ACUPUNCTURE + CHINESE MEDICINE
acupuncture
Initial Treatments | 60-90 mins
Follow Up Treatments | 50-60 mins
As a CFS Warrior myself, I’m passionate about burnout, fatigue, and mental health. Additionally, I’ve completed further studies & clinical practice in tired mums, postnatal and maternal fatigue, plus hormonal issues including infertility, and perimenopause.
I practice an effective shallow needling technique in my treatments, learned through a 5 year (and ongoing) apprenticeship with my teacher alongside my university studies. My treatment sessions may include cupping, tuina and heat therapy.
Book a treatment with me at Healthspace Newtown:
Monday 2-7pm
Tuesday 8am-2pm
Wednesday 1:30-7pm
Friday 8am-1pm
Saturday 8am-1pm on alternate Saturdays
postpartum support
One-off ‘at Home’ Treatment | 60-90 mins | $170
4 pack ‘at Home’ Treatments | 50-60 mins | $640
As a modern society, we really don’t do a great job of supporting mothers all in all - and particularly new mums. Up to one in five mothers will experience postnatal depression and anxiety, with risk factors including birth trauma, isolation, and inadequate support - and this doesn’t even include the physical recovery from an often rigorous birth.
Really, the early days of mummahood should be about support, rest, recovery and nourishment, because when we support mothers, our communities thrive. So why not set new parents up the best possible way for healing from the rigorous demands of pregnancy and birth, and bonding with their newborn?
Book in for a one-off or 4 pack (once a week for 4 weeks), for acupuncture support at home, in your space, on your timeline. Or gift a session to a new mumma you know.
chinese herbal medicine + supplements
offered alongside acupuncture,
at additional cost
Often used hand-in-hand with acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine and Western Medicine supplements can be used to treat a range of conditions with positive results.
Traditionally, herbal medicine involves the use of raw herbs boiled in water, with the broth then consumed as a liquid tea.
In my practice, I offer capsules and granules for ease, which are still super potent, and sourced of the highest quality.
FAQs
+ How does acupuncture work?
Acupuncture works by stimulating specific nerve-rich areas on the body, which then triggers biochemical and physiological changes in the body. This is done by inserting very fine needles into specific body points to initiate responses from the nervous system. It has been widely accepted that acupuncture causes the release of endorphins, serotonin, enkephalins, GABA, norepineprhine and dopamine (1).
From a Chinese Medicine perspective, the concept of energy or life force driving every aspect of our being (mind, body, emotions) is key. A free flowing energetic system equals healthy, balanced and optimal health and wellbeing. Acupuncture works by correcting imbalances in the body's flow of Qi (energy) and supporting this flow.
+ How many treatments will I need?
How long is a piece of string? Obviously everything depends on each individial, how long the health issues have been happening for, and whether the conditions are acute (this can usually be resolved in a couple of treatments) or chronic (which will typically take longer).
One thing we know for sure is that acupuncture has a cumulative effect, and there is power in continuous care. Most new clients come weekly for a month or 6 weeks, then pare back over time.
Many clients come for a monthly check in and 'tune up', but visit more regularly when unwell.
+ What does acupuncture feel like?
Acupuncture is generally a pain-free treatment. Normal sensations in a treatment may include heaviness, tugging, tingling, a dull ache or warmth at the point of insertion - which signals Qi activation.
+ What does acupuncture treat?
Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to treat many illnesses and ailments, and may be helpful in reducing the troubling symptoms of many conditions.
As there are so many factors involved in health, there are no guarantees. However, there is lots of research on acupuncture and herbal medicine showing positive results with: digestion, sleep, allergies, headaches, stress, anxiety, and women's health conditions )such as PMS, infertility (4), PCOS, endometriosis, menopause, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea and so much more!). Research suggests that acupuncture has a modulating effect on pain (2) and metabolic disturbance (3), that can occur due to its ability to increase blood circulation and stimulation of neurotransmitters. In the same way, it may also have a positive effect on brain chemistry through the regulation of the hypothalamus and pituitary glands which are responsible for the smooth running of hormonal activity in the body.
A.F. Molsberger, T. Schneider, H. Gotthardt, A. Drabik. German randomized acupuncture trial for chronic shoulder pain (GRASP)—a pragmatic, controlled, patient-blinded, multi-centre trial in an outpatient care environment. Pain, 151 (2010), pp. 146-154
https://www.evidencebasedacupuncture.org/present-research/digestive-system-and-metabolism/
+ Is it all just placebo?
The placebo effect is when there is a positive impact on a person's health, which occurs through belief in the treatment rather then the actual treatment itself. And while placebo can be quite powerful in its own right, there are a number of studies (5) showing acupuncture to be more efficacious than sham acupunture.
+ Can I get acupuncture if I'm pregnant?
Yes, absolutely! Morning sickness, back pain (7), fatigue, sleep issues, stress (6) - these are just some of the issues pregnancy can bring with it, at both the physical and mental levels! Acupuncture treatments throughout this time may assist here, as it can with inducing labour (8).
Healthline. 2019. 'Researchers Find Proof that Acupuncture Blocks Stress'. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/mental-researchers-find-proof-acupuncture-blocks-stress-031413
Soliday, E., & Betts, D. (2018). Treating Pain in Pregnancy with Acupuncture: Observational Study Results from a Free Clinic in New Zealand. J Acupunct Meridian Stud, 11(1), 25-30. doi:10.1016/j.jams.2017.11.005.
Neri I et al. Acupuncture in Postdate Pregnancy Management. Jnl Acup Merid Studies, Vol 11, 5, October 2018, Pages 332-336
+ Can I claim acupuncture with my health fund?
Yes! Please check with your private health insurance provider to see what is covered in your package.