Minan Yao (MSc, BSc)
Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner • Course Director/Lecturer at Manchester Academy of TCM • Founder of Yao Acupuncture
Minan is not registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) and does not practise as a conventional medical doctor in the UK.
Minan Yao (姚民安)
MSc & BSc in Traditional Chinese Medicine Course Director/Lecturer, MATCM ALS (UK) • PHTLS (US) Certified
I Practise Acupuncture, and I Teach It
I spent seven years at university in China studying Traditional Chinese Medicine, then worked in a large teaching hospital before coming to the UK. These days I split my time between seeing patients and teaching at the Manchester Academy of TCM, where I am Course Director and Lecturer.
Teaching changes how you practise. If I ask my students to take a proper history, explain their reasoning and know when to refer a patient to a GP or urgent care, I have to hold myself to the same standard in clinic.
Where I Trained and Worked
Seven years of university study in China, four years in a large teaching hospital, a decade of overseas clinical work, and now practice and teaching in Manchester.
7-Year Full-Time Chinese Medicine University Education
I took my BSc and MSc in Traditional Chinese Medicine at Hunan University of Chinese Medicine: classical TCM theory, acupuncture, herbal medicine, pharmacology and the biomedical sciences needed for safe practice.
Class A Tertiary Hospital (San-Jia)
After graduating I worked at Ruikang Hospital (the Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine), a 1,100-bed Class A tertiary hospital practising integrative Chinese and Western medicine.
Direct Disciple of Prof. Wei Guikang
During my hospital years I was selected as Shi-Dai-Tu (師帶徒) — a direct apprentice — to Professor Wei Guikang, a recognised National Master of TCM in China. For three years I studied his framework of "Spine-Related Disease" (脊柱相關疾病學) at his side.
International SOS Overseas Clinical Role
I later spent years in remote-site clinical roles with International SOS — in China, Angola and DR Congo (2013–2020), and most recently Iraq (2023–2025). These were overseas roles; they do not mean I am GMC registered or practise conventional medicine in the UK.
Course Director, Manchester Academy of TCM
Now based in the UK, I am Course Director and Lecturer at MATCM, teaching the next generation of acupuncture and Chinese medicine practitioners alongside my own clinic work.
Emergency Care & Safety Certifications
These certifications support safety awareness, red-flag thinking and appropriate referral decisions. They do not mean I practise conventional medicine as a GMC-registered doctor in the UK.
PHTLS
Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support
US Certified 2024
ALS
Advanced Life Support
UK Resus Council 2024
ACLS
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support
Provider
BLS
Basic Life Support
Provider Since 2013
ITLS
International Trauma Life Support
Provider
In practice, this training means I take red-flag symptoms seriously, ask about your existing care and medicines, and tell you plainly when your GP, urgent care or another regulated service is the right place to go.
Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Reasoning
My TCM background includes "Spine-Related Disease" (脊柱相關疾病學), a traditional Chinese medicine framework that pays close attention to the relationship between posture, movement, soft tissue tension and wider patterns of wellbeing.
In practice, this means I do not look at symptoms in isolation. I consider the whole presentation: lifestyle, stress load, sleep, digestion, movement, previous care, medicines and signs that may need conventional medical assessment.
My teachers drilled one habit into me: observe carefully, reason clearly, and know the limits of your scope. I try to pass the same habit on to my students.
Where appropriate, a plan may include acupuncture, cupping, massage, lifestyle guidance or a Chinese herbal medicine consultation. If the presentation needs GP or urgent medical care, I will say so.
What I Assess
Comfort & Movement
Posture, mobility, tension patterns and day-to-day function
Sleep & Stress Load
Rest, energy, emotional load and relaxation response
Digestive & Menstrual Wellbeing
Patterns discussed as part of a whole-person Chinese medicine history
Existing Medical Care
Current medicines, diagnoses, investigations and treatment boundaries
Red Flags
When symptoms need GP, urgent care or another regulated health service
Book an Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Consultation
Memberships & Credentials
ATCM Member (Professional Association)
Course Director/Lecturer, MATCM
ALS/PHTLS Certified
MSc & BSc in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Clinical Focus
Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Assessment
Comfort, Movement & General Wellbeing
Chinese Herbal Medicine Consultations
Safety Screening & Referral Awareness
Languages Spoken
English (Fluent)
Mandarin 普通話 (Native)
Cantonese 廣東話 (Fluent)
If you come to see me, you can expect a careful assessment, a plan you can actually understand, and a straight answer about whether I can help.