Learn about all things related to traditional Chinese medicine theories, treatment methods and modalities.

Acupressure For Labour Pain

In addition to acupuncture, Chinese Medicine includes a range of treatment options including herbal medicine, diet therapy, cupping and acupressure. Acupressure involves the stimulation of acupuncture points by fingers, hands and elbows. Acupressure can be applied at home to keep up momentum in between treatments. Acupressure can also be used by partners to help their

... continue reading.

Acupuncture for Headaches

Headaches can be a pain in the…… The reasons why we get headaches seems like a never ending list: The good news is, acupuncture is an excellent thing to do to help with your headaches. Interestingly a number of acupuncture points will can reduce headaches even if the cause of them is unclear. Some points are so

... continue reading.

Acupuncture for IVF

How can acupuncture be used for IVF? Acupuncture is an exciting option for those undergoing IVF who are looking for some support. Acupuncture may help to improve the chances of conceiving from IVF and support a successful birth. Additionally, it’s an excellent choice for couples who want to avoid the side effects of medication. So,

... continue reading.

Acupuncture for Stiff Joints

Tired of waking up with stiff, achy joints that make simple movements a challenge? Acupuncture might hold the key to unlocking improved joint mobility and relieving discomfort. Let’s explore how acupuncture can help alleviate stiff joints and improve overall joint health. Understanding Stiff Joints: Stiff joints can result from various factors: age, injury, overuse, inflammation,

... continue reading.

Alcohol

Alcohol attracts a lot of attention, especially at this time of year. In Australia, we are known for binge drinking. European’s sip on it before a meal, and it is banned in the Middle East. In China, it has been used socially and medicinally for thousands of years. In fact, alcohol was first brewed in

... continue reading.

Anti Inflammatory Food Guide

Foods rich in anti oxidants, (fight free radicles, preventing oxidative stress and cell damage within the body) and omega-3 fatty acids, may help many anti inflammatory conditions. Eat Less of Processed foods Deep fried foods Refined sugar  Alcohol Eat More of Dark leafy greens – Kale, Bok choy, Brussel Sprouts. full of anti oxidants.  and

... continue reading.

BBT Charting: Why we use it at Gardenvale TCM

What is a BBT Chart: Basal Body Temperature (BBT) charting was first identified in the 1930s as a rhythm method of birth control. With the addition of monitoring cervical fluid and cervical positioning, the rhythm method of contraception upheld a 98% success rate.  This newfound fertility awareness opened up a wealth of information to increase

... continue reading.

Body Gua Sha

So, we’ve heard of Gua Sha for the face… but what about other places on the body? Recently, facial gua sha has become quite prevalent. Gua Sha uses a jade tool to lightly draw across the face, neck, and chest in certain patterns to move fluid retention, stimulate microcirculation, release tight face muscles, soften wrinkles,

... continue reading.

Calf Injuries and the World Cup

A Chinese Medicine Perspective on Calf Injuries World Cup fever is here, with the final fast approaching, combined with school holidays, families are outside kicking soccer balls around. It is wonderful to see. The downside of all the activity, is the possibility of calf injuries, for example.  the gastrocnemius muscle (calf muscle) is a muscle located at the

... continue reading.

Chronic Pain

Chronic pain in can present in many different areas and with varying intensity.  Chronic pain, usually present for a number of months, is often the result a specific injury, such as: lower back muscle strain or disc damage arthritis sciatic pain nerve impingement But it also might happen because of a treatment or procedure. An

... continue reading.

Coffee

When you are reaching for your next coffee, perhaps stop and ask yourself “what is your body really trying to tell you?” If you’re tired and looking for an energy boost, I suggest you try 15 minutes of lying down with your eyes closed, that’s what I do. Alternatively, try a five minute walk with some deep belly breathing. Oxygen always helps fatigue.

... continue reading.

Cosmetic Acupuncture

Cosmetic acupuncture has become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason! It is a celebrity-approved facial treatment that can transform ageing, acne-prone, scarred, and uneven skin tone. As a painless alternative to the injection of chemicals, laser and other invasive procedures, cosmetic acupuncture is relaxing and 100% natural. You may be asking, what

... continue reading.

COVID-19 New Protocols

We are open for acupuncture appointments! To keep you safe, happy and healthy we have introduced some extra measures in clinic and wanted to share them with you. New protocols include: One person only in the waiting room. People are to wait outside until ushered in. Everyone who enters is required to sanitise there hands.

... continue reading.

Dill and Cucumber Salad

This Dill and Cucumber Salad is the perfect summer side salad! This Dill and Cucumber Salad is the perfect summer side dish. Not only is it delicious, but it also has medicinal properties as well! In terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the cucumber is known for its cool nature, giving it the ability to

... continue reading.

Exercise and your menstrual cycle

For ladies who like to exercise in a more vigorous (yang) style, it may be important to tailor your exercise program with your menstrual cycle to improve your health. Below is an outline of what is happening to your body during your cycle, and how to exercise to help avoid injury and maintain good health.

... continue reading.

Feb Fast could turn to Miserable March!

Feb Fast Detox is certainly the buzz word for the beginning of the year. Throughout the summer we put our body through its paces with more rich food, alcohol and often less exercise. Come February we feel bloated, sluggish and foggy in the head, desperate to detox, vent, clear and purge. And so the ‘Feb

... continue reading.

Feeling Phlegmy

Have you been feeling that extra bit phlegmy lately? For those of us who are feeling like our immune systems have been in over drive and are now dealing with all the lingering joys like phlegm and mucous. Let’s dive a bit deeper into why we sometimes feel especially phlegmy… Why are we still phlegmy?

... continue reading.

Festive Eating Guide

The festive eating season is here yet again. So let’s talk about an issue very close to my stomach, and that’s over eating. It’s not uncommon during this period to eat until we are feeling physically unwell. What can I do to avoid the trauma of overindulgence? It is hard during the festive eating season

... continue reading.

Get To Know Our New Practitioner, Michelle!

We are delighted to introduce you to you one of the newest members of the Gardenvale TCM team, Michelle! Michelle is an extremely passionate and knowledgeable practitioner that and we are thrilled to have join our team. Michelle is a registered Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbalist. Michelle’s commitment to incorporating both traditional and modern knowledge encouraged

... continue reading.

Healthy breath healthy body

Something I get asked a lot in clinic is what can I do at at home to help with stress, pain due to injury, gut issues perhaps? The answer is healthy breathing. Dr Belisa Vranich has a great book ‘Breathe’ that goes in to detail on how breathing works. How to retrain yourself to breathe

... continue reading.

Hormonal changes in teenage years

Hormonal changes in teenage years Teenage years are challenging enough as it is, but the hormonal changes that come with them can sometimes only add to the stress of navigating this period of life. The novel influx of hormones only adds to the angst of navigating the teenage years – mood swings, acne, body changes,

... continue reading.

Immune Support

Sleep Research has shown that a good nights sleep will assist with many health concerns including immune support.  In Chinese medicine we talk about sleep being yin in nature. Sleep allows: Our body to restore Our organs to relax Allows the blood to fill through the muscles It allows our nervous system to calm down

... continue reading.

Injuries in the winter

Have you noticed that you seem to get more injuries in the winter? Let’s discuss why that might be happening… Winter is here, with all the joys that come with it, including an influx of old injuries playing up (and new ones). Which begs to question… are we more susceptible to injuries in colder weather?

... continue reading.

Let’s talk about Libido

Let’s talk about Libido… I think the time has come, so let’s talk about Libido. Low libido essentially means low sex drive, but it can also be associated with no sex drive or not being able to get or sustain an erection. However, that issue could also be referred to as erectile dysfunction. They have different terms,

... continue reading.

Let’s talk about sex… and baby making.

We spend most of lives in fear of getting pregnant, but now it’s now time to clear up some questions about the birds and the bees. Please send through any other questions you have, there is no such thing as a silly question. When should we have sex? Most women who I see have been

... continue reading.

Lingering Pathogen

The concept of a ‘lingering pathogen’ has been around for a long time in Chinese Medicine. It applies when you haven’t been able to shake that cold or flu, or you haven’t fully recovered or simply not felt quite right since getting a ‘bug’ a few months ago. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), using the modalities

... continue reading.

Low Back Pain

Low back pain…. truly a pain in the backside! Careers where you spend a long time bent over at a desk, poor posture, and stress can all contribute to back stiffness, tension, and aching. However, acupuncture is here to help. Our main goals through treatment are to: and Within one session, you should feel immediate

... continue reading.

Male Menopause

Hi it’s Jane and Nick from Gardenvale Chinese Medicine. When it comes to menopause, we women have to deal with dry, irritated vaginas, night sweats, irritability and so forth… I thought male menopause meant you get to date young girls and drive motorbikes. But Nick would like to talk to us today about this very

... continue reading.

Meet The Newest Member of Gardenvale TCM, Liah!

We are so please to introduce you to the newest member of the Gardenvale TCM team, Liah! Liah brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to our community and we are excited to have her join the team this month. Liah is an Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner and Dispenser. Liah’s commitment to fusing the

... continue reading.

Men’s Health

Here is a little something about how sperm is made, some tips so you can make it better for conception, some advice so you can avoid conception and a joke. How is sperm made? Sperm are made in the male gonads (testes). These organs hang outside the scrotum as sperm like to be kept a

... continue reading.

Men’s Health & Circulation

How are you doing?No, how are you really doing?  Did anyone know during the month of June we had Men’s Health week? No? Well, I’m not surprised. We don’t really like to talk about it. But that’s the problem right there. So I thought I’d have a little rant about health in a way the chaps might find

... continue reading.

Menopause, a Chinese medicine perspective!

Menopause As women, we will have approximately 500 periods in our lifetime. Our periods begin between the ages of 10-18. We continue to menstruate until menopause (the change of life) begins at the age of 45-55. Menopause represents a hormonal change in the female physiological process. Certain levels of hormones such as oestrogen will not

... continue reading.

Movement matters

Movement matters, but sometimes we feel too strapped for time to get in some exercise. Or sometimes, we just feel too low on energy to move. It is so easy to get caught up in our busy lives that we don’t set time aside for any movement whether its stretching, walking or exercise of another

... continue reading.

Moxa: What Is It And How Does It Work?

That persistent Melbourne cold loves to make its way into our bodies and lodge deep into our muscles and channels. Feeling creaky and stiff in the morning? Cold fingers and toes? Slow digestion? You may have Cold in your channels.  Cold can also make its way into our bodies through diet: raw, cold, and energetically cold foods (such

... continue reading.

Perimenopause, Menopause and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Are you experiencing irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, difficulty sleeping at night, mood swings and approaching your forties? You may be approaching perimenopause or menopause. Menopause is a natural process that occurs when a woman stops having periods permanently and cannot become pregnant naturally. Perimenopause means ‘around menopause’ and indicates the time in which

... continue reading.

Preventative Hay Fever Tips

Spring It’s that time of year when the sun starts shining, and the wind starts blowing, and our clinic gets busy with hay fever suffers. More and more we hear people saying they “…never used to get hayfever”, or “it never used to be that bad”. So why is it getting worse? Well, according to

... continue reading.

Protecting your Immunity in Winter

Protecting your Immunity in Winter It’s that time of year again where every day feels colder than the last and our heaters are working over-time. Everyone’s favourite season… Winter! So, I think it’s time we have a chat about protecting yourself and your immunity in the winter. Winter can pose unique challenges to the body

... continue reading.

Scar and Wound Healing

Scar and Wound Healing We can learn a lot about our health through our skin, especially if we notice that we are easy to get little nicks and scrapes, or the healing process isn’t as neat or quick as we’d like it to be. So, let’s chat about scar and wound healing. It’s normal for

... continue reading.

Signs of Heat

Signs of Heat As we move through Spring and into the early days of Summer, I am seeing plenty of signs of heat in the clinic. It’s the dormant seed in us wiggling out of the ground and sprouting, stretching its arms and getting things flowing inside. With that and the warmer weather comes Heat.

... continue reading.

Sleep Hygiene

Sleep Hygiene Hi it’s Jane and Nick from Gardenvale Chinese Medicine. A lot of our patients have problems when it comes to sleeping, either problems falling asleep, or trouble staying asleep. Today we thought we would share some tips and tricks for good sleep hygiene. It’s a bit of a buzz word lately, “sleep hygiene”,

... continue reading.

Superfood Salad

This vibrant salad is delicious, healthy and very easy to make. Ingredients such as lettuce, kale and spinach are rich in soluble fibre which is essential for good digestion. These greens also contain lots of Vitamin C, Vitamin K, folate, iron, magnesium and potassium. Serves 4 Ingredients: 250g kale or cos lettuce Pinch of sea salt

... continue reading.

Supplements for Fertility

Do you need to be taking supplements for fertility? And if so, which ones? As anyone who has struggled to conceive knows, infertility can be a hard journey with many treatment possibilities. But, one factor that may boost your chances can be relatively simple: your diet. Micronutrients you get through food or supplements play a

... continue reading.

Supporting Fertility with Foods

Supporting fertility with foods in TCM Chinese medicine believes in a holistic approach for every aspect of health. This means, not only keeping up with your herbs and treatments. But, also prioritising a healthy diet and lifestyle. What we eat can have a massive impact on not only our gut-health and digestion, but also can

... continue reading.

TCM Tips To Survive In Winter

We tend to be more susceptible to colds during winter, as the wind and cold can force our immune system to work harder than it is used to. The nature of cold is slow and constricting and this can occur on a physiological level as it constricts our blood vessels and impacts circulation, leading to

... continue reading.