Health management

Traditional East Asian Medicine  (TEAM) uses a very specific model to understand the body, which is very different to the one used in orthodox biomedicine. The classifications of disease that are used in Orthodox biomedicine are not part of our paradigm, so we don’t rely on these for diagnosis and treatment.

The focus of diagnosis and treatment in TEAM are the energy pathways (meridians, channels) in the body.

These pathways cover the entire body, so all parts of the body-mind can be treated.

By promoting the free flow of energy or ki through these pathways, the body-mind is nurtured towards a more balanced state, and the body’s natural healing processes are activated and supported.

TEAM can help everyone, from babies to the elderly and everyone in between.

**Please note that under national law claims of efficacy of treatment are required to be made with reference to evidence of a high standard. Any conditions mentioned on this website have been listed based on a range of strong evidence to inconclusive evidence. For any clarification you please view the Acupuncture Evidence Project.

Acupuncture can support:

• energy and vitality
• immunity and immune responses
• blood flow and circulation
• sleep and relaxation
• skin health
• respiratory function
• gynaecological health
• fertility and sexual function
• digestion and bowel function
• urinary function
• cardiovascular health
• freedom of movement.

Acupuncture may also assist by:

• alleviating or reducing pain and nausea
• reducing stress, anxiety, anger and other unhelpful emotions
• promoting normal body temperature by removing excessive heat or cold
• removing damp and phlegm.

The mechanisms of acupuncture from a biomedical perspective include:

• stimulating the release of oxytocin
• releasing muscle tension
• assisting the body to release natural killer cells
• promoting blood flow.

“If Qi is flourishing, there is health. If it is weak there is disease; if it is balanced there is quietness, if it moves in the wrong direction there is disease. Thus the transformation and proper direction of movement of Qi is the basis for the movement of Blood, the transformation of essence, the movement, transformation and excretion of Body Fluids, the digestion of food, the absorption of nourishment, the excretion of waste, the moistening of the sinews and bones, the moistening of the skin and the resistance to exterior pathogenic factors.” Giovani Maciocia

In Traditional East Asian Medicine, the proper functioning of ki (qi in Japanese) is essential for good health and wellness. When ki is in vacuity or excess, it is stagnant or cannot transform adequately, then illness manifests. Ki manifests on the physical, mental/emotional and spiritual levels.

The body-mind is composed of vital substances: Ki, Essence, Body Fluids and Mind. These substances are all manifestations of Ki.

By supporting and moving Ki, the other vital substances are also returned to their proper functioning, promoting balance and wellness on the levels of body, mind and spirit.

Traditional East Asian Medicine views pain as a symptom of an obstruction of the meridians. By promoting the circulation of ki and blood in the meridians, these obstructions are removed and the tissues, muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints and connective tissues are nourished and healed.

Headache and migraine pain may also benefit from promoting the free flow of qi to target the cause of and alleviate pain and return your system to it’s pain free natural state.

Both acute and chronic pain may be assisted with acupuncture treatment, cupping and moxibustion, diet and lifestyle modifications. 

Acupuncture can assist in relieving:

• back pain
• neck pain
• leg and foot pain
• joint pain
• abdominal pain and discomfort
• headaches and migraines
• undiagnosed and unexplained pain
• emotional pain.

Acupuncture can assist both women and men to improve their fertility naturally.

When the body-mind is imbalanced, it can be hard for the body to naturally conceive.  Acupuncture can help to bring a woman’s body-mind into optimal condition to support natural conception. It can also support a couple through the IVF process and IVF transfer. In addition to improving overall health, acupuncture can assist with regulating menstrual cycles, increasing ovarian blood flow, supporting embryo implantation and improving egg quality. 

Treatment is also available for men to improve general reproductive health and works to improve the quality and quantity of sperm produced. 

Modifications in diet and lifestyle advice is also available to assist in improving health and fertility for both women and men.

For IVF preparation, a minimum of 3 months of treatment is recommended.

Acupuncture can support and nourish your lungs, promoting free and easy breathing. In TEAM, the lungs contain the following functions:

• Govern Qi/Ki and respiration
• Control the diffusion and descending of qi/ki and fluids
• Open into the nose
• Control nasal mucous

Disruption to the normal operation of these lung functions produces dis-ease in the body and in particular the lungs and respiratory system.

Other organs may be involved in respiratory problems and these are identified and treated during acupuncture sessions.

Respiratory conditions are related to an imbalance in yin/yang and the flow of qi/ki in the body. Acupuncture helps to balance these energies and helps the body to eliminate the climactic factors of wind, cold, heat, damp and phlegm which are often present with many lung conditions.

Babies and children respond very well to acupuncture; they usually respond more quickly and generally require less treatment than adults.

Shonishin is a highly specialised non-insertive acupuncture system for babies and children up to 14 years of age (children 15 and above are treated as adults).

A Shonishin session for your child starts with complete health history, which often gives insights into the current problem. Diagnosis of the child’s condition includes very light touch of the energetic pathways on the arms, legs and belly and the affected area.

The treatment begins with a special Shonishin massage, which parents are taught to do for their children at home. Babies and children usually love this part of the treatment. Next, special non-insertive tools are used to balance the energetic pathways to enable the child’s natural self-healing mechanisms to activate and address the main symptoms.

Lastly, moxibustion may be applied to points on the body to support growth and development.Symptoms associated with a wide range of conditions* can be assisted with Shonishin, including:

• Respiratory conditions, e.g asthma, allergies, chronic coughs and colds, excessive phlegm, recurrent infections
• Skin conditions: eczema, atopic dermatitis, urticaria
• Digestive problems: constipation, diarrohea, stomach and abdominal problems
• Emotional: anger, frustration, grumpiness, low mood
• Urinary problems
• Ear, nose and throat: nasal congestion, sinusitis, ear infections
• Musculoskeletal: growing pains
• Other conditions.

Skin health is dependant on a number of factors. In TEAM, the lungs are integral for good skin health, so nourishing and balancing the yin lung meridian and lung organs are an important part of treatment focussing on skin health. The condition of the yang Large Intestine is also reflected in lungs and the Liver blood nourishes the skin, so these meridians/organs are also important for skin health.

A number of yang meridians also support the face and in a facial rejuvenation treatment (cosmetic acupuncture) acupuncture points along the relevant meridians are very gently needled to balance skin colour, texture, tighten and lift facial muscles and skin, reduce wrinkles and pigmentation, scarring and acne.

Emotional balance is also important for good skin health. Stress, anxiety, excessive grief, anger and overthinking affect our skin. Acupuncture promotes relaxation and can assist in the management of unhelpful emotions which impact on not only skin condition, but our body-mind as a whole.

Acupuncture may assist with alleviating symptoms associated with cancer and conventional cancer treatments, including:

• fatigue
• nausea
• hot flushes
• breathlessness
• anxiety, fear, grief and stress.

Traditional East Asian Medicine can address these symptoms by nourishing the whole body and mind via the meridian pathways, promoting more balanced state. When the body moves towards balance and is nourished, physical symptoms can be alleviated and the mind is calmed.

Acupuncture promotes and assists the body by improving:

• energy and vitality
• immunity and immune responses
• sleep and relaxation
• skin health
• respiratory function
• freedom of movement.

The mechanisms of acupuncture from a biomedical perspective include:

• stimulating the release of oxytocin
• releasing muscle tension
• assisting the body to release natural killer cells
• promoting blood flow.