acupuncture + traditional chinese medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an ancient medical system dating back around 5000 years.  TCM comprises a wide range of therapies including the following:

• Acupuncture
• Chinese Herbal Medicine
• Cupping
• Moxibustion
• Massage (Tuina)
• Gua Sha

TCM views the body as an intricate network of meridians or channels which carry ‘Qi’ – most accurately translated as energy or life-force.  Qi is what keeps us alive, moving and our organs working efficiently.  When an imbalance of Qi occurs, illness and disharmony result within the body.  The aim of TCM is to restore and maintain balance and harmony by regulating and ensuring the smooth flow of Qi.

Acupuncture forms part of the system of TCM and is an ancient healing art dating back thousands of years.  Very fine sterile needles are inserted into carefully selected ‘acu-points’ located on the meridians or channels of the body.  The needles stimulate the Qi and assist in restoring balance and harmony to the body.

Acupuncture can be used for a wide variety of disorders and complaints, including the following:

- nausea, vomiting, IBS, constipation, diarrhoea, stomach pain, stomach ulcers.

- menstrual irregularities, menopausal syndrome, infertility.

- arthritis, joint and muscle pain, stiffness, injuries.

- common cold, influenza, allergies.

- acne, eczema, psoriasis, rashes.

- depression, anxiety, stress.

- migraines and headaches.

- asthma, smoking cessation & other addictions.

- general fatigue and lethargy.

Acupuncture is also commonly used as a preventative treatment such as preparing the body for surgery or building the immune system before travelling or climate change to prevent illness.  It is also often used for maintenance of general wellbeing.

Does Acupuncture hurt?

No.  The needles used are extremely fine – similar to the same width as a strand of hair.  Most patients don’t feel anything other than perhaps a dullness, heaviness or tingling at the point.  Some points are more sensitive than others, or produce a stronger sensation; however acupuncture should never be painful.  In fact, acupuncture releases endorphins into the system, therefore leaving the patient with feelings of wellbeing.

How many needles will be used?

The amount of needles used will depend on how many points the practitioner decides will be needed to treat your condition.  On average about 4 or 5 points are used bilaterally – so 8 to 10 needles per treatment.

How long do the needles stay in for?

Once again this will depend on your condition, however on average the needles are left in for about 20 minutes.  The practitioner may stimulate some of the needles during this time by gently rotating them.

What can I expect in my treatment session?

Each session will last from 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on if it is your first session and if any other therapies are going to be used in conjunction with the acupuncture.  Your first session will start with a thorough diagnosis, consisting of the practitioner asking you questions about many areas of your body and lifestyle.  This assists in forming a ‘wholistic’ picture of what is happening within your body.  The practitioner will also look at your tongue and feel your pulse.  These two areas act like windows into your body and can clearly indicate the nature of your condition.  Through the gathering of this information the practitioner can form a diagnosis and therefore formulate a treatment plan, which will consist of acupuncture and also perhaps one or more of the following:

• Chinese Herbal Medicine
• Cupping
• Moxibustion
• Massage
• Gua Sha

At the end of your session you should feel completely relaxed and rejuvenated.

How many sessions will I need?

This is always a difficult question to answer and will depend on a few things such as your condition, how long you’ve had it, and what your health is like in general.  Every person is made up differently and will respond to treatment in different ways – some faster than others.  There are no ‘miracle’ cures, and something as subtle and gentle as acupuncture does take time as it is dealing with the underlying cause of your condition rather than just the symptoms.  Wouldn’t you like to have a thorough treatment rather than just a patch up job?

On average most patients will have between 5 and 10 treatments.

How much will my session cost?

The initial treatment will cost $85 and any subsequent ones will be $55.  If you have private health insurance and are covered for acupuncture, you will be able to claim some of this cost back from the majority of health funds.