Pain & Musculoskeletal
My own path into Chinese medicine started with pain. In my twenties I was living with pain that nothing seemed to shift, and within a few acupuncture sessions I was largely back to normal. I hadn't planned a career in Chinese medicine, but that experience changed everything. Now I help other people get back to the things pain has taken from them.
What I help with
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lower back pain and sciatica
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neck and shoulder tension
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headaches and migraines
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jaw tension and TMJ pain
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sports and overuse injuries
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period pain
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ongoing (chronic) pain
How treatment works
From a Chinese medicine view, pain often comes from Qi and blood that aren't flowing smoothly. From a modern view, acupuncture is thought to affect the nervous system, circulation and the release of endorphins.
Depending on what you need, I may use:
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acupuncture, including Japanese-style techniques that are especially gentle
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cupping and gua sha to release tight muscles and move circulation
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moxibustion, a warming herb, for pain that feels worse in the cold
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herbs and stretches to keep you moving between visits
What to expect
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Your first visit will be 60-75 minutes. We talk about where it hurts, when it started, what makes it better or worse, and your general health. Then your first treatment.
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Follow-up visits will be 45-60 minutes. Often weekly to begin with, then spaced out as things improve.
Private health rebates can be claimed on the spot. Please bring any recent blood tests, scans or semen analysis results.
Common questions
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Does acupuncture hurt? The needles are very fine, much thinner than an injection needle. Most people feel a brief pinch or a dull ache, then deep relaxation. Many fall asleep.
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Can I have acupuncture alongside physio or chiro? Yes. Many people find they work well together.