Depending on the patient’s problem and desire, different types of therapy can be used. For example, in a case of osteoarthritis (joint wear and tear), joint mobilisation (gentle and slow movement) is sometimes more appropriate than joint manipulation (precise and fast movement).

In addition, the practice is accessible for disabled patients and we have equipment that allows us to treat people with reduced mobility issues in an easier fashion.

For babies, the treatment can also be modified accordingly. For example, a special type of acupuncture needle is used for children that allows for a shallower and shorter insertion than those used for adults. Problems typically treated by chiropractic or paediatric acupuncture are breastfeeding problems or those related to a traumatic delivery, colic or plagiocephaly (flattened head). Digestive problems such as constipation or reflux can also be treated. Acupuncture is particularly useful when there are certain behavioural or emotional problems, such as anxiety.

Chiropractic

Pains caused by dysfunctions or injury of the musculoskeletal system are, in most cases, treated conservatively, without requiring surgical procedures. The chiropractor is a specialist in the field of conservative care for musculoskeletal health problems, in particular of the pelvis back and neck.

In order to provide the most suitable care, the chiropractor may use diagnostic imaging, or collaborate with other health specialists.

Different forms of manual therapy are available. These include, for instance, spinal mobilisation or manipulation, soft tissue therapy, therapeutic exercise and postural correction. Chiropractic is indicated for all patients, including newborns and the elderly.

Click here for more information about chiropractic in Switzerland.
www.chiropractiens.ch

Click here for more information about chiropractic in Switzerland.
http://www.balgrist.ch/fr/Home/Weitere_Kompetenzen/Chiropraktik.aspx

 

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Traditional Chinese medicine is based on healing principles that have been used and fine-tuned over centuries. Symptoms typically relieved by this type of treatment are often general and non-specific. For instance, pain, headache, fatigue, anxiety, shivering, and malaise.
Traditional Chinese Medicine is known to help with a wide range of conditions including: neurological conditions, digestive problems, gynaecologyal and obstetric disorders, urogenital and skin disorders, musculoskeletal disorders, sports injuries etc .

Acupuncture is indicated for all patients, including newborns and the elderly. The different forms of treatment typically used are:

Acupuncture
Acupuncture implies inserting fine needles in specific points on the surface of the body so as to regulate the flow of « Qi ». In Chinese medicine, “Qi” is the principal source of energy, responsible for the equilibrium of bodily functions. This flow of energy may typically be blocked by certain stressors of daily life such as lifestyle factors.

Moxibustion
The word “Moxa” comes from the Japanese mogusa and means: burning herbs. This technique uses heat for healing purposes.

Cupping and Gua sha
In these techniques, the skin is lightly suctioned and scraped.  

Acupuncture and dry needling

Acupuncture needles are used in three different types of treatment: classical or TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) acupuncture, medical acupuncture or dry needling.
Classical acupuncture is based on ancient principles and aims, in theory, to release energy blockages along certain well-defined energy channels, also called meridians. A particularity of acupuncture is that points at a distance from the pain are used, thus allowing for a comfortable treatment even if there is a high sensitivity to pain (e.g. fibromyalgia, chronic pain syndrome). Acupuncture thus differs from manual therapies which are often focused on the painful areas in question.
Medical acupuncture uses the same points and the same nomenclature as classical acupuncture, but is based on scientific principles. Indeed, it is known that acupuncture acts by stimulating the nervous system and thus allows a modulation of pain and/or other symptoms. Acupuncture may also have an influence on the endocrine or cardiovascular system.
Dry needling is a procedure that directly stimulates painful areas. This technique can be very useful in a number of cases, but can be painful for some patients.  The aim of dry needling is often to relax muscles or reduce inflammation.
All of these different approaches are used at Cabinet Houweling and can be applied as needed depending on the indications. In some cases, acupuncture needles can even be combined with manual therapy. We aim to find a personalised approach that best suits your needs.

Naturopathy and nutrition

Naturopathic medicine encourages well-being and prevention of disease using natural remedies in order to support the self-healing ability of the body. Methods used include, but are not limited to:  nutrition, iridology, herbal medicine, Bach flower therapy and Schüssler salts.

Nutrition (the science of the impact of food on health) is an important aspect of naturopathy.

Dr. Timothée Mathurin

Assistant chiropractor

Education
Since 2022
Assistantship at the practices of Dr. T. Houweling and P. Roulet as part of the postgraduate training so as to obtain his speciality title.

2022
Federal Diploma of Chiropractic, Switzerland

2021-2022
First Year of Pharmacy, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland

2016-2021
Institut Franco-European de Chiropraxie, Toulouse, France

Languages
French
German

Dr. Taco Houweling

Chiropractor

Academic titles

Dr. of chiropratic and Dr. phil.

Education

2013 – 2015  
Swiss Chiropractic Institute (SCI), Berne.
Post-graduate federal chiropractic training

2009 – 2013 
University of Portsmouth, UK
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)   

2007 – 2008              
University of Roehampton, London, UK
Master of Research (MRes) in Sport en Exercise Science       

2003 – 2007              
Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC), Toronto, Canada
Doctor of Chiropractic (DC)  

2002 – 2003               
University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland
First Propedeutics of Medicine

Speciality areas

Acute and chronic back and neck conditions.
Sport injuries and rehabilitation.
Disc herniation and sciatica
Evaluation of patient’s health status over time.

Languages

French,
German,
English,
Dutch

Professional experience

2015 – Present           
Chiropractor in private practice                    
Cabinet Houweling, Neuchâtel

​2016 – Present          
President Neuchâtel Association of Chiropractors 
Canton of Neuchâtel

2015                          
Various locums at chiropractic practices.
Burgdorf and Thun

2014 – 2015             
Hospital rotations in orthopaedics and rheumatology         
University Hospital Balgrist, Zürich and Regional Hospital of Emmental, Burgdorf

2012 – Present          
Postdoctoral Fellow/Researcher
University Hospital Balgrist, Department of Chiropractic Medicine, Zürich.

2012 – 2014             
Assistant-chiropractor
Practice of Dr. Wangler, Medical Centre Kurwerk, Burgdorf

2009 – 2012              
Researcher, tutor and chiropractor
Anglo-European College of Chiropractic, Bournemouth, Uk

2008                        
Pilates instructor
London, UK

2006 –2007              
Aquatic Therapy Instructor
Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, Toronto, Canada

Continuing education

Medical acupuncture and dry needling, UK, 2018
Chiropratic paediatrics (care of the baby and adolescent patient), Switzerland, 2019

Memberships

Association Suisse des Chiropraticiens (ASC),  www.chirosuisse.ch
Union Européenne des Chiropraticiens (ECU),  http://www.chiropractic-ecu.org/

Publications

Houweling TA, Braga AV, Hausheer T, Vogelsang M, Peterson C and Humphreys BK. First-Contact Care With a Medical vs Chiropractic Provider After Consultation With a Swiss Telemedicine Provider: Comparison of Outcomes, Patient Satisfaction, and Health Care Costs in Spinal, Hip, and Shoulder Pain Patients. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2015; Aug 15 [Epub ahead of print].

Houweling TAW; Bolton JE; Newell D. Comparison of two methods of collecting healthcare usage data in chiropractic clinics: patient-report versus documentation in patient files. Chiropractic and Manual Therapies. 2014; 22:32

Houweling TAW and Hamzeh A. Does knee joint alignment with the axis of the isokinetic dynamometer affect peak torque? Isokinetics and Exercise Science. 2010; 18: 217-221.

Houweling TAW. Reporting improvement from patient-reported outcomes measures. Clinical Chiropractic. 2009; 13: 15-22.

Houweling TAW, Head A and Hamzeh MA. Validity of isokinetic testing for previous hamstring injury detection in soccer players. Isokinetics and Exercise Science. 2009; 17: 213-220.

Zsofia Houweling (née: Csaszar)

Dipl. Acupuncturist, Naturopath, Nutritionist

Education

2008 – 2012
College of Naturopathic Medicine, London
Diplomas in Acupuncture (TCM), Nutrition and Naturopathy

2006 -2008
University of Pecs, Hungary
Dietetics

Professional development

2022
Naturopathic Practitioner in Traditional Chinese Medicine TCM with Advanced federal diploma in Higher education, Switzerland

2021, January- June
Tuina massage
Guang Ming Institut supérieur de médecine chinoise, Morges, Switzerland

2020 June- December
Aromatherapy training with Peter Holmes
ABZ Mitte, Frankfurt, Germany

2018
Shonishin Paediatric acupuncture and tuina with Dr Stephen Birch
London, England

2018
Japanese Moxibustion
London, England

2017-2018 Qi Gong with Maitre Liqin Yang
Neuchatel, Switzerland

2017-2018 Various courses in Phytotherapy
Phytolis and Epidaure Ecole professionnelle de naturopathie et de techniques de santé

2016 – 2018
Advanced training in Balance method acupuncture, pain management and internal diseases
Luzern, Switzerland

​2016,  June- November
Master Tung acupuncture, gynaecology and digestive disorders
London, England

​2016, May
TCM Kongress Rothenburg, Pain management and emotional disorders
Rothenburg o.d.t., Germany

​2014 – 2015
SBO-TCM, Swiss Professional Organization for Traditional Chinese Medicine, equivalency examinations in acupuncture, TCM and biomedicine

2014
Hunyuan medicine
Chiway, Winterthur

2013 – 2014
Specialist training in fertility, gynaecology and pregnancy acupuncture
Naturechild, London

2013
Certified doula
Birthbliss, London

2013
Cosmetic acupuncturist
White lotus anti-aging, London

2012
Natural fertility practitioner
Foresight, Bristol

2012 – 2013
Seminars on detoxification, liver health, food intolerances and digestive and thyroid health
Nutri-Advanced, London

Speciality areas

Acupuncture care for children
Fertility, gynaecology and pregnancy
Digestive disorders
Musculoskeletal disorders

Languages

English
German
Hungarian
French 

Professional experience

2015 – to present
Acupuncturist, Naturopath and Nutritionist 
Cabinet Houweling, Neuchâtel 

2012 – 2014
Acupuncturist, Naturopath and Nutritionist 
Mygreenpath, London

2012 – 2013
College Director
College of Naturopathic Medicine, London

2009 – 2012
Practice Manager 
Liebling Chiropractic Care, Bournemouth

Memberships

L’ Association Professionnelle Suisse de MTC

EMR / RME

British Acupuncture Council

Interests

Yoga, sports, cooking, nature, hiking, animals