FAQ

Some endangered species are used, and in most cases they are plant materials. They are brought to Australia via strict CITES (Convention for the International Trade of Endangered Species) export and import permits with full accountability on both the Chinese and Australian sides. Such permits ensure they are renewable harvested from an artificially propagated or farmed source, and not unsustainably wild collected.

Some animal products are used as medicines in this clinic, however, they can be substituted for plant products should you not wish to use them.

Generally, the longer you’ve had a particular illness and the more severe it is, the longer it will take to treat.
For example, someone suffering from the common cold or food poisoning should only need treatment for a week or two, while someone with a 20 year history of psoriasis may need a 6 month, or more, treatment course.
Diseases such as Hepatitis C, Parkinson’s, or rheumatoid arthritis, for example, may require ongoing low-dosage treatment to maintain health despite the illness.

In most cases, yes. There are very few reports of adverse interactions between Chinese medicine and conventional medicine. In fact, the two are frequently and routinely used to complement each other.
For example, TCM is often used to treat the side effects of modern drugs, and to support patients undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy or other heavy treatments.
It’s always important that you inform your practitioner of any medications you are taking so that potential interactions can be assessed.

It is unlikely that you will experience side effects from using Chinese medicine. Some people occasionally note a slight light-headedness following acupuncture, or loose bowels after taking herbs, but this is rare.
If you do experience side effects, your treatment can almost always be easily modified to avoid these reactions.

Chinese herbs aren’t always, but can at times, be strong tasting. This will depend on your illness and the herbs needed to treat it.
Most people get used to even the strongest tasting prescriptions very quickly, and come to enjoy and appreciate the taste.
For those with especially sensitive stomachs the herbs can be placed in capsules, while the addition of a small amount of honey will also make most herbs quite palatable.

Chinese herbs are usually combined, several at once, into formulas. The herbs supplied in this practice are mostly in the form of granulated extracts, and much like instant coffee, are prepared by simply adding your measured dose to hot water twice a day. All herbs prescribed are fully quality assured and sourced from The Herb Booth.

Acupuncture tends to produce a very mild sensation in the form of a dull throb or electrical sensation. This is a sign that the needle is in place and is doing its work.
This sensation is usually described as relieving, and sometimes even enjoyable, in the same way, someone might describe a deep massage as being pleasant.
Acupuncture needles are extremely fine so insertion doesn’t produce the same sharpness or “sting” of other needles such as used in blood tests and injections.

The average visit begins with diagnosis through questioning and pulse diagnosis, and sometimes abdominal palpation and tongue diagnosis. If this is not your first visit, these techniques may still be applied to monitor your treatment progress.
Depending on the diagnosis, most treatments involve a combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine — acupuncture is applied during your visit and you are given herbs to take at home, with appropriate directions.