Category: Services

Our Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Consultation approaches disease and disorders as part of a greater whole rather than just treating symptoms. At Acurepoint Health Clinic, consultation is normally very thorough and employs the ancient Chinese arts of pulse and tongue diagnosis, palpation and observation.

The practitioner will discuss with you all of your reasons for seeking treatment. The discussion includes a summary of your body’s systems, your medical and social history, and your diet and lifestyle. A pulse and tongue diagnosis are an essential part of the consultation. The tongue is used as an indicator of body circulation, body fluid, and bodily functioning. The practitioner will observe the color, texture, and coating of the tongue.  The pulse strength and rhythm is an indicator of internal health and energy flow. The practitioner will also observe your skin complexion and voice as indicators of health. There also may be palpation of your abdomen and limbs.

The practitioner will then give a treatment plan with the aim of alleviating the main symptoms and correcting the cause of the health problem or disease. The number of treatments needed depends on the severity of the complaint and how long it has been a problem. The practitioner may decide to use a combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine as well as suggest dietary and lifestyle changes.

Moxibustion is an externally applied Tradition Chinese Medicine treatment using a Chinese herb called Moxa, commonly known as ‘Mugwort’.   For external use Moxa is compressed and rolled into a cigar-shaped herbal stick.  Moxa sticks are then lit and held over acupuncture points.  The radiant heat produced has the effect of stimulating the point. The purpose of moxibustion, as with most forms of traditional Chinese medicine, is to strengthen the blood, stimulate the flow of Qi, and maintain general health.

Moxibustion is used for

• Pain due to injury orarthritis, especially in “cold” patterns where the pain naturally feels better with the application of heat
• Digestive problemsand irregular elimination
• Painful menstrual-related systems
• Improves blood circulation and stimulates the production of hemoglobin, resulting useful in cases of anemia
• Gynecological and obstetrical conditions, including certain cases of infertility and breech presentation in late termpregnancy
• Protection against cold and flu strains
• Improving our immune system

Moxibustion and Breech Presentation

In Western medicine, moxibustion has successfully been used to turn breech babies into a normal head-down position prior to childbirth. A landmark study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1998 found that up to 75% of women suffering from breech presentations before childbirth had fetuses that rotated to the normal position after receiving moxibustion at an acupuncture point on the Bladder meridian. Other studies have shown that moxibustion increases the movement of the fetus in pregnant women, and may reduce the symptoms of menstrual cramps when used in conjunction with traditional acupuncture.

Cupping is an extraordinary technique that has been passed down for thousands of years and continues to be widely used across many cultures by both professionals and lay people alike. Cupping involves the use of glass cups, which are suctioned onto the skin for a few minutes at a time. This therapy is used to pull toxins out of the body, eliminate obstructions of Qi (energy), and relax the muscles. It is most often used for muscular pain and tightness, but can also be used to treat cellulite, colds, digestive disorders, and more.

Cupping Marks

Cupping causes the skin to temporarily turn red, blue or purple, especially if there is an injury or energetic blockage under the area that was cupped, but they are NOT bruises. It is the expression of internal stagnation and congestion brought to the surface of the body in Chinese Medicine. The marks can last anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, but is rarely painful.

Common Skin Reaction

After Care

Everyone reacts to cupping a little bit differently, so it’s important to give your body a chance to recuperate after the experience.  Some patients feel ready to run a marathon while others may experience fatigue, soreness, or even mild headaches. Either way, please take note of the following:

• Keep the cupped area covered
• Drink plenty of water
• Avoid alcohol or other toxin substance
• Take it easy!

Remedial Massage is a holistic treatment and involves the use of massage and a wide range of diagnostic techniques to treat a condition. When muscles become knotted and tense or damaged, remedial massage provides a healing treatment that can be gentle or strong, deep or shallow. The therapy helps to get the blood flowing to injured tissues to speed up the repair process. Remedial massage can also be used for relaxation and general wellbeing. The therapy has both short and long-term effects on the body.

In addition to remedial massage, we also offer pregnancy massage and baby massage. At Acurepoint Health Clinic, we only employ qualified remedial massage therapists.

Benefits of Regular Remedial Massage

• Correcting problems in your body
• Stress reduction
• Immunity boosting
• Heightens mental alertness
• Releasing muscle tension and pain
• Increased joint mobility
• Improved posture
• Improved skin tone
• Eliminating ‘ vicious cycle’ complaints

Techniques We Use

At Acurepoint Health Clinic, our remedial massage therapists often combine a number of following massage techniques to work on damaged or sore muscles, soft tissue or joints.

Trigger Point is a technique developed where pressure is applied to a specific area of muscle.

Deep Tissue involves manipulation of the deep layers of tissue in the body, including the fascia and other supportive tissue that make up the muscles and joints.

Myofascial Release involves applying gentle sustained pressure into the Myofascial connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion.

Lymphatic Drainage is a gentle pressure technique used to move the waste fluids from the damaged area.

Tui Na is an ancient healing art using the fingers to gradually press key acupuncture points, which stimulate the body’s natural self-curative abilities.

Chinese herbal medicine has an uninterrupted history of development dating back thousands of years in China and other parts of East Asia. It is one of the oldest and most long-standing health care systems in the world. Chinese herbal medicine is known as a natural and holistic system of primary health care that is being used by people from a wide range of cultural and social backgrounds to effectively treat a wide range of chronic and acute health problems.

There are more than 450 substances commonly used in Chinese herbal medicine – most are of plant origin though some animal and mineral substances may also be used. You may find some in your kitchen, such as ginger, garlic and cinnamon, while others such as chrysanthemum and peony flowers, are more likely to be found in your garden.

Chinese herbal prescriptions are carefully composed mixtures of individual herbs. The proportions are specific to each person, and they are easily modified to meet the needs of the individual.

Patterns of Chinese herbal medicine

There are three patterns of the herbal medicine in general. They are herbs, granulated powders and Chinese patent formulas. Because of the difficulty of boiling traditional decoctions and the pungent odor, people rarely use herbs now. Granulated powders, which can be mixed with hot water to make a tea, are more convenient to prepare and use, and are not as pungent as traditional decoctions. Chinese patent formulas are pre-made herbal formulations in pill or tablet form. At Acurepoint Health clinic, we normally offer granulated powders and patent formulas to our patients.

Conditions can be treated by Chinese herbal medicine

Chinese Herbal medicine is used to treat a range of disorders including cough, asthma, stomach trouble, hormonal imbalances, high blood pressure, gynecology problems, insomnia, migraines, anxiety, arthritis, depression and other disorders. Chinese herbal medicine may also be used to assist general health maintenance and disease prevention. Please remember, Chinese herbal medicine must be prescribed by a qualified Chinese medicine practitioner.

Benefits of Chinese herbal medicine

There are numerous benefits to Chinese herbal medicine, including the following:

• It is a gentle, natural way to treat difficult imbalances in the body.
• It can often make lasting changes more quickly than acupuncture alone, particularly for long-standing imbalances.
• It is a good way to maintain the effectiveness of acupuncture treatments when treatments need to be spaced farther apart than is ideal.
• It is tailored to the individual. The prescription can be easily adjusted and rebalanced as often as necessary to find the most effective formulation and to adjust for change and progress in a patient’s condition.

It is often safely combined with many Western pharmaceuticals. A qualified herbalist will know which combinations are safe and what should be avoided.

Acupuncture is one of the oldest healing practices, which originated in China over 2,000 years ago. For centuries, East Asian cultures have been using acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to treat many of the same health problems we struggle with today: respiratory problems, digestive issues, pain conditions, musculoskeletal injuries, and immune system disorders. Today, acupuncture can be a drug-free alternative to help heal many of these conditions or a perfect complement to western medical treatment for others. In fact, you’ll find doctors who not only find acupuncture legitimate, but also recommend acupuncture to their patients.

Acupuncture evolved from the principles and philosophies unique to Traditional Chinese Medicine. A healthy body is full of vital energy (Qi), which flow along special channel system-the meridians. Disorder is due to an internal imbalance and/ or blockage of the flow of vital energy. Acupuncturist insert and manipulate needles to stimulate some acupoints; this could promote health and alleviate pain by increasing vital energy, relieving blockage and restoring the balance of the meridian system.

From a western perspective, the stimulation of particular acupuncture points has been shown to induce physiological responses in the body, such as regulation of hormones and neurotransmitters, release of endorphins, changes in blood cell count, etc.

The problems can be treated by Acupuncture

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends acupuncture as an effective treatment for over forty medical problems. The conditions suitable for treatment with acupuncture include: Painful conditions; Musculoskeletal conditions; Neurological conditions; Gynecological problems; Pregnancy and labor; Gastrointestinal disorders; Ear, nose& throat disorders; Urogenital disorders; Cardiovascular disorders; Addictions such as smoking and drug withdrawals; and other general health problems.

Amazing benefits of Acupuncture

As a natural form of healing, acupuncture has the following benefits:

• Very safe and no side effects
• Provides drug-free pain relief
• Effectively treats a wide range of acute and chronic ailments
• Treats the underlying cause of disease and illness as well as the symptoms
• Improved and faster recovery from Injury, Illness and Surgery
• Provides an holistic approach to the treatment of disease and illness, linking body, mind and emotions.
• Assists in the prevention against disease and illness as well as the maintenance of general well-being

Acupuncture technique

At Acurepoint Health Clinic Perth, we use variety of techniques to improve the flow of Qi through the body:

Traditional Acupuncture involves the use of sterile, single use, thin needles that are gently inserted in the body at very specific points.

Auricular Acupuncture is also called ear acupuncture. The ear tacks (very small needles with an adhesive tape) are gently placed to the points on the ears.

Cosmetic Acupuncture is a natural anti-aging treatment by placing fine, thin needles to the points on the face in order to stimulate the body’s healing energies and increase circulation to reduce wrinkles, fine lines and folds.

Electro-Acupuncture involves the application of gentle electric current to acupuncture needles to further stimulate the acupuncture points.