Therapies
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient medical therapy used by the Chinese and other East Asian cultures for thousands of years. It involves placing small needles on different points on the body to restore balance and promote healing. For those new to acupuncture, the thought of having needles placed on the body may not be very appealing, however, most people will find that acupuncture is not as painful as imagined. Some people might feel a slight prick when the needles go in, others don’t feel anything at all. Many people report a very relaxed feeling as the needles get to work. Acupuncture is generally safe, however as with all therapies there are some minor risks involved in Acupuncture including some pain and/or bruising at the site of the needling, if you do experience any discomfort please let your practitioner know.
We offer the following types of Acupuncture, the selection of therapies will be discussed with you during your consultation:
Body Acupuncture
Body acupuncture uses acupuncture points on different parts of the body (mainly arms and legs, back and abdomen) to correct imbalances and improve bodily functions. This style of acupuncture can treat a wide variety of conditions and because of this it is the main style of acupuncture used.
Facial/Cosmetic Acupuncture
Facial rejuvenation acupuncture uses very fine, smooth and small needles on the face to help lift and loosen muscles and may diminish the look of wrinkles, reduce the look of scars and improve the overall appearance of the skin. The facial treatment may be combined with a facial massage and body acupuncture to address any internal issues so you get an external and internal treatment in the one session.
The length of treatment varies according to the condition of your skin, for people with small fine lines 3-5 treatments is sufficient. For those with deeper lines and/or scarring a series of 15 weekly sessions is required to achieve optimal results. After the initial course of treatments a maintenance regime is recommended with treatments spaced every 2-6 months.
Small scale research studies conducted in Korea have shown promising results for cosmetic acupuncture, further larger scale studies are needed to prove that cosmetic acupuncture can reduce the look of wrinkles.
Scalp Acupuncture
Scalp Acupuncture uses acupuncture needles on the scalp to improve body movement, reduce pain, improve sensations of tingling and numbness and regulate the hormones.
Ear Acupuncture/seeds
The ear is seen as a microsystem for the whole body. Different points on the ear can be used to stimulate different areas of the body and treat different conditions. Ear acupuncture can be used alone or with body acupuncture, your practitioner may also decide to use some ear seeds on the outer ear and leave them in for a few days to prolong its effectiveness.
Electrode Acupuncture
Electrode acupuncture uses electrodes to stimulate the needles, it is good for the treatment of muscular pain and may be used in some menstrual disorders as well.
Herbal Medicine
The Chinese herbal medicine material medica is vast with thousands of different types of herbs accumulated over thousands of years of usage. Herbal Medicine is used in a broad range of conditions from internal medicine through to women’s health and skin conditions. The main aim is to restore balance and the normal function of the body.
In our clinic we mostly use plant based herbs with a small number of non-endangered animal products. If you do not want any animal products in your prescription please let your practitioner know and a substitute plant herb will be used instead.
Herbal medicine at our clinic is administered in liquid, granules and/or pill form. The herbs are convenient and easier to take compared to raw herbs where extensive cooking is required. Another benefit is that the manufacturers of these herbal products have conducted stringent testing on these herbs to ensure that strict quality standards are met and pesticide levels are minimised.
Herbal medicine may also be applied externally for skin conditions, if required your practitioner will instruct you on how to use and apply the herbs for maximum effect.
Dietary Therapy and Exercise
Diet and exercise are two very important components of Chinese Medicine, this is because these two lifestyle factors help prevent illness and disease – and prevention is better than cure!
Therefore in your treatment plan there will be a diet and lifestyle advice component and we’ll work together to help you achieve your goals.
Food affects our health much more than the medicine we take. Our everyday diet can be the root cause of our diseases. Chinese medicine classifies food according to its energetic effects rather than its component parts. Some foods are considered warming and nourishing while others are cooling and eliminating. Some foods can be used to build up energy, while others have blood nourishing proprieties. It is very different from western medicine that specific food always has the same nutritional value to everyone. In Chinese medicine, the same food may be seen as beneficial for certain patients but detrimental to others. Diet, in Chinese Medicine is a key factor to maintain health or recover from illness. Patients are always advised to eat healthy foods according to their constitution.
Exercise is another key component in Chinese Medicine as our bodies derive energy from activity and movement. Yoga, Tai Chi and Qi Gong are commonly recommended in TCM nowadays along with other exercises like swimming, walking, jogging and going to the gym. TCM considers the type of exercise and the environment in which exercise is carried out all promote different aspects of energy flow. That is why we advise different types of exercise base on the individual patient’s constitution. Sometimes certain exercises should be avoided until the body has returned to a balanced state. For example weight-bearing exercise can be too strenuous for deficient type patients, and therefore exercise such as walking or Qi Gong are more suitable.
Massage, Cupping, and Moxa
Chinese Medicine Remedial Massage (Tuina)
Tuina (Chinese Medicine Remedial Massage) is very effective in relieving sore, tight and/or injured muscles and in relieving muscular pain. Pain may be relieved in conditions like:
- Sciatica
- Tennis/Golfers elbow
- Carpal Tunnel
- Lower back pain
- General aches and pain
Cupping and Guasha
Cupping is used to release tight muscles and to relieve tightness and pain. Cupping creates suction either by using a flame to burn the oxygen from the cup and then applying the cup to the patient or by placing the cup on the patient first and then removing the air through a valve. In general, any bruises that result clear up between 5 to 10 days.
Guasha is similar to cupping but with the use of a ceramic spoon. Massage oil is massaged onto the skin for lubrication then the skin is scraped until red marks appear, this releases muscle tension, heat and pathogens from the body.
Despite the marks on the skin, cupping and guasha are generally painless procedures. These therapies may relieve the symptoms of colds and flu, muscular aches and pain, and stimulate Qi and Blood flow into the area.
Moxibustion
Moxibustion uses the heat of a herbal stick to add warmth back into the body, stimulate the immune system, to relieve pain and improve circulation of Qi and Blood. At Vitality Acuherb we use the modern equivalent of moxibustion called a heat lamp which is more convenient and covers a wider area of the body. Your practitioner will assess whether these treatments are required in your treatment plan.
Origin Point Therapy, Origin Point Medicine
Origin Point Therapy (OPT, also known as Origin Point Medicine or Yuan Shi Dian) is a special massage technique developed by a famous TCM doctor from Taiwan, Dr. Chang Chao Han. OPT considers the cause of pain or illness is due to injury at Origin Points (set points on the body) which may be different to the actual sites of pain. Therefore this therapy is focused on treating the origin source of pain. Treatment involves deep massage at the origin points on the body, warming pad, and ginger tea.
In conjunction with acupuncture, it wakes up the self-healing ability of our human body and can achieve long term health improvements in many cases.
Our clinic is the first Chinese Medicine clinic providing Origin Point Therapy treatment and training in Melbourne.
Dr. Alexander Chen (TCM) has learned Origin Point Therapy from the CCH Foundation in Taiwan since 2009. In 2014 he was further trained as an international OPT instructor and provided workshops to other practitioners in India, Tibet and Australia.
Both our doctors are trained in OPT. At your first assessment your practitioner may choose to use this therapy as a part of your treatment plan to assist you on your road to recovery. You may also be taught some techniques to practice at home to continue your healing process.
Cosmetic Acupuncture
Chinese Medicine Beauty Therapy, Cosmetic Acupuncture
Chinese Medicine views skin health as a reflection of internal organ health. Therefore external beauty therapy treatments are combined with internal treatments to ensure we address the root cause of the problem.
At Vitality Acuherb we combine cosmetic and body acupuncture, diet and lifestyle advice, herbs (topical and internal) to address your beauty and health concerns.
These therapies are great for brides who want to look their best on their special day, or people who want a more natural way to improve the look of their skin.
What is cosmetic acupuncture and what can it treat?
Cosmetic acupuncture is a natural way to improve the look of your skin, it involves inserting tiny acupuncture needles into the face to loosen facial muscles and boost collagen production, thereby reducing the look of wrinkles, scarring, hyperpigmentation, and other skin problems. The facial treatment is combined with body acupuncture to address the underlying cause of the skin problem from a Chinese Medicine point of view.
How long will each treatment take and will there be any down time?
Each session may last 60-90 minutes, after the treatment your skin may look a little flushed which may last a couple of hours. You may resume normal activities immediately after the treatment.
What precautions do I need to take after the treatment?
After the treatment your skin will more readily absorb skin products, we recommend the use of Rosehip oil as your moisturiser as an at home skin care routine. Products with active ingredients like AHAs or BHAs should be avoided as they may irritate the skin.
How many treatments will I need?
An initial course of 10-15 weekly treatments is recommended with a maintenance follow up session every 2-6 months. Depending on your age you should start noticing improvements after 3-8 treatments.
Are there any risks to cosmetic acupuncture?
The risks to cosmetic acupuncture is minimal, there is a small risk of the needle hitting some small blood vessels on the face, some times this may cause minor bruising.
Are there any contraindications to cosmetic acupuncture?
There are some contraindications to cosmetic acupuncture, pregnant women, people with high blood pressure, people who bleed and bruise easily should not undergo this treatment. People who have recently undergone microdermabrasion/dermabrasion, laser treatments, chemical peels, should wait three weeks before having treatment.