Review of SEN at Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge

A treatment room at SEN at Harvey Nichols

SEN at Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge - 4 bubbles

At SEN, you will find healing Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatments and remedies that care for your mind, body and soul. More healing centre than spa, you can be treated for anything from minor health problems to chronic diseases. In the luxury department store, Harvey Nichols, SEN is a chic way to try complementary therapies.

First impressions?

What's on offer?

Which treatments did you have?

What were the treatments like?

What else could you have?

Food facts

Was it worth it?

We loved

We didn't love

Who do you think would like it?

Why did you give the spa this rating?

Would you go again?

First impressions?

Inside Harvey Nicks, signs by the elevators guide you to the SEN health shop and treatment rooms on the fourth floor. Behind a display of limited edition Karl Lagerfeld Coca-Cola bottles was the sparkling white exterior of SEN, displaying various Chinese herbal remedies for different ailments.

The reception desk is at the back of the spotless shop, past neat rows of intriguing herbal teas and beauty products that line the walls.

What's on offer?

There are four immaculate and fairly minimalist treatment rooms, and each was supplied with a beautiful silk robe. There is no relaxation room at SEN, although you are given some time to relax post-treatment in your treatment room. The waiting area is actually one seat by the reception desk. A short corridor, displaying pictures of bodies mapped with acupuncture points, led to a gleaming bathroom.

Which treatments did you have?

I had acupuncture followed by an acupressure massage (30 minutes each, £85 in total).

What were the treatments like?

Renne, the reassuringly knowledgeable spa receptionist, took me to my treatment room, sat me down with a herbal tea and gave me a consultation form to fill out. As I had never had acupuncture before, Renne explained the treatment in full, making me feel much more comfortable. The boldly coloured carnelian-red room had dark, polished wood on the floors and ceiling, and was effectively lit by a tulip-shaped lamp. There were a further two lamps either side of the treatment bed. Renne told me that the heat of the lamps is sometimes applied to a client's skin to aid the depth of the acupuncture needles.

I stripped down to my t-shirt and underwear and got under a towel on the bed. Official, white-coated Doctor Wang then entered the room and went through my consultation form. He asked about my general health, sleep patterns, digestion, alcohol intake and urination. Next, Doctor Wang conducted a tongue and pulse diagnosis. In TCM, there is a belief that the pulse reflects the state of energy in the body and mind, and the tongue reflects the health of different organs. I was pleased to learn that I had a good pulse, but my tongue showed that I had some heat in my heart, which can signify stress. Overall, having no major ailments, I learned that I need to drink more water and go to bed earlier to maintain a healthy balanced state.

Doctor Wang ensured that I that I felt comfortable and kept me informed as to what was happening at all times. The doctor inserted different sized needles with a short, fast tap. He positioned the needles on pressure points on the meridian best suited to my diagnosis. He repeated this on the opposite side of my body, slowly and methodically. The pressure point at the top of my head felt a little uncomfortable on entry, but this soon subsided.

Doctor Wang inserted and twisted two needles between the metatarsals in my feet. These were deeper than the other needles, though fortunately this did not hurt. Doctor Wang also placed a warm lamp directly over the needle in my solar plexus area -- an area where I suffer bloating. Doctor Wang then left me alone for 25 minutes to relax. When he returned, he calmly removed each needle, following each with a precautionary dab of a cotton wool ball. Doctor Wang made sure I was feeling OK, then left the room.

My next therapist, Lucy, then arrived to give me an acupressure massage. Lucy applied SEN stress massage oil and mainly worked on my back, neck and head with deep, firm movements. Lucy worked down my spine, shoulder blades and lower back, too, pinpointing areas of tension.

Lucy concluded the treatment with some different massage techniques including hacking, cupping and rocking of my body, as well as a series of firm perpendicular slaps on my lower back. This may sound strange, but was fascinating and painless.

All in all, the acupuncture was very calming, and the firm acupressure massage really hit the spot.

What else could you have?

The Chinese have long used herbal medicine, acupuncture, and massage to help the body correct imbalances that are the cause of illness and disease. At SEN, you can try acupressure on your face or body, acupuncture, reflexology, massage, ear candling, cupping, moxibustion, and get herbal remedies and tablets.

Food facts

I had freshly-made oolong rose-petal tea with a couple of individually wrapped ginger sweets, both before and after my treatment.

Was it worth it?

Without a doubt.

We loved

The ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine way of living a balanced life, naturally.

The SEN website clearly shows profiles of all the doctors who work at SEN, so you know you are in expertly trained hands.

We didn't love

There is no dedicated relaxation room post-treatment. The only place to sit is on the chair in the corridor.

Who do you think would like it?

Wealthy Londoners, Harvey Nicks aficionados, tourists in the know.

Why did you give the spa this rating?

We gave SEN Harvey Nichols 4 bubbles. Reassuringly knowledgeable staff live and breathe the Chinese philosophy, and take very good care of their clients.

There are no frills or heat facilities, but everywhere is immaculate and the treatments are very, very good.