Chinese Herbal Medicine Consultation
Treatments ~ Chinese Herbal Medicine Consultation
Personalised Chinese Herbal Medicine Consultation in Bayside Melbourne
A formula steeped in ancient Chinese Medicine wisdom. Sourced from nature, built specifically for you.
Chinese Herbal Medicine is one of the oldest and most sophisticated systems of medicine in the world, drawing its remedies directly from nature. At Embrace Complementary Medicine, I construct and dispense your Chinese Herbal Medicine formula from scratch, tailored to your individual presentation, symptoms, dietary limitations and goals.
Available as a standalone 30-minute consultation or as part of your acupuncture appointment.
What is Chinese Herbal Medicine?
Nature-Based Medicine With 2,000 Years Behind It
Chinese Herbal Medicine is a core pillar of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a system developed over millennia to work with the body's natural patterns and support its capacity to function well.
While Western pharmaceuticals typically target a single symptom or mechanism, or work to negate a side effect of other medication, Chinese herbal formulae are designed to address the whole picture of what's happening in your body. Your formula might include roots, bark, seeds, flowers, minerals, shells or leaves, each selected for how they interact with one another, and with you specifically.
At Embrace Complementary Medicine, herbs are dispensed as granules or powder, dissolved in a small amount of warm water and taken at home. It is a practice that has supported people's health for thousands of years, and it remains one of the most targeted and responsive forms of nature-based medicine available.
Your Chinese Herbal Medicine formula
This is not something you can buy off the shelf.
Your Chinese herbal medicine formula is a specific combination of herbs, with the ratio of each ingredient carefully considered to respond to your unique presentation.
The formula I construct for you is built from scratch, crafted just for you, based on everything about your body during the consultation. Two people with similar concerns may leave with quite different formulas, because in Chinese medicine, the pattern matters more than the symptom.
As your health changes, your formula can be adjusted. It is a living prescription, not a fixed protocol.
Why Chinese Herbal Medicine?
Care That Extends Beyond the Treatment Table
One of the most meaningful things about Chinese Herbal Medicine is that it extends your care beyond the treatment table.
Acupuncture and bodywork are powerful during a session, but your body only receives that support once a week, or once a fortnight. A herbal formula works with your system every day. When used together, Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine work synergistically, and many patients find that combining both therapies support faster and more effective progress than either approach alone. However, if you are unable to commit to regular acupuncture treatments right now, Chinese Herbal Medicine offers a meaningful way to support your health goals.
Medication and Allergies
Your safety is part of the consultation, not an afterthought.
One of the most common concerns people have about Chinese Herbal Medicine is whether it's safe to take alongside existing medications. It's a fair question that I take seriously.
In every Chinese Herbal Medicine consultation, I ask about your current medications, supplements, and any known sensitivities. If there are any potential interactions that give cause for caution, I will discuss these with you openly and adjust your formula accordingly.
I am AHPRA-registered as a Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner and a Chinese Herbal Dispenser. This is the same national regulatory body that oversees doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists in Australia. This means a peace of mind for you that Embrace Complementary Medicine is held to a nationally recognised professional standard.
Chinese Herbal Medicine Consultation might be right for you
You're interested in Chinese medicine but needles aren't for you.
Chinese Herbal Medicine offers the same depth of thinking and clinical care, without any needles.
You've tried other approaches and feel like they're not quite hitting the mark.
You want something more tailored than what's available over the counter.
You're a busy woman who can't always make it in for weekly sessions.
Chinese Herbal Medicine offers health support between Acupuncture and Gua Sha appointments.
You want to understand exactly what you’re taking and why.
My formula is built specifically for you, not just follow a protocol someone else designed for someone else.
A gentle note: Chinese herbal granules are dissolved in a small amount of warm water and consumed as a liquid. I will walk you through how to prepare them in a way that is manageable. Most people find they adapt to the taste more quickly than they expected.
What to expect during your consultation
Step 1: The Conversation
Our consultation begins by asking about your current health concerns, symptoms, medical history, any medications or supplements you're taking, and what you're hoping to achieve. This isn't just a checklist for me. It’s a genuine conversation that shapes everything I formulate for you.
Step 2: The Assessment
I will likely look at your tongue and feel your wrist pulses. These are two of the primary diagnostic tools in Chinese medicine, offering a window into what's happening in your body at a systemic level, beyond what symptoms alone can reveal. I will explain what I observe as I go along.
Step 3: Your Formula
Based on everything I learn about your presentation, I compile your personalised herbal formula: a specific combination of granules and powders measured and prepared for you.
I'll walk you through exactly how to prepare and take your formula at home, including dosage, recommended timings, frequency, and what to look out for. Clear instructions are also provided on the personalised packaging, along with all ingredients, and my contact details should you have any questions or concerns.
Step 4: Ongoing Support
At follow-up appointments, I will reassess your presentation and adjust your formula as needed. Chinese Herbal Medicine is responsive. As your body shifts, your formula can shift with it.
When I ask my patients what brought them to Embrace Complementary Medicine (and what keeps them coming back), a few things come up consistently:
A practitioner who truly listens
Your experience matters. There’s no minimising, no rushing through symptoms, and no leaving with more questions than you arrived with. I believe that being genuinely heard is part of the healing process.
A calm, private home clinic
Tucked away on a quiet Bayside street in Sandringham, my clinic is a world away from busy shopping strips and noisy waiting rooms. From the moment you arrive, the environment is designed to help you exhale.
Education is part of every session
Understanding why your body is doing what it’s doing, and what you can do to support it between appointments, is something I consider central to my practice. An informed patient makes progress faster.
Why Embrace Complementary Medicine?
About Dr Nikki Hills
I’m an AHPRA-registered Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbal Medicine practitioner, held to the same nationally recognised professional standards as doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists in Australia.
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 work with you to create a treatment plan that best supports you and your needs.
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
Registered with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) registered 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 for eligible treatments.
-
No. Chinese Herbal Medicine is available as a completely standalone 30-minute appointment, with no needles involved. Many of my Chinese Herbal Medicine patients come to me specifically because acupuncture isn't for them.
The best treatment approach can be discussed during our initial Chinese Herbal Medicine consultation, based on your health concerns and what you wish to achieve.
-
Honestly, Chinese Herbal Medicine tastes earthy, and sometimes quite strong. The taste varies depending on the herbs in your formula. Some people find it easy to adjust to, whilst others are surprised at how palatable they can be.
I will walk you through how to prepare it in a way that is as manageable as possible. Most patients find they adapt to the taste more quickly than they expected.
Once patients experience their symptoms shifting, they are more than comfortable to continue taking their herbs.
-
Your formula comes as granules or powder, which you dissolve in warm water. I will explain the exact quantities and timing at your consultation, including how much water to use, frequency and when in the day to take it. It's straightforward once you've done it a couple of times.
Clear instructions are also provided on the personalised packaging, along with all ingredients, and my contact details should you have any questions or concerns.
-
Herb-drug interactions are assessed as a standard part of every consultation. I ask about all current medications and supplements before formulating, and will discuss any relevant considerations with you openly.
You will have the opportunity to list your current medications and supplements in your online New Patient Form, prior to your initial consultation. We also discuss any changes to these regularly, so that any herbal formulae can be adjusted accordingly.
-
Yes, if your policy includes Chinese Herbal Medicine cover. Check with your health fund for your specific level of cover.
-
This varies depending on your presentation and how consistently the herbs are taken. Some people notice a shift within a few days, others find the effects build more gradually over several weeks of consistent use. I will give you a realistic sense of what to expect based on your individual circumstances.
-
Definitely! Chinese Herbal Medicine has a long history of traditional use in supporting women's health across all stages of the reproductive journey, including fertility, IVF cycles, and pregnancy.
Herbal formulae are always prescribed specifically for your individual circumstances, adjusted to your stage of pregnancy, and selected with your broader health picture in mind.
-
This is one of the most common questions I hear at Embrace Complementary Medicine, and the honest answer is: it depends.
The number of sessions you need can vary based on your individual health concerns, whether they are acute or chronic, and how your body responds to treatment. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, because you are unique and no-one presents exactly the same way.
As a general guide, a course of three to six sessions is commonly recommended as a starting point, with more acute conditions often responding more quickly than long-standing or complex ones. Many women also find monthly treatments helpful for maintaining their results over time, once their primary concerns are addressed.
What I can promise is transparency. After your first appointment, you will receive a tailored Treatment Plan, and your progress is reviewed as we go. I value honesty and will never recommend treatment beyond what I genuinely believe serves your health.
-
Embrace Complementary Medicine is located in Bayside Melbourne, servicing Hampton, Black Rock, Highett, Beaumaris, Brighton, and surrounding suburbs.
I see my patients for Acupuncture, Cupping and Gua Sha, Chinese Herbal Medicine appointment, Moxibustion (heat therapy) and Remedial massage from my private home clinic in Sandringham.
The exact address is provided in your booking confirmation after you book online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not sure what’s right for you? I am happy to help.
Curious whether Chinese Herbal Medicine is right for you?
A 30-minute consultation is a low-commitment way to find out. I will assess your presentation, answer your questions, and let you know whether herbal medicine is well suited to what you're working with.
Book online, or reach out if you'd like to ask something first.