What is TCM?

TCM stands for Traditional Chinese Medicine. It has been developed over thousands of years, and views health as a state of dynamic balance in the subtle energies of mind and body. When applied as preventive medicine it aims to enhance balance, and when directed at illness, injury and ailments, it aims to restore it. Holistic lifestyle practices such as qigong, tai chi and yin-yang diet also aim to cultivate the nourishing life energy known in Chinese as ‘chi’. Acupuncture is the central therapy of TCM, but other methods Nalinee uses when helpful include chi nei tsang, herbal medicine, gua sha, moxibustion and cupping. (See our About TCM pages for more details.)

 

Is acupuncture safe?

Yes. By choosing a registered acupuncturist you are assured that your practitioner has at least a degree-level specialised qualification and observes the standards of their profession. Nalinee applies only single-use sterilised needles in a hygienic environment. Individual needle packages are opened during treatment and used needles enter a sharps container for safe disposal.

 

Does acupuncture hurt? 

Insertion of acupuncture needles usually produces a brief localised sensation that you can hardly feel. Occasionally an insertion can feel a bit ouchy, but it’s nothing like a syringe. Acupuncture needles have a much finer gauge. Nalinee uses gentle techniques to stimulate the needles but otherwise you probably won’t feel them once applied.

 

What can I expect from a course of treatment?

After you submit your client form Nalinee will prepare ideas for a treatment strategy. Your first session then includes an extended consultation to assess your condition followed by your first treatment. Nalinee will explain the treatment plan and adapt it to changes in your symptoms. Progress can sometimes be quick. Other conditions may take more time for effects to build. A course of treatment ends with a review and discharge plan. After completion clients can opt for occasional check-ups and energy balancing treatments aimed at preventive health or managing long-term conditions.

 

What is a treatment session like?

Sessions start with assessment of signs and symptoms and our discussion. You will then privately remove outer clothing as necessary and lie on a massage table covered in clean towels. You will be draped with clean towels and then acupuncture, massage and any other TCM therapies will commence. The period of needle retention varies but is often around 20 minutes. During this time you will relax in a comfortable environment before removal of needles, and we finish with a quick discussion of next steps and any home maintenance that may be recommended.

 

How often do I need to attend?

Once a week is the most common attendance pattern, but some conditions benefit from more intensive treatment involving attendance two or three times a week. The initial period is sometimes followed by less frequent sessions. 

 

What is your approach to TCM?

Nalinee draws on over twenty years of experience in acupuncture with an aim to improve your wellbeing. Educated to masters level and a former lecturer in acupuncture at Lincoln University (UK), her passion is to study TCM traditions and modern research continually in order to seek effective treatment protocols that can be developed in clinical practice and tailored to each client.

 

Do you offer Chinese herbs?

Nalinee is trained in Chinese herbal medicine and may discuss use of herbs with you where relevant. For many conditions acupuncture is enough, and for IVF and some other cases herbs might not be recommended due to possible interaction with your other medicines. Commonly used herbal pills are kept in stock. More customised herbal powder formulas can be ordered and sent to your home by mail in a few days. 

 

Can I claim private health fund rebates?

Yes. Nalinee is registered with all private health funds that offer rebates for acupuncture.

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Is Nalinee a member of any professional associations?

Nalinee is a member of the Australian Traditional Medicine Society and was previously a member of the British Acupuncture Council during her 4 years practising in the UK. She is a registered acupuncturist accredited with and regulated by the Chinese Medicine Board (CMB), which is part of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

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What role does massage play in your practice?

Nalinee first qualified as a Thai massage practitioner in 1998. In 2000 she qualified in Chinese Tui’na and western massage while studying acupuncture. She integrates massage with acupuncture for injury and pain clients. She can also incorporate pregnancy massage, hot stone treatment, and Chi Nei Tsang abdominal massage for emotional release. Her combined acupuncture and massage sessions are recommended for mind-body wellness.

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Can acupuncture be used during pregnancy?

Certainly. Pregnancy is a time to nourish mind and body. It involves many changes and leads to numerous symptoms that acupuncture can help with. This also applies to the post-birth period.

 

What’s the difference between kinds of acupuncture and 'dry needling' in Australia?

In Australia, only specialist practitioners with degree-level training like Nalinee take the professional title ‘acupuncturist’. But confusingly the law permits other health professionals to advertise ‘acupuncture’ with as little as a couple of days training in needling. Some physios and chiros use needling for injuries alongside other methods, but it would be easier if the law kept 'acupuncture' for 'acupuncturists' and 'dry needling' for others. 

 

Do you offer any concessions?

The fee for each session is reduced by $20 for children under 16, full-time students presenting their student card and upon presentation of one of the commonwealth health care cards listed here. The fee is also reduced by $20 for your second or further treatment within a week, whenever that applies. Concessions are strictly limited to these specified client circumstances. Concessions can be combined with private health fund rebates.

 

Does acupuncture complement other forms of medicine?

Acupuncture can be conducted on its own but often supplements other healthcare modalities. It continues to be used in China alongside modern allopathic medicine. Nalinee will discuss if and how it is appropriate to combine acupuncture with any other treatments you are receiving.

 

What if I have more questions?

Please feel free to call or send an email. Nalinee will be happy to discuss how acupuncture and TCM can address your health aims.

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