What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?
The underlying philosophy of all TCM practice is that an abundant supply of Qi flows freely through the meridians of a healthy body. If this flow is blocked or inadequate, the body struggles to maintain harmony, balance and order. Pain, disease and/or illness follow. In addition to physical trauma, common contributors to disharmony can include stress, overwork, poor diet, disease pathogens, environmental conditions and more general lifestyle factors.
This holistic approach to understanding normal function and disease processes focuses on the prevention of illness as much as on its treatment. Underlying conditions are treated, in addition to resolving presenting symptoms; via individualised formulae for each patient.
The Cochrane Register of Clinical Trials now contains over 11,000 studies on acupuncture, with other Chinese medicine treatments such as herbs, cupping, Tui Na, Qi Gong, Tai Chi additional to this number. Evidence-based TCM practice utilises this wealth of clinical research findings in conjunction with historical writings and clinical experience to guide treatment plans.
Your treatment options
Acupuncture
Health fund rebates available
What Can Acupuncture Treat?
Pain-management is the most common reason people seek acupuncture – neck, back, shoulder, knee, elbow, headache, sciatica… Modern research has demonstrated moderate to strong evidence supporting acupuncture’s efficacy in treating at least 46 medical conditions, including:
- allergic rhinitis (hayfever)
- anxiety
- asthma
- constipation
- depression
- fatigue
- high blood pressure
- insomnia
- irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- menopausal hot flushes
- nausea & vomiting
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- restless leg syndrome
- smoking cessation
Remember, acupuncture works with TCM pattern diagnosis. This means an acupuncturist doesn’t require a biomedical diagnosis or referral in order to treat you. It also means several “conditions” can be addressed within the same treatment plan, as YOU the person is being treated.
If you want to have a chat about whether or not I’m likely to be able to help you prior to booking an appointment, you can send through an enquiry with your phone number via the Contact tab on this website. I’ll give you a call as soon as I can. Sometimes the outcome of this is me referring you to someone I feel is more appropriate than myself to treat you, as integrity and realistic expectations are important.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
Does Acupuncture Hurt?
Can I Combine Acupuncture With Other Treatments?
What to Expect at Your Acupuncture Appointment
Cupping
Cupping has been used for thousands of years in many cultures, with equipment being found in Egyptian pharaohs’ tombs as well as across Europe and Asia.
There are many different styles of cupping, each having specific therapeutic applications and results. In general, cupping stimulates circulation of blood in the local tissues as well as lymphatic drainage. “Stagnant” blood is drawn up toward the surface where the lymphatic system can carry it away; whilst fresh nutrient-filled blood rushes into the muscles, encouraging relaxation and regeneration of the tissues.
The marks seen on the skin are not bruises. In fact, cupping techniques can be used on bruised tissue to disperse the pooled blood and speed healing. When performed by a well-trained practitioner using high quality tools, cupping does not break any capillaries. The discolouration seen on the surface is cellular debris that has been drawn up out of deeper tissues. The different colour marks indicate to the practitioner what has been going on in the deeper tissues. Marks aren’t produced by all cupping treatments. Those that do occur generally dissipate within days.
I completed an Advanced Certificate in Cupping Therapy many years ago, in addition to all of my prior TCM and massage studies. I use many different specialised techniques, including ones for fascial repair and post-surgical support. Using cupping to release the fascia (and myofascial chains) generally produces results more rapidly and comfortably than standard myofascial massage techniques or static cupping. Techniques (and tools) are chosen according to your presentation and constitution.
Cupping is applied as an adjunctive aspect within acupuncture and massage treatments as deemed appropriate. Chat to me about it at your appointment if you’re keen to see what results it can bring you. I work with a variety of different glass and silicone cupping tools, according to the area being worked on, problem presenting and desired outcome.
Please be aware that swimming and exposure to cold/windy conditions should be avoided for at least 12 hours after a cupping treatment – the body can chill more rapidly than usual due to the increase in superficial circulation. In Chinese medicine, this scenario is often referred to as Cold penetrating the body due to the pores being open!
Massage
Health fund rebates available
What to expect at your massage appointment
I most commonly combines Tui Na with other remedial massage techniques including trigger point therapy, myofascial release, lymphatic drainage, stretching and muscle energy techniques. Trigger point needling (referred to by many practitioners as dry needling), remedial exercises, cupping, Gua Sha, heat therapies, liniments, diet and lifestyle advice may also be incorporated as appropriate.
Remedial massage need not be painful. If a treatment is administered in a painful manner, the body instinctively fights the changes that are being encouraged by the practitioner. I focus more on altering the manner in which muscles are being fired and allowing tissues to release at their own pace under my pressure. Brutalising tissues into submission as fast as possible isn’t fun for anyone.
The result of my method? You feel great when you get up off the table, without the battered and bruised sensation that many associate with remedial bodywork. Don’t be fooled into thinking your muscles haven’t been deeply worked though – Tui Na incorporates forearm and elbow techniques more so than any other style of massage that I’ve trained in over the years!
All appointments include a short consultation and orthopaedic assessments performed as applicable. This allows a treatment plan to be tailored specifically to your health needs and comfort level.
Remedial massage with me is more than just an average back massage, deep tissue massage, or sports massage!
Relaxation massage consultations are minimal as these treatments aim to relax your nervous system more than correct tissue dysfunction or reduce pain.
Remedial Massage Options:
Tui Na
Health fund rebates available
Tui Na (pronounced tooee nah) is Chinese medicinal massage – the body work utilised in Chinese hospitals.
As part of the wider health care system that is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this style of remedial massage can work with not only your neck and back pain, sports injuries, joint pain and muscle tension, but also digestive issues, period/reproductive problems, fatigue, respiratory conditions, skin problems, mental health, stress, insomnia and much more…
A wide variety of manual techniques are utilised during Tui Na treatments, many of which aid in manipulating and lubricating the joints rather than simply releasing soft tissues. Each technique is chosen according to its specific effects on the nervous system and local tissues.
In addition to where you feel your main complaint is based, distal areas of the body are treated. This may be a combination of specific acupoints or work along sections of a channel/meridian; to better facilitate free-flow of Qi and Blood. This works a lot like turning on a hose to flush it out, not simply smashing up a blockage in the place you think it’s most likely to be!
Posture, range of movement and joint function are assessed as appropriate. This enables me to tailor remedial exercises to your specific needs, so you can treat your body at home in between sessions at the clinic.
Pain is the body’s way of alerting the brain to the fact that something’s not right. Defence is mounted against the source of pain – to protect the area, like a suit of armour. So, when treating, rather than brutalising muscles into submission, I work to alter how the nervous system is firing the muscles. Encouraging and enabling release, instead of trying to force it. So treatments are less painful than standard remedial work; without losing efficacy.
Treatment is always about you, and helping you feel as good as you deserve. The techniques and amount of pressure used are altered according to where your body’s at right now. It shouldn’t take days to feel good after remedial massage.
Tui Na treatments can be performed through clothing, towels or directly on the skin (with oil and/or liniments), according to your personal preference.
Pregnancy Massage
Health fund rebates available
Your body changes a lot during pregnancy. And as any mum knows, some of these changes can cause a fair bit of discomfort.
Tui Na treatments can be used to nurture both you and your bub. Your pregnancy massage is tailored to not only address muscular issues, but also discomforts commonly related to pregnancy such as nausea, indigestion and insomnia.
My massage table is adjustable, and a variety of specialised pillows are always on hand. Techniques and pressure are tailored to your needs. This ensures you’re comfy throughout the entire treatment.
Please ensure to book your appointment as “pregnancy” rather than simply as “Tui Na” so that I can have all the extra gear prepped before you arrive.
There’s no extra cost! Why? Because you deserve to feel good, without worrying about whether the person massaging you knows how to treat a pregnant lady properly!
Relaxation Massage Options:
Chi Nei Tsang
Health fund rebates not available unless incorporated into acupuncture treatments.
Chi Nei Tsang means “working the energy of the internal organs”. In Chinese medicine, each of the internal organs governs specific functions and areas of the body. By directly massaging the organs, their physical, emotional and spiritual functions are enhanced. T
he majority of the treatment focusses specifically on the abdominal organs. They have muscular walls which benefit from manual treatment, just like your skeletal muscles do. The mesentery, which binds the abdominal organs in place, can develop adhesions in the same way as other connective tissues of the body. By releasing these tissues, Qi and Blood are able to flow more effectively, so a relaxing effect is felt all over the body.
Elements of Qi Gong and Tai Chi are incorporated into all treatments. Breathing techniques form a particular focus, as correcting the way we draw breath on a day-to-day basis enables the natural diaphragm contractions to massage the internal organs.
People experiencing digestive dysfunction particularly benefit from Chi Nei Tsang treatment. I also often recommend this therapy to clients who feel they have plateaued in recovery from other conditions, as improving digestive function (therefore nutrient absorption) facilitates other bodily functions.
Unprocessed emotions may arise during treatments. This is nothing to be embarrassed about or afraid of. Chinese medicine doesn’t separate the physical from the emotional and spiritual. The organs that digest food are also perceived to process thoughts and emotions.
Please note, I’m not a counsellor or psychotherapist – issues that arise during treatments are only ever discussed and resolved in a Chinese medicine paradigm; utilising channel theory and associated techniques to help shift blockages in Qi flow. Homework will always be given in these circumstances to facilitate self-growth between treatments.
Imagine if you were asked to build a Lego house using only one size bricks? It’d be possible, but many aspects would be compromised. Expecting the body to function optimally on substandard nutrition is similar. Diet and lifestyle advice therefore also form a component of Chi Nei Tsang treatments to complement the treatments performed in clinic.
Most clients find Chi Nei Tsang to be a very relaxing experience, hence why it’s offered in many day spas around Thailand as an indulgence.
If you’re unsure whether to book in for Chi Nei Tsang or an acupuncture treatment that incorporates this therapy, please contact me to discuss your specific circumstances.
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