Traditional Chinese Medicine FAQs

            As a growing industry, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Acupuncture in Australia attract a lot of interest. As a TCM practitioner at Journey Healthcare in Leichhardt, here are some of the questions that I am asked most frequently.

What is it and how does it work?

            Acupuncture is the technique of inserting fine needles into specific points on the body. Acupuncture fits into the wider system of TCM (much like surgery is one technique in the wider understanding of Anatomy and Western Medicine). Herbal therapy, Massage, and Moxibustion (heat therapy) are other aspects of TCM that may be employed to achieve results for the patient.

            In our Leichhardt Chinese Medicine practise, we think of TCM is a whole health system. We understand the body in terms of Qi (‘chi’), Blood, Body Fluids, Yin and Yang, the Meridian (channel) Pathways, the organs and their actions and pathologies, and exterior pathogens (to name a few of the basic theories within TCM).

How do you know where to stick the needles?

            An acupuncture needle is inserted into specific points along the meridians. Each point has certain actions and indications. These points are used to stimulate the body to heal itself.

Does it hurt?

            Acupuncture at Journey Healthcare Leichhardt is very gentle and most people experience it as pain-free and very relaxing. There may be some sensation when the needle is being stimulated, such as heaviness, dullness, a travelling sensation, or a mild tingling. This is called De-Qi and indicated that we have ‘hit the spot’.

Does it work?

            Yes! TCM, Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine have a long history, over 2000 years in fact, of being effective.

            I think of it as 2000 years worth of clinical practise; testing what works, discarding what doesn’t, evolving new techniques, folding in new knowledge. That’s a long clinical trial, and it’s still around and booming. To quote an American statistic 2.1million American adults used acupuncture as part of their health care in 2001…in 2002 that number grew to 8.2million. An impressive jump, and proof that people are voting with their feet on the issue of effectiveness.

            On a personal note, the results I have seen in my own practise in Sydney and from working with others elsewhere prove to me everyday the value of this work. Men unable to stand straight or walk due to acute lower back pain are up and pain free within 10minutes of treatment. Couples able to conceive naturally after years of struggling, children relieved of their chronic asthma…and many more wonderful examples of healing.

Is it safe?

            Yes. In the hands of a registered Chinese Medicine Practitioner, Acupuncture, Massage, Moxibustion, and Herbal Therapy are extremely safe. Your practitioner has a thorough knowledge of anatomy and physiology, as well as TCM theory and practise, making acupuncture a safe option.

            Our practitioners at Journey Healthcare Leichhardt are all fully qualified, registered, and members of the relevant professional bodies. We pride ourselves on our professionalism and dedication to the patient.

What conditions do you treat?

            TCM is very widely applicable. At Journey Healthcare, we have a focus on pain management, including lower back pain, knee pain, injury recovery, sciatica, RSI, frozen shoulder, neck pain and tension, pain due to arthritis, and much more.

            The list of conditions that TCM may help also includes asthma and respiratory issues, weight loss, fertility, menstrual conditions, pregnancy support, addiction, stress and anxiety, depression, colds and flus, paediatric health, as well as much more.

            If you are looking for caring and thorough health care, look no further than TCM at Journey Healthcare in Leichhardt. Call today to book your consultation.

            Helena is a registered Chinese Medicine Practitioner, and Remedial Massage Therapist at Journey Healthcare in Leichhardt NSW.

You can visit Journey Healthcare at

www.journeyhealthcare.ntpages.com.au

call on 0404 0505 13

feel free to email helena.nyssen@gmail.com

We look forward to hearing from you!

Pain and Stagnation

Pain is a limiting factor in life. Many of us live with chronic pain, and it can interfere with our work, our relationships, and our pursuit of happiness. At Journey Healthcare, we believe everyone can be pain free.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), pain has many different causes. These causes are categorised into patterns according to TCM theory. These include Cold Attacking (contracted and stiff muscles, relieved by warmth), Deficiency Pain (chronic, aching, weakness, better for pressure), or Damp Pain (a feeling of heaviness, aching, with swelling), among others.

Your Leichhardt acupuncturist will assess your condition thoroughly to determine your particular pattern, and your treatment will be personalised around this diagnosis.

One common cause of Pain is Stagnation of Qi (Chi) and Blood. Our bodies are designed to move, flow, and change. They do not respond well to lack of movement and sluggishness. In TCM there is a saying; “Where there is free-flow, there is no pain. Where there is pain, there is no free-flow.”

When there is a lack of movement, for example a lack of exercise, or movement of Qi and Blood is impeded due to a trauma (bruising) or other factors such as the presence of a pathogen, a blockage will occur. We call this blockage Stagnation. This condition is extremely common and one we treat at Journey Healthcare in Leichhardt often and with great success.

In cases of pain caused by Qi Stagnation, the nature of the pain will be localised, have a distending quality, and feel worse for pressure. Blood Stagnation is more of a sharp pain and feels as if it is ‘boring in’. There may be bruising present and it feels worse for pressure. Often Qi Stagnation and Blood Stagnation will be combined.

To relieve pain, increase mobility, ease tension, and speed healing this stagnation needs to be moved. TCM employs different techniques, depending on your pattern differentiation. Acupuncture, guasha (scraping), cupping, moxa, and massage are all extremely helpful and effective.

If you experience pain, and the symptoms of Qi and Blood Stagnation sound familiar to you, TCM can help. Conditions that respond extremely quickly to treatment include sciatica, lower back pain, frozen shoulder, RSI, old or recent sports injuries, and many others.

We hope to see you soon, so we can help to get you pain-free and back pursuing your happiness.

Helena Nyssen

Journey Healthcare

Helena is a registered Chinese Medicine Practitioner, and Remedial Massage Therapist at Journey Healthcare in Leichhardt NSW. You can visit Journey Healthcare at www.journeyhealthcare.ntpages.com.au

call on 0404 0505 13

email helena.nyssen@gmail.com

We look forward to hearing from you!