Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine is an ancient system of medicine that can be traced back thousands of years. It takes a holistic approach to disease with the focus being as much on the prevention of illness as the treatment of it.
In Australia, practitioners of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal medicine must be registered with the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia and are governed by AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency). All practitioners must hold a minimum 4-year degree level qualification, or equivalent, and adhere to strict practice guidelines.
During a consultation, a practitioner assesses presenting signs and symptoms, past medical history and combines that information with tongue and pulse diagnosis to determine any underlying disharmony. An individual treatment plan is then designed to address not only the presenting issue, but aims to target the root cause of the illness. Recommended treatments may include Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal medicine, cupping or gua sha therapy, dietary and lifestyle advice.
Acupuncture
The origins of acupuncture can be traced back over 2,000 years, making it one of the oldest health care systems in the world. Today, acupuncture supports the treatment of a wide number of conditions. It involves the insertion of fine, sterile, disposable needles into acupoints on the body. Points are individually chosen following a consultation and aim to restore balance and homeostasis in the body.
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If you would like to know the difference between acupuncture and dry needling, learn more here.
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Following a consultation, a Chinese herbal prescription will be specifically formulated for your own condition. Most diseases or illnesses present with a core set of recognisable signs and symptoms, but the actual presentation of a particular disease or illness may vary from person to person. For this reason, people with similar health conditions may be provided with quite different Chinese herbal medicine prescriptions.
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There are more than 450 substances commonly used in Chinese herbal medicine – most are of plant origin. Controversial substances that were traditionally used are no longer a part of modern professional Chinese herbal practice.