WHAT IS CHINESE MEDICINE?

Acupuncture involves the insertion of single-use, sterile needles into various locations in the body to help harmonise and balance. At insertion, you may feel a slight prick, followed by a dull, heavy, warm, electric or shooting sensation. The needles are inserted at varying depths depending on the technique, the location on the body and what therapeutic benefit is being sought. 

We use Acufast acupuncture needles - “the earth friendly needle”. These are high quality surgical grade stainless steel needles which have a low environmental footprint from production through to disposal. It is estimated that Acufast needles produce around 75% less waste than conventional acupuncture needles, without compromising quality. 

Chinese herbal medicine has been used for thousands of years by millions (billions?) of patients, safely combining natural products like roots, leaves, twigs, berries, mushrooms etc. 

We stock mostly plant, fungi and mineral products, but we do have a few herbs derived from animal products (eg honey, cicada shells, oyster shells etc) so let us know if you are vegetarian or vegan and we can work to provide an alternative plant product.  

We will formulate a herbal prescription for you based on your condition. The herbs come in different formats depending on your preference.  From our clinic we can provide you with granulated herbs manufactured by KO DA in Taiwan. We package these in glass bottles to reduce plastic waste. We can also provide you with raw herbs, tinctures and patent pills by using one of our external dispensary partners.  

• Empirical Health
• The Herb Grove Raw Herb Dispensary

All the herbal products we source are all fully certified and compliant with Australian regulations and standards. This includes strict compliance with CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). They also undergo rigorous testing for heavy metals, pesticides and impurities at every stage of production and supply.

You can read more on harvesting, extraction and testing processes through the links provided above in this Herbal Medicine section.

Moxibustion is a therapy which involves the burning of Moxa close to the body. Moxa is made from Ai Ye (mugwort, wormwood, St John's plant in English), a fragrant and slowly combustible plant, which produces a strong heat. The aim is to warm the meridians in the body, improving circulation, removing stagnation, relieving pain and improving function. Among other things, Moxa can be used for back and joint aches, period or abdominal pain, poor digestion and general wellness.

We use a smokeless moxa charcoal to reduce respiratory side effects from too much smoke.

Cupping is a technique where a vacuum is created inside a cup, and this is then placed on the skin at different locations on the body. The vacuum sucks the skin and muscle up into the cup and aims to remove stagnation and improve circulation. Static cupping, where the cups are left in one position, tends to produce red/purple rings on the skin which can last anywhere from a couple of days to a week. This therapy can be used to ease stiff and sore muscles, particularly along the back and shoulders.

Massage can either be performed directly on the skin using oils or linaments, or can be done through clothing depending on your preference.