What to expect in your appointment
What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?
Traditional Chinese medicine (or TCM) is a complete medical system used for over 2000 years to alleviate, treat, and prevent illnesses and pain. It is based on the idea of Qi (pronounced “chee”), your vital energy, which flows through meridians in your body, and by redirecting this energy, we can redress dis-ease.
TCM treatments may include acupuncture, cupping, gua sha, heat therapy (moxibustion), massage plus diet and lifestyle recommendations, and herbal prescriptions.
A bit more about me
As a local Bayside mum, I understand firsthand what it is to try to balance a young family, work life, and self-care, and I have experienced my own health challenges along the way.
I truly care about my patients, and I am passionate about improving your overall health and wellbeing. No matter your challenge or stage in life, I will listen to you and create a wellness plan to support you. I have a special interest in Women’s Health, especially post-partum, peri-menopause, menopausal support and insomnia, whilst also treating conditions ranging from chronic pain and headache to fatigue and mood disorders.
Qualifications:
Bachelor of Health Science in Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine (Southern School of Natural Therapies)
Diploma of Remedial Massage Therapy (Sage Massage)
Paediatric certification - Child and Teen Health (Rebecca Avern)
Mental Health Conference (NeedlePro)
Level 2 Senior First Aid
Working with Children Check
Professional Associations & Accreditations:
Registered with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) for Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner and Chinese Herbal Dispensing
Professional Member of the Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS)
Covered by all major health funds, enabling private health insurance rebates on Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine consultations
My passion for improving my patients’ wellbeing began over a decade ago when I left a successful, long-term, corporate HR career, to pursue a more “hands-on” approach to health and wellness. I have always loved interacting with people and coaching them through challenging circumstances, so pursuing a qualification in Remedial Massage seemed the next logical step. After all, during corporate life, massage had already been an integral part of my personal health plan, combatting headaches and postural aches and pains from years at a computer. I loved the effect it had on me and was drawn to it for others.
Working as a Remedial Massage Therapist in a busy Bayside physiotherapy clinic for nearly 10 years, I treated acute and chronic musculoskeletal and pain conditions with massage and Myofascial Dry Needling. This was where my passion for therapeutic needles (and their amazing healing potential) was truly ignited! Thus, a career in Acupuncture and Herbal Chinese Medicine seemed the next logical step.
Being a qualified (BHSc) and AHPRA registered Chinese Medicine Practitioner and Acupuncturist I have been welcoming patients from all over Bayside and Melbourne to my home clinic, for several years now. I hold professional membership with the Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS). I am registered with all major health funds, enabling my patients to claim private health insurance rebates for Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine consultations.
I would love to support you to reach your health and wellbeing goals.
How it all works and what to expect in your initial appointment
My space is a warm, inviting home clinic in a colonial cottage in Bayside.
It is a calming haven designed for comfort, a place for you to switch off from the outside world, relax, heal, and take time for yourself. Many of my patients enjoy a ‘acu-nap’ during their treatments, and some of them even come in their pyjamas!
So, how do consultations work, I hear you ask? Great question. We start with a detailed discussion regarding your individual health concerns, your symptoms, medical background, and your goals for treatment. I explain my approach using Chinese Medicine principles and walk you through your tailored treatment plan. I may ask to look at your tongue and feel your wrist pulses, as they reflect the health of your internal organs and help to confirm your diagnoses and thus the focus of treatment. And the best bit comes next, when you get to lie on the treatment table!
If you have booked my most popular Restorative Long Consultation, we will likely start with some Remedial Massage, targeting any pain or tension you may be experiencing throughout your body. Depending on your presentation, a combination of one or many additional therapies may be incorporated into your treatment, including:
Cupping
Gua Sha (gentle scraping of the skin using a ceramic spoon or Gua Sha stone)
Heat therapy
Diet therapy
Lifestyle recommendations
Once your body has well and truly relaxed down, thin sterile needles are used to stimulate acupuncture points along the body’s energy channels. The acupuncture points are specifically selected to address your presenting symptoms and main health concerns. Once the needles have been inserted, you are left to soak in the relaxing music and nod off, if you so desire. I leave the needles in for 15-30 minutes, in order to facilitate re-balancing of Qi, blood, and bodily fluids, prompting the body to heal itself.
Depending on your presenting symptoms, Herbal Medicine may be dispensed during this time. You take this home with you to help reinforce your Acupuncture treatment. A course of three to six follow up treatments are highly recommended, especially when treating long-term or complex conditions. You may also experience a heightened sense of emotional wellness, even if initially presenting with physical symptoms. This is due to the holistic nature of Chinese Medicine (and a great perk!)
From the Blog
I’m extremely passionate about Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, and I love sharing my knowledge with others.
