BAWMA founder

Dr (Ac) George Nieman, founder of the British Academy of Western Medical Acupuncture (BAWMA), began his career as a nurse and later served as a medic in the Royal Air Force during the 1940s and early 1950s. After demobilisation, he moved to Canada, where a chance encounter with a Vancouver physician introduced him to acupuncture — a treatment that impressed him through both clinical explanation and patient outcomes.

Motivated to learn more, George trained at a Taiwanese teaching hospital, ultimately earning a doctorate in acupuncture. Returning to the UK, he opened a practice on Rodney Street in Liverpool. Early on, he faced scepticism from the medical profession and recognised that traditional Chinese concepts such as meridian pulses, yin–yang theory, and five-element diagnosis were incompatible with Western medical understanding.

George began researching acupuncture points systematically, developing treatment formulas that complemented Western diagnosis and produced strong clinical results. Many patients experienced significant improvement and were able to reduce or discontinue medication, offering both personal benefit and potential savings for the NHS.

To build awareness, George spoke widely at community groups and gradually gained a reputation for effective, evidence-informed acupuncture. His work attracted the attention of Dr Derek Eastwood, Consultant Anaesthetist at Clatterbridge Hospital, who invited him to demonstrate his methods within the NHS. George volunteered one day a week for five years before being appointed Consultant Acupuncturist, a role he held for eighteen years.

Over fifty years ago, recognising the need for wider training, George established the academy as a registered charity to ensure high standards of acupuncture education remained the focus and aimed at patient benefit rather than profit. The first student was Chest Physician Dr James Baxter, followed by local GPs, nurses, and a dentist. Since then, the academy has grown steadily, training healthcare professionals across the UK. Today, many NHS pain-relief clinics — including leading centres at Darlington, Clatterbridge, Preston and Brimingham — are staffed by practitioners trained by BAWMA.

BAWMA teaches Western Medical Acupuncture, applying formula-based treatment only after a patient has received a medical diagnosis from their GP or specialist. The academy does not use Traditional Chinese Medicine, as its concepts do not align with Western diagnostic frameworks.

George’s work laid the foundation for a safe, effective, and medically compatible approach to acupuncture. The academy continues to advocate for statutory regulation to ensure high standards of training and to expand the benefits of Western Medical Acupuncture for patients across the UK and beyond.