Why Chinese medicine? Why acupuncture?
Chinese medicine and acupuncture have grown in popularity in Australia, particularly in the last few decades. There are many reasons people seek treatment with Chinese medicine and acupuncture, however my clients' reasons tend to fall into one or more of the following categories:
Chinese medicine looks at your health history, symptoms, diet, and lifestyle using a different lens than conventional medicine; often this lens is what uncovers the missing pieces of your health puzzle.
- they're looking for a natural, non-pharmacological way to improve their health and well-being without the negative side effects that often comes with drugs
- they're looking for answers to their health concerns that conventional medicine has not yet been able to provide
- they want a holistic approach to treatment that addresses the root causes of their concerns, not just the symptoms
- they've been referred to us by other health professionals, such as doctors, midwifes, and physiotherapists for adjunct treatment
- they've found acupuncture and Chinese medicine to be the treatment modality that works best for them
Chinese medicine looks at your health history, symptoms, diet, and lifestyle using a different lens than conventional medicine; often this lens is what uncovers the missing pieces of your health puzzle.
Is Acupuncture the same as Dry Needling?
No. Dry needling is a technique which focuses on breaking up or releasing muscle knots, called 'myofascial trigger points', in order to relieve pain. Dry needling often results in muscles twitching/jumping as trigger points are released. An empty (i.e., dry) hypodermic needle was first used to perform this type of treatment, hence the technique's name; nowadays acupuncture needles are used.
What's the difference between Acupuncture and Dry Needling?
'Acupuncture' is system rooted in Chinese medical theory with its own framework of diagnosis and treatment. Acupuncturists often use various needling techniques during treatment, one of which may be trigger point dry needling if required. Often times however, Acupuncturists do not needle at the site of pain in order to avoid potential further aggravation of the affected area. Using acupuncture theory, there are many ways and parts of the body that can be used to treat pain; points on the hand and arm for example, are commonly used to effectively treat back pain.
'Dry needling' is a technique focused on breaking up tight muscle bands at or near the site of pain. Trigger point dry needling can be effective in treating pain when knotted muscles are the root cause of pain; if the pain is not due to muscle knots, alternative treatment techniques are typically required to provide relief.
Regulations
Acupuncturists are regulated by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), which regulates several professions including Dentists and Chiropractors, and the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia (CMBA). AHPRA stipulates and monitors the adherence of guidelines such as professional and educational standards for health professionals; at a minimum Acupuncturists must have been awarded a Bachelor of Health Science degree in Acupuncture from an AHPRA recognised institution and continuously fulfill professional development requirements.
There are no regulations for dry needling in Australia, so it is worthwhile asking practitioners if they are a Registered Acupuncturist with AHPRA or if they have simply taken a short course in dry needling.
What's the difference between Acupuncture and Dry Needling?
'Acupuncture' is system rooted in Chinese medical theory with its own framework of diagnosis and treatment. Acupuncturists often use various needling techniques during treatment, one of which may be trigger point dry needling if required. Often times however, Acupuncturists do not needle at the site of pain in order to avoid potential further aggravation of the affected area. Using acupuncture theory, there are many ways and parts of the body that can be used to treat pain; points on the hand and arm for example, are commonly used to effectively treat back pain.
'Dry needling' is a technique focused on breaking up tight muscle bands at or near the site of pain. Trigger point dry needling can be effective in treating pain when knotted muscles are the root cause of pain; if the pain is not due to muscle knots, alternative treatment techniques are typically required to provide relief.
Regulations
Acupuncturists are regulated by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), which regulates several professions including Dentists and Chiropractors, and the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia (CMBA). AHPRA stipulates and monitors the adherence of guidelines such as professional and educational standards for health professionals; at a minimum Acupuncturists must have been awarded a Bachelor of Health Science degree in Acupuncture from an AHPRA recognised institution and continuously fulfill professional development requirements.
There are no regulations for dry needling in Australia, so it is worthwhile asking practitioners if they are a Registered Acupuncturist with AHPRA or if they have simply taken a short course in dry needling.
What should I expect when coming for treatment?
Since we treat holistically, in addition to discussing your primary health concerns and symptoms, we will also speak with you about your health history, diet and lifestyle. The depth with which we discuss your diet and lifestyle will depend on what conditions you're seeking treatment for; for fertility clients diet and lifestyle are very important factors, less so for clients with a sprained ankle, for example. Depending on your health concerns, we may conduct muscle tests or review your recent blood test results. We'll then discuss your health goals and appropriate treatment plan.
What does acupuncture feel like?
The most common reaction we hear from first-time acupuncture clients is that they don't feel the needles at all or that they feel like mosquito bites. Many clients fall asleep during treatment and most leave in a very relaxed state, regardless of why they were coming in for treatment.
What does acupuncture feel like?
The most common reaction we hear from first-time acupuncture clients is that they don't feel the needles at all or that they feel like mosquito bites. Many clients fall asleep during treatment and most leave in a very relaxed state, regardless of why they were coming in for treatment.
Do you prescribe Chinese herbal medicine?
Yes. We prescribe herbal formulas primarily in capsule form, which is often the most convenient form for clients (no need to boil up or drink strange smelling brews!). The herbal formulas are most commonly made from plant material, such as roots, bark, seeds, and flowers. If you've never had Chinese herbal medicine before, you might be surprised to know that you're already familiar with many ingredients: ginseng, licorice, cinnamon, goji berries, chamomile, and apricot pits for example, are all considered Chinese medicine herbs. The preparation, combination, dosage, and appropriate prescription of the herbs is what makes herbal medicine so effective.
Herbal medicine encourages the body to produce its own natural hormones, stimulate the immune system, release neurotransmitters, and calm the nervous system to allow the body to return to homeostasis; they are corrective in nature (i.e., do not just mask symptoms) and often do not need to be taken long term.
Depending on your condition, herbal medicine may be a key component of your treatment plan - other times, it is not necessary. We will also prescribe mainstream supplements, for example Iron or Ubiquinol, as required.
Herbal medicine encourages the body to produce its own natural hormones, stimulate the immune system, release neurotransmitters, and calm the nervous system to allow the body to return to homeostasis; they are corrective in nature (i.e., do not just mask symptoms) and often do not need to be taken long term.
Depending on your condition, herbal medicine may be a key component of your treatment plan - other times, it is not necessary. We will also prescribe mainstream supplements, for example Iron or Ubiquinol, as required.
I have limited mobility, can I still come for treatment?
Yes. Bribie Acupuncture is located on the ground floor on Benabrow Avenue in Bellara so there are no stairs to climb in order to come for treatment. You may be dropped off directly in front of our clinic.
We can adapt treatment styles to suit your requirements - treatments can be conducted whilst you are laying on a treatment table or seated on a chair with just your shirt sleeves and pant legs rolled up. This style of acupuncture, where needles are placed not at the site of concern (for example, the abdomen for digestive issues or hip for bursitis) but on easy-to-access areas of the body such as the lower or upper limbs, is known as "distal acupuncture". Much like how a switch on the wall is able to turn on a light bulb on the ceiling, acupuncture points located on the leg are able to affect the digestive system via the body's internal wiring.
We can adapt treatment styles to suit your requirements - treatments can be conducted whilst you are laying on a treatment table or seated on a chair with just your shirt sleeves and pant legs rolled up. This style of acupuncture, where needles are placed not at the site of concern (for example, the abdomen for digestive issues or hip for bursitis) but on easy-to-access areas of the body such as the lower or upper limbs, is known as "distal acupuncture". Much like how a switch on the wall is able to turn on a light bulb on the ceiling, acupuncture points located on the leg are able to affect the digestive system via the body's internal wiring.
How many acupuncture treatments will I need?
The number of acupuncture treatments you will need depends largely on the condition, how long you’ve had it, how your body responds, and what your goals are. We recommend new clients to book 3 appointments, one week apart as a start. These initial treatments will give us an idea how your body is responding to treatment and how many more treatments may be required, if any. After our first appointment we will determine if we need to increase the frequency of the treatments. Please see the New Clients page for more information.
Please contact us if you have questions specific to your condition.
Please contact us if you have questions specific to your condition.
Do you take private health insurance?
Yes - we have HICAPS on site to process on-the-spot private health insurance claims.