The best places to get acupuncture in Melbourne
Even if the thought of needles makes you squirmish, try not to rule out acupuncture, a form of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), that has been used for thousands of years as a drug-free method of pain relief. The practice is used to treat various health conditions such as infertility, lower back pain, headaches, labour pain, menstrual cramps, osteoarthritis and more.
It involves small, sterile, single-use thin needles placed on various acupuncture spots on your body, depending on the area of concern. The placement is based on the body’s energy pathways and it works by clearing blockages of energy and restoring a healthy flow of energy, or Qi, through the body. It may sound scary but it’s known to cause minimal pain and in fact, some people don’t feel it at all.
According to YongHe Chinese Medicine Clinic, "You may feel slightly dull aching, warmth, itchiness or a heaviness sensation. This is normal and is called the 'get energy' reaction." Serious side effects are rare and a review by Science Direct reported feelings of dizziness, fatigue and nausea were the most common adverse events identified.
What’s great about acupuncture is that it looks at the underlying causes of your symptoms, with a tailored treatment plan based on the findings. Your first visit will typically involve Chinese medicine pulse and tongue diagnosis to determine the root causes.
Dr Abbie Cloherty is an acupuncturist and founder of Zhong Centre in St Kilda, a clinic that has mainly attracts clients se