There are four main reasons patients consider Acupuncture treatment:

• Most commonly, patients have a condition that does not respond to conventional care. They seek a treatment option that can effectively provide a solution to their healthcare issue.
• Conventional treatment often requires drugs with undesirable side effects or an unwanted surgery to treat the condition; therefore an alternative medical option is sought.
• Patients are taking many western drugs that are expensive, have side effects or interfere with one another. Often Chinese medicine can treat these conditions so that the drugs can be withdrawn.
• Patients who seek a natural, holistic medical approach to healthcare.

No! Acupuncture is a very gentle treatment and every care is taken to ensure the patient’s comfort. Terms such as ‘warm, dull, tingling, buzzing or spreading’ are often used by patients to describe needle sensation. In Chinese Medicine, this is known as a ‘qi’ sensation and it is indicative of a therapeutic outcome.

Yes – acupuncture is very safe. In fact, many randomised controlled trials compare not only the efficacy of acupuncture to other modalities but also the rate and level of adverse effects. Acupuncture consistently has fewer and less harmful adverse effects than other modalities.

Only single use, sterilised, fine gauge needles are used during treatments.

In Australia, practitioners usually have at least 4 years of full-time practical experience whilst they complete a university level Bachelor qualification. They undergo thousands of supervised clinical practice hours in addition to both Western and Eastern medical study.

At your first treatment, your practitioner will discuss your health concerns and ask you a variety of questions to gain a complete understanding of your past and current health. The information you provide is private and confidential. Some questions may seem unusual however the honesty of your answers help us to form the most accurate diagnosis and treatment plan for you to achieve the best possible outcomes. Patients often find that acupuncture is able to address more of their health issues than they initially sought treatment for.

Each treatment usually lasts between 45 minutes to 1 hour and we kindly ask you to arrive ten minutes early to your first appointment. We advise that you do not come on an empty stomach and you are welcome to bring any relevant tests results or scans with you to your appointment.

This depends on the condition that is being treated. For most conditions, treatments are needed twice per week and may be resolved within a few weeks, however this can vary widely. Your practitioner will discuss expected treatment outcome times with you at your consultation.

Acupuncture research is rapidly growing field, enhancing modern understanding of the mechanisms of action involved in acupuncture therapeutics. Currently we know that acupuncture stimulates the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) stimulating neurotransmitters, endorphins and hormone production which regulate body functions and restore homeostasis.

There are thousands of published randomized-controlled trials demonstrating the efficacy of Chinese Medicine for treating pain (lower back pain, sporting injuries, migraines, osteoarthritis) but also many other conditions (infertility, bladder dysfunction, anxiety and allergic rhinitis).

Modern technology (Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Thermography, Blood Tests etc) has complemented and added to our understanding of Chinese Medicine best practice. The clinical and anecdotal evidence is clear and frequently experienced by practitioners and patients so the question is no longer about whether or not Chinese Medicine works but rather how it works.

Qi (“chee”) is our body’s energy, our life essence, the spark that drives our substance and function. It can be likened to the Western Medicine concept of metabolic function though it is important to avoid labelling direct comparisons between Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine theory.

Chinese philosophy and medicine pre-dates modern medical terminology, thus the concepts of Chinese philosophy do not correspond specifically to western medicine terminology. The theory is that Qi circulates around the body via channels or meridians and in a state of complete health, this process occurs smoothly and appropriately to keep our minds and bodies functioning optimally.

Factors such as age, overwork, environmental factors, stress/fear, trauma and poor nutrition interrupt or inhibit the flow of qi resulting in disease, illness or pain. The aim of Chinese Medicine is to nourish qi where it is deficient, move qi where it is blocked and subdue qi where it is in excess. The overall concept here is balance – to restore homeostasis by balancing yin and yang.

Yes, if you have Extras cover, however the rebate will depend on the type of cover and the fund you are with. Bring your private health fund card and we can process your health fund payment at the time of consultation with HICAPS.

Not generally, however there is a government initiative called the Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) Program. This allows someone with chronic pain or a chronic condition to have five (5) osteopathic, chiropractic, or other approved allied health service consultations a year when referred by their doctor. A Medicare rebate covers some (but not all) of the fee. Please speak to your GP or call us to see if you might be eligible.