“Specific points on the body correlate with certain organs, as well as the nervous system,” she explains. “By stimulating these points, the brain is calmed. The acupuncture needles help release feel-good hormones like dopamine and serotonin so when our system is flooded with those hormones, we are reminded of how we should be feeling: brighter, lighter and calmer.”

They were a little uncomfortable when they first went in, but once there, I felt nothing. Well, apart from one.

There was one needle placed into the right side of my forehead that felt like she had jabbed a biro into my skin. And the pain didn’t subside like it did for the others. It throbbed and throbbed and throbbed. I even considered asking her to take it out, but I persisted through the pain.

Next, she hooked me up to an oxygen machine and after around 10 minutes of reflexology on the feet and a similar LED panel over the face for brightening, Bradden pulled out all the needles. The spot on my forehead continued to throb, so I had to tell her. And this is where things got really strange.

“This facial gave me plump cheeks, brighter skin and, surprisingly, relief from grief”