Longevity Chinese Medicine

🧘‍♀️We use this Acupuncture point often in the clinic, it's called Yintang, also known as the "Third Eye" point.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, stimulating this point is believed to help calm the mind, relieve stress, improve concentration and help with headaches.
relaxation fertility

IMMUNITY 🤧

I'm prescribing this wonderful combination of Metagenics products for a patient that has had recurrent colds and has been feeling rundown. These products are great for helping to support the immune system.

Flame cupping is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves the use of fire to create a vacuum inside a glass cup, which is then placed on the skin. The vacuum creates suction and draws the skin into the cup. This technique is believed to stimulate the flow of qi (energy) and blood, and promote healing.  Flame cupping is thought to support blood circulation, relieve muscle tension, and improve the flow of qi in the body. It is often used for musculoskeletal pain, respiratory disorders, and digestive issues. 

This is how we do flame cupping at our clinic:

🔥 Cup selection: Glass cups are used for flame cupping. The cups come in different sizes to accommodate various areas of the body.

🔥 Preparation: We usually apply a small amount of methylated spirit to a cotton ball, light it on fire and place it inside the cup with forceps. This burns up the oxygen inside the cup, creating a vacuum.

🔥 Cup placement: Once the flame is extinguished, the cup is immediately placed upside down on the patient's skin. The vacuum created by the cooling air inside the cup causes the skin to be drawn upward into the cup. Please note: the cups do not feel hot on the skin.

🔥Cup duration: The cups are typically left in place for several minutes or until the skin reddens. Sometimes, we use a sliding cupping technique, where the cups are moved along the skin.

🔥 Cup removal: To remove the cups, the practitioner breaks the vacuum by pressing on the skin near the cup's edge.

After the cups are removed, the skin usually has circular marks or bruises that will fade over a few days. The technique is generally not painful, although some patients may experience a pulling or stretching sensation during the procedure.

    

I treated the lovely Melissa from .instinct.holistic.wellness
for her Jaw tension, Carpal Tunnel and general relaxation. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine practice that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body. It is commonly used for pain relief by promoting relaxation, reducing inflammation, and increasing blood flow to the affected area

Chinese Medicine, with its holistic approach to health and well-being, can offer various benefits to new mothers after giving birth. Here are some ways Chinese Medicine can help after having a baby:

👶 Postpartum Recovery: Chinese Medicine focuses on restoring balance and replenishing the body's energy after childbirth. Herbal remedies, acupuncture, and dietary recommendations are used to support physical recovery, promote blood circulation, and strengthen the body.

👶 Hormonal Balance: Chinese Medicine recognizes the importance of hormonal balance in postpartum recovery. Herbal formulas and acupuncture can help support the regulation of hormones emotional well-being

👶 Breastfeeding Support: Chinese Medicine offers natural remedies and to help support breastfeeding including herbal formulas, Acupuncture and moxibustion.

👶 Energy Replenishment: Childbirth can deplete a mother's energy reserves. Chinese Medicine emphasizes on restoring energy and through dietary recommendations, herbal medicine and lifestyle advice. These techniques can help rebuild strength and promote overall well-being.

👶Emotional Support: Chinese Medicine recognizes the emotional challenges that can arise after childbirth. Acupuncture, herbal remedies, and lifestyle recommendations can help balance emotions, reduce stress, and provide emotional support during the postpartum period.

👶 Wellbeing support for the family, including mum and babies digestive and immune health.

It's important to consult with a qualified and experienced Chinese Medicine practitioner who specialises in postpartum care. Catherine can assess your specific needs and create a personalised treatment plan that addresses your concerns and supports your postpartum recovery.

A question I often get asked is 'What got you into Chinese Medicine?'

At a young age, I experienced some health issues and thought I'd give Chinese Medicine a try. I found it so fascinating and loved the holistic approach of Chinese Medicine. My interest grew through my continued experience of its benefits. I am passionate about health and helping others so Chinese Medicine seemed like the perfect fit. Through my years experience, I have developed a special interest in treating women’s health issues, from period pain to fertility and pregnancy support. I am also experienced in treating a range of conditions including muscular pain, migraines, anxiety, and sleep disturbances.

I have studied in both Australia and China completing a B*h App Sc (Chinese Medicine) and B*h App Sc (Human Biology) in addition to a clinical internship at Jiangsu Provincial Hospital, China. I also completed post-graduate studies in Nutrition (AIF).

I love the pattern the herbs make when I make up a formula 🌿



When is the right time to have Acupuncture during pregnancy?

🤰We work with lots of pregnant patients at all stages of their pregnancy.

🤰Acupuncture can be a useful tool for managing symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, pain in areas such as the back and, hips, headaches, digestive issues such as constipation, boosting energy, supporting sleep, and calming stress and anxiety.

🤰From 35 weeks we recommend regular Acupuncture to support labour preparation. It can support the cervix to relax and dilate and increase oxytocin in preparation for birth.

 

Detox Program | Do you feel like you need a bit of a health reset after indulging in a few too many chocolates over Easter? Our comprehensive detox program can help give you the reset that you need. 

If you’re wanting to reset your health or start to prepare for your fertility journey then our Practitioner Supported programs are perfect for you! Don't fall into the trap of taking supplements at random, we can help tailor a program to your individual goals.

The aim of the program is to identify ways to improve your diet and lifestyle to optimise your health with a personalised protocol that is safely managed with practitioner support. 

Book your appointment through the link in our bio!

DIET | We talk to our patients about the importance of diet and fertility. There are particular diets that can be most beneficial when you are trying to conceive, which we recommend depending on a patient's needs and presentation.  

Foods that we find are particularly beneficial when you are trying to conceive include: 

🌸 Nuts are a great source of omega 3 essential fatty acids needed for healthy hormone production and cervical mucous production. The healthy fats in nuts and seeds help to reduce inflammation, support ovulation, and improve blood flow to the reproductive organs. The best nuts and seeds to choose include walnuts, almonds, brazil nuts, pepitas and sunflower seeds.

🌸 Fatty fish 
Fatty cold- water fish, such as salmon and sardines, contain a high amount of Omega-3. Omega-3s are important to assist fertility by reducing inflammation, boosting ovulation and hormone production and can positively affect ovulation.

🌸 Avocado 
Avocados are a rich source of monounsaturated fatty acids ideal food for boosting egg health. Avocados are also a source of B vitamins, vitamin E, folate, and potassium important for reproductive health.

🌸 Broccoli 
Broccoli is an antioxidant, it can help to reduce inflammation and can help the body get rid of excess estrogen. Excess estrogen can disrupt ovulation causing your cycle to become irregular, heavy & painful.

🌸 Beetroot
Beetroots are a right source of iron, which is important in the development of blood cells. They can support dilation of blood vessels allowing better blood flow to the uterus and ovaries, improving menstrual blood flow and assisting implantation.

Include these in your diet, along with a healthy diet and lifestyle. Speak to Catherine to find out which diet would be best for you. 

 

Are you trying to fall pregnant and want to improve egg quality?

Here's a few key nutrients that may be beneficial to help improve egg quality. If you're not sure if these are right for you, it's always best to seek professional advice before taking supplements.

Other important factors that may help support egg quality include:

🌸 Reduce inflammation and oxidative stress

🌸 Get regular, good quality sleep

🌸 Improve your diet to optimise your health

🌸 Reduce environmental toxins

 

Have you been lying awake at night unable to fall asleep? This can be a problem for many people and we see this a lot at our clinic. We often use a combination of Acupuncture points and herbal medicine for our patients. 

😴Anmien is an acupuncture point that can be translated to Peaceful Sleep in Mandarin and is a common point for treating insomnia.
😴This point traditionally has been used for anxiety, vertigo, headaches and insomnia.
😴Try doing some Acupressure on this point (apply gentle pressure with your thumb) before going to sleep.
😴 Peaceful Sleep by ChinaMed is based on the traditional Chinese Medicine Formula An Shen Ding Zhi Wan and is traditionally used in Chinese medicine to calm, soothe, nourish and balance the spirit.

Happy International Women's Day!

Longevity Chinese Medicine is proudly female owned and operated.

As a practice that supports women's health, we are thrilled to join the celebration and honor all the amazing women in our lives.

Catherine is committed to providing all her patient's with the best care and support to achieve optimal health and wellness. We are committed to providing a safe environment where women can feel empowered, informed, and inspired to take charge of their health!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a safe and healthy New Year 🌲🎁

Appointments still available for this week: Thursday- 9am, Saturday 9.30,10.30 and 11am

We have some amazing local practitioners that can support you on your pregnancy journey. I've recently connected with the lovely Sarah from a hypnobirthing and birth educator.

It's great to have some wonderful practitioners that I can refer my patients to that will provide the best support for their needs. Sarah and I have come together to offer a discount for each other's patients. If you'd like to know more feel free to contact us directly.

Magnesium for Fertility and other important functions in the body//

Magnesium is a very important mineral in the body, and is becoming an increasingly common deficiency in people.

CAUSES OF MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY

* Soil depletion, due to genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and minerals being removed or no longer available in the soil, the amount of magnesium present in food has decreased.
* Digestive diseases can cause malabsorption of minerals, including magnesium.
* Chronic disease and medication can affect the body from absorbing magnesium from our food.
*Dieting can flush out essential electrolytes out of your system, including magnesium, potassium and sodium.

MAGNESIUM AND FERTILITY
Magnesium helps maintain a good blood supply to the uterus and is vital for the production of progesterone. It can support relaxation and stress.

SIGNS OF MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY
1. Muscle cramps or spasms
2. Insomnia
3. Muscle Pain
4. Anxiety
5. Fatigue
6. Headaches

Making up some formulae for the week!
🌿Liu Wei Di Huang Wan- this tonifies the Yin of the body. I gave this to my patient that is feeling run down, depleted, not sleeping well and feeling warm at night.

🌿Ba Zhen Tang- a lovely Qi (energy) and Blood tonic. This formula was given to a patient that is getting over an illness and is still feeling really tired, short of breath and doesn't have much energy to be physically active.

Polycystic O***y Syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal condition that can affect women of reproductive age. It may cause disruption to the menstrual cycle, skin and hair changes, as well as cysts on the ovaries.

It is one of the leading causes of infertility, yet many women don’t know they have it. Women with PCOS can have a wide range of symptoms such as:

🌿Excess hair growth on the body
🌿Thinning hair
🌿Irregular periods
🌿Difficulty falling pregnant
🌿Acne
🌿Weight gain
🌿Bloating

From a Chinese Medicine perspective, PCOS often, but not always, involves accumulation and stagnation of phlegm-damp associated with Kidney Yang deficiency.

The menstrual cycle is often irregular with PCOS. The focus of Chinese Medicine treatment is to help clear phlegm damp to support ovulation and the regulation of the cycle.

Patients that come into the clinic usually have Acupuncture and herbal medicine to support the menstrual cycle and fertility by clearing the phlegm and dampness. Lifestyle and dietary advice can be helpful to reduce dampness in the body.

LASER ACUPUNCTURE // Did you know we offer Laser Acupuncture at our clinic? Laser acupuncture can be used for a variety of patients. Compared to traditional acupuncture it is a fairly new and innovative treatment protocol and can be used on its own or alongside traditional acupuncture. 

WHAT IS LASER ACUPUNCTURE:
Laser acupuncture is a painless, non-invasive therapy that uses low-intensity laser light to support the reduction of inflammation, promote tissue regeneration and may help reduce pain.

USES OF LASER ACUPUNCTURE:
🌿 Supports the management of pain and spasms
🌿 Improves blood circulation
🌿 Improved flexibility and function
🌿 Improves healing
🌿 Improves mood by naturally increasing endorphins
🌿 Fertility support

Laser Acupuncture for Fertility
Emerging research with low level light therapy (LLLT) conducted in Denmark and Japan is showing that it can possibly improve egg quality, slow down the ageing process to enhance the fertility of women *

The studies show that low level laser therapy (LLLT) used on specific acupuncture points appears to enhance mitochondrial activity and ATP production, increase blood flow and helps to reduce oxidative damage.*
 
Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) works on many levels to optimise fertility by:

🌸 Stimulating the mitochondria to produce more ATP (energy)
🌸 Improving blood circulation
🌸 Regulating inflammation
🌸 Lowering oxidative stress
🌸 Softening scar tissue
🌸 Supporting uterine receptivity
🌸 Regulating the autonomic nervous system and the immune system

*Reference : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3944482/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6062274/

Cupping// I often use cupping on my patients if they have Blood or Qi Stagnation which can present in many ways, such as, muscular pain, stress and tension, fluid retention, coughs and colds.

Cupping is often used in combination with other modalities such as Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine and can be useful to support painful or irregular periods, fertility issues, bloating, constipation and stress.

We use a flame to help create the suction of the cup however they do not feel hot. When the cups are taken off, your body usually feels very relaxed! Have you tried cupping before?

🌿Chinese Diet Therapy

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) food is considered medicine, meaning that food itself can be all the medicine you need to help create and maintain wellness.

🌿 Basics of Diet Therapy
The basis of healthy eating according to TCM is making sure the diet is filled with fresh foods as these foods are seen as the most vital and full of Qi.
Vegetables should be cooked only lightly to keep the essential vitamins. People should eat according to their particular constitution (as recommended by their TCM practitioner).

🌿Nature of Food
According to Chinese medicine, every food and herb has a naute and flavour and organ system/meridian associated with it. The nature describes the effect of the food (or herbs) on the temperature of the body, while the flavour describes the taste. Eating foods that are in season is important as these are the foods that are in abundance and are most beneficial to our health.

Tips to Eating Well
1. Listen to your body- The best diet plan is one that is specific to a persons needs and constitution.

2. Seasonal eating: Eating according to the seasons is very important as our bodies also go through cyclical changes throughout the year. Seasonal foods are in abundance and are most beneficial to our health.

3. Eating at regular intervals: Eating at regular times of the day can help assist the the digestive system to perform optimally. Avoid skipping breakfast and avoid over eating.

4. Eat in moderation. Overeating makes it hard for the Spleen and Stomach to properly digest food therefore it is important to listen to your body and stop eating when you're full. Not eating enough may leave the body malnourished or dehydrated which may lead to constipation or slow healing times.

5. Make breakfast is your largest meal: The first meal of the day helps to fuel your digestive system and the morning hours are also the time when the organs of the digestive system are most active according to the Chinese medicine clock (stomach 7-9am and spleen 9-11am)

6. Reduce raw and cold foods: Too much cold foods can slow down our physiological processes, and create dampness, and can subdue our digestive fires, so a Chinese diet tends to stay away from things like ice water, smoothies and too many raw salads. Choose room temperature water, slightly steamed vegetables, and if you do have raw salads, have something warm first such as soup. Limit foods that create damp such as dairy, fatty foods, refined sugars, which can slow down your metabolism and the spleen and stomachs process of transformation and transportation.

7. Eat lots of veggies: Make sure you included lots of fresh lightly cooked vegetables

8. Cook and eat mindfully: Taking time to cook and eat is important, so slow down, turn off your phone and chew your food properly. Mindfulness can help improve your digestion and lets you know when you're feeling full. Try to avoid eating when you are stressed or aggravated as this can negatively impact digestion.

9. Exercise: In Chinese medicine the root of many diseases is stagnation, and lack of movement and Qi (energy) flow, so get active. Regular exercise can help boost your metabolism and improve your digestive function.

Shou Tai Wan// also known as 'Fetus Longevity Pill' 👶

🌿 I'm making up a version of Shou Tai Wan for a patient that is trying to conceive and has just ovulated.
🌿 This formula tonifies the Kidney Yin and Yang and can be used to help support early pregnancy.
🌿 We also use it in the clinic if a patient has had a history of miscarriage, has a high risk pregnancy and post IVF transfer to help support implantation

In Chinese medicine, pulse diagnosis is an important diagnostic tool that can help practitioners assess the health of all the major organ systems of the body. Feeling the pulse can help support or provide further information when putting together a TCM diagnosis.

Why do acupuncturists check your pulse

Along with tongue diagnosis, Chinese medicine pulse diagnosis can help provide practitioners with an understanding of what could be happening inside the bodies of their patients.

What does an Acupuncturist look for when they check your pulse?

In addition to assessing the heart rate at the radial pulse, traditional pulse diagnosis also assesses pulse qualities. Each of these qualities gives the practitioner information about the state of the patient’s health and well-being.

Rate:
A fast pulse indicates excessive “heat” in the body. A patient would often present with fever, an inflammatory condition, or increased stress on the nervous system.
A slow pulse indicates a “cold” or 'sluggish' condition. A patient with this pulse would often present blood circulation issues such as cold hands and feet, etc.
Strength:
A strong pulse indicates “excess” of some kind in the body. This pulse is often present with stress, anger, high blood pressure, and headaches.
A weak pulse indicates a “deficiency” of some kindin the body. This pulse is often present with fatigue, weakness, insomnia, low blood pressure, and depression.
Width:
A thin or thready pulse indicates “Blood deficiency”. This pulse is often fatigue, weakness, insomnia, nutrient deficiencies, and sub-optimal digestive absorption.
One of the most typical wide pulses is called a rolling or slippery pulse – which can feel like small beads rippling underneath the fingers. This pulse indicates food stagnation in the intestines, or a build-up of phlegm somewhere in the body. This pulse is often present with a variety of digestive problems and sinus/allergy congestion issues.
The positions of the pulse show us more specifically where these things are happening.

Pulse Positions
The positions of the pulse show us more specifically where these things are happening.
The picture below shows the meridians associated with

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can support a woman through various stages of health, from menstrual irregularities through to menopause:

Irregularities with the cycle

Acupuncture can help to regulate the cycle to support a healthy period. We often see patients that have Irregular cycles, period pain, PMS Symptoms, loss of periods, heavy bleeding, PCOS and endometriosis.

Conception

If you’re thinking about having a baby, acupuncture can be a great place to start to help prepare your body for pregnancy. Fertility is a special interest of ours and we see patients at varying stages of their fertility journey from planning to conceive, having difficulty conceiving or undergoing IVF. At any stage, Chinese Medicine helps to treat the underlying imbalances in the body to help balance the hormones.

Pregnancy

Acupuncture can be used at all stages of pregnancy to help support and maintain a healthy pregnancy. In our clinic we usually see patients during their pregnancy that have morning sickness, a history of miscarriage, lethargy, muscular pain, labour preparation or induction.

Post Partum

After having a baby, it is a great time to nourish the body to help restore energy levels and allow the body to recuperate. We often see patients at the clinic in the post partum phase that are tired, have insufficient lactation and constipation.

Menopause

Chinese Medicine views menopause as a decline in Kidney Essence and Kidney yin. The aim of a treatment is to tonify the Kidney yin as well as balance the patient depending on their individual needs. Patient’s present with various symptoms including hot flushes, mood changes, sleep disturbances and weight gain.

TONGUE DIAGNOSIS// if you've ever had Chinese Medicine you've probably been asked to show the doctor your tongue. This probably seems a bit strange but it's actually a really important tool for creating a Chinese Medicine diagnosis.

Patients often ask “how does it look?” after we check their tongue. We are actually looking at the tongue as a method of confirmation of our initial findings. After taking a detailed medical history, the tongue colour, coating, moisture and shape can either support or refute our initial diagnosis.

👅 A healthy tongue is supposed to look like a baby’s tongue. It should be pink, smooth, moist with no coating.

The tongue is arranged like a map. Different areas of the tongue correspond with different organs:

❤️ The top 1/3 corresponds with the lung and heart

🍏 The middle 1/3 corresponds with the digestion

💧The back 1/3 with the intestines and bladder

🌿 The edges correspond to the liver

Contact Catherine to find out what your tongue says about your health 👩‍⚕️

Xiao Yao San// A formula that is traditionally used in Chinese Medicine to Balance the body, regulate the Qi and nourish Blood

I use this formula commonly in the clinic to support menstrual irregularities, premenstrual syndrome, stress and anxiety.