Vera Pires

Hi. My name is Vera Pires and I am a Specialist in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Therapeutic Massage. I graduated in TCM from the School of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ESMTC), in Lisbon, Portugal (2014-2019), an institution certified by the University of Nanjing in China.

From an early age, my interest in Holistic Health and Herbal Medicine emerged through contact with my grandparents, who were born in the north of Portugal and were farmers by profession.

Early in my childhood I started to learn about medicinal plants, to know how to use them and to understand the importance of our food as the basis of a healthy life.

It was in 2014 that my studies began with an Integrated Therapeutic Massage Course where I approached different styles of massage such as Tui Na, Thai Massage, Chi Nei Tsang and Cranial Sacral Therapy.

In the same year I entered the Traditional Chinese Medicine course, training more than 5000 hours at ESMTC. Along with these courses, I participated in over 800 hours of clinical training in multiple areas including Acupuncture, Tui Na Massage, Phytotherapy, Qi Gong and Internal Medicine.

I am a member of the Paediatric Specialty Committee of the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies (WFCMS), and holder of the Professional Certificate of Traditional Chinese Medicine No.C-0061523, Professional Certificate of Acupuncture No.C-0051810 and Professional Certificate of Herbal Medicine No.C-004610, emitted by the ACSS.

Allied to my studies, and through my understanding of food as our basis and main form of healing, my passion for permaculture has deepened. I cherish the privilege it is to have an active role in my own food production. Since 2017 I have been part of the Parque Agrícola da Alta de Lisboa, a community-driven garden in Lisbon, where in addition to having my individual plot, I encourage and facilitate trainings & activities in conjunction with the Associação para a Valorização Ambiental da Alta de Lisboa (park management entity) to children and adults within the scope of agriculture & permaculture and herbal medicine.

In February 2021 I started my specialisation in Jing Fang, personalised herbal medicine, with Dr. Salustino Wong and in April of the same year the Permaculture Design Course with Silvia Floresta at Eco Aldeia do Vale.

My curiosity for different healing techniques and ancestral knowledge have led me to travel to different countries in order to broaden my knowledge in the field of phytotherapy and dietetics.