Acupuncture treats the underlying causes of disease and illness. It’s a holistic system addressing body, mind and emotions. Acupuncture offers drug-free relief for pain, whilst effectively treating a wide range of acute and chronic ailments.
It involves the insertion of super-fine, single-use and sterile needles into specific points along the body’s meridians to clear energy blockages. The energy that’s moved is known as ‘Qi’ – pronounced “Chi”. Translated, Qi means life force.
Our Acupuncturists in Carlton North are extensively trained, holistically minded professionals who use safe and effective methods to treat a range of concerns.
Does Acupuncture Hurt?
The biggest concern we hear from clients who are considering working with an acupuncturist is “Is it going to hurt?”
Let us assure you that you’re unlikely to feel a thing!
Firstly, the gauge (thickness) of acupuncture needles is teeny tiny – so thin you can barely see them when you hold them to the light. Because they’re very thin, they enter the skin easily. Secondly, Acupuncturists are masters of their craft. They want you to feel incredibly relaxed, so they’ve worked hard to be experts at working with your meridian points without you noticing a thing.
While you’re on their table, your nervous system is unwinding. Your therapist is aiming, among other things, for contraction to ease throughout your system and for you to find a place of deep peace.
So no, it won’t hurt.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
Chinese medicine operates on the principle that disease results from disruption in the flow of Qi and an imbalance in the forces of yin and yang. When we are healthy, an abundant supply of Qi flows through the body’s meridians – a network of invisible channels through the body. When our Qi is blocked, or in short supply, the body fails to maintain harmony. This is when disease or illness happens. Acupuncture needles are inserted into ‘acupuncture points’ along the meridians to stimulate flow of Qi.
In addition to disease pathogens and environmental conditions, common lifestyle factors or bad habits can also disturb your natural flow of Qi.TCM practitioners can diagnose disturbed Qi. If you’re a person who stresses, overworks or eats loads of junk food, for example, Chinese medicine can help to restore balance to your system.
Chinese Herbs
Chinese herbal medicines are often used to complement Acupuncture treatment. Herbs are unique in flavour, energy and action. Most herbs are used in combination to provide the greatest benefit to your body.TCM and Acupuncture are gentle on your body and can help you return to your best quickly.
Some added benefits when using Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine may include:
- Increased local blood circulation
- Improved digestion and hormone production
- A more balanced nervous system
- Improved immune response
- Stress relief
- Reduced cholesterol levels
- Reduced inflammation
- Added assistance in the fight against bacteria and viruses
- More efficient removal of muscle lactic acid
What Conditions Do We Treat With Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine?
There is an increasing body of peer-reviewed literature that supports the efficacy of acupuncture for a variety of illnesses and injuries. Here are some of the main conditions we treat with Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Mental Health Concerns
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the physical body is closely connected with the spirit and emotional self. Our emotional disposition may be seen as a reflection of our internal energetic balance or related to blockages in the pathways connecting different organs.
Our Acupuncturist works with specific points to help unblock and encourage energy flow (Qi) throughout the body. This can help to calm the nervous system, switch on the parasympathetic nervous system, decrease stress hormones (cortisol), and improve your mood and general wellbeing.
Our Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Practitioner takes a holistic approach to treatment using a combination of acupuncture, herbal medicine, and lifestyle changes to facilitate improvement in a wide range of Mental Health concerns including, and not limited to:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Generalised Stress Disorder
- Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
Your Acupuncturist will discuss your history with mental health and how an acupuncture and herbal treatment plan can help.
How many treatments should I expect for Mental Health concerns?
On average we see in practice that it takes 5 sessions to feel a significant breakthrough with mental health/anxiety/stress conditions. These conditions may require weekly or fortnightly treatments to maintain improvement.
Gut and Digestive Issues
The digestive system is made up of an intricate network of organs that helps the body breakdown and absorb food. Digestive issues can occur when the functionality of one or more organs becomes impaired. A combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine may improve digestive functions by helping with nutrient absorption, decreasing inflammatory reactions, improving peristalsis (gut muscle movement) and reducing the physical effects of stress and cortisol on the digestive system.
Our TCM practitioner holistically treats gut and health issues using a range of modalities. Conditions they might help with include:
- Irritable Bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Diarrhoea or constipation
- Malabsorption and leaky gut
- Appetite changes
- Nausea
- Acid reflux
- Indigestion
Your Acupuncturist will discuss your digestive health history and determine how an acupuncture and herbal treatment plan can help you specifically.
How many treatments should I expect for Gut and Digestive issues?
In practice, we usually see it takes around 3-4 sessions to feel a breakthrough with gut-related conditions. These conditions generally require weekly or fortnightly treatments for a couple of months and then we aim to stretch the intervals between sessions out to every 3-4 weeks to maintain improvement.
Insomnia
Acupuncture and herbal medicine can provide a natural way to work with sleep issues by searching for the root cause of the concern. Our Acupuncturist works with specific acupuncture points and herbal medicines to help clients get more restful sleep. These treatments work together to help with nervous system regulation, increased blood flow and production of melatonin.
Your Acupuncturist will work with your health history and current symptoms to determine how acupuncture and herbal treatment may help you get a better night’s sleep.
How many treatments should I expect for Insomnia?
On average, it takes around 5 sessions to feel a breakthrough with insomnia. After about 2 months, we aim to stretch the intervals between sessions out to every 3-4 weeks to maintain improvement.
Post-Covid Symptoms
In TCM, the Covid virus is considered to act differently to the common cold and flu virus. The common cold and flu virus travels slowly, which allows us to eradicate the germs at early stages of the infection. In comparison, the Covid virus is thought to travel quickly and to attack our organs directly, making it incredibly difficult to expel.
From a Chinese medicine perspective, long Covid is thought to occur because the virus latches onto the digestive system or the lung instead of being expelled naturally. We see this manifest as chronic fatigue, shortness of breath, chronic cough, muscle fatigue and insomnia. Acupuncture treatment may help to expel the pathogen that’s hidden in the gut or lungs. It may also boost the functions of your immune system and gut to relieve persistent symptoms.
Your Acupuncturist will discuss your history with long Covid and how an acupuncture and herbal treatment plan can help.
How many treatments should I expect for Post-Covid symptoms?
Usually clients can expect to feel a major change within 2-3 treatments with a total of 6-8 treatments to maintain improvement of long Covid symptoms.
Chronic Health Concerns
Chronic health conditions are complicated in nature and may be traced back to a significant event in one’s life that has created a shift in the body. In TCM, it is thought that untreated pathogens or organ function imbalance causes patterns of symptomatology consistent with chronic illness.
Using acupuncture and herbal medicine as an approach to treat chronic disease may yield highly restorative results. We focus on nourishing the body, whilst allowing the release of any debris that may impede health. Clinically, we have found that acupuncture and herbal medicine may be helpful for managing the symptoms of conditions such as:
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Digestive Disorders including Crohn’s Disease, Coeliac and Irritable Bowl Syndrome (IBS)
- Sleeping Disorder
- Migraines
- Back Pain
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Tinnitus
- Meniere’s disease
- Chronic Pain
- Urinary Tract Infections
- Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome
- Chronic skin conditions (Eczema and psoriasis)
Your Acupuncturist will discuss your experience with chronic health concerns and how an acupuncture and herbal treatment plan might help.
How many treatments should I expect for chronic health concerns?
On average, it takes around 5 sessions to feel a shift with chronic conditions. Ongoing weekly or fortnightly treatments are required to for tackling long-standing health problems and clients must be seriously committed to the process.
Women’s Health – Menstrual and Hormonal Concerns
Through the use of acupuncture, lifestyle advice and herbal medicine, TCM may assist with every stage of life: through reproductive years and beyond for anyone who is assigned female at birth (AFAB). TCM helps to balance hormones, promote free-flow energy, promote blood circulation and improve mood.
Our TCM practitioner can help support the symptoms of a variety of gynaecological conditions including but not limited to:
- Premenstrual tension
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
- Painful Periods
- Endometriosis
- PCOS
- Heavy Bleeding
- Fibroids
- Irregular Cycles
- Amenorrhoea (no periods)
- Hormonal Acne
- Menopause
Your Acupuncturist will discuss your history with menstrual or hormonal issues and how an acupuncture and herbal treatment plan can help.
How many treatments should I expect for chronic health concerns?
On average we see that it takes around 3 menstrual cycles to feel a shift.
We may also use Acupuncture to treat the following health conditions
- Cold and flu
- High blood pressure
- Muscle aches and sporting injuries
- Respiratory disorders
Our Acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine practitioner
Acupuncture Carlton North, Collingwood and North Fitzroy
Also see our Cosmetic Acupuncture service!
Fees
- Initial consultation ~ 75 minutes ~ $155
- Return consultation ~ 60 minutes ~ $110
Package Discounts
We offer bundles for our TCM and Acupuncture services. Pay for your Acupuncture Carlton North sessions ahead of time to save on your treatments.
Buy SIX and Save!
- 6 treatments of Acupuncture in Carlton North for $620 (Normally $695).
- Saving of $75 over a course of 6 treatments with $12.5 off each treatment.
- Treatment cost works out to be $103 each.
- Valid for 12 months.
Buy TEN and Save!
- 10 treatments of Acupuncture in Carlton North for $905 (Normally $1135).
- Saving of $230 over a course of 10 treatments with $23 off each treatment.
- Treatment cost works out to be $90.5 each.
- Valid for 12 months.
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