At your first visit, our practitioner will get a thorough understanding of your health conditions through asking a comprehensive list of questions related to your health concerns such as the nature of your illness, medical history, lifestyle and diet etc. The practitioner may also take your blood pressure. TCM diagnostic techniques such as pulse palpating, face and tongue observation will also be used to ascertain your health status.

At the conclusion of your first consultation, our practitioner may recommend you to undergo a therapy plan with several courses of treatment pertaining to your conditions and lifestyle. Herbal medicine and acupuncture are often applied, along with advice on lifestyle, diet and exercise. Some conditions may require a combination of treatment like cupping and tui na.

How should you prepare for the treatment sessions?

• Make sure you have something light an hour or two before the visit and do not consume any alcoholic or caffeinated beverages. Receiving treatment on an empty stomach may affect effectiveness and you may also feel dizzy after the treatment.

• Wear comfortable clothes. You will be asked to disrobe to undergarment but robes or coverings will be provided. We have female staff on site to provide assistance to female customers or to address any concerns or queries.

• Avoid wearing strong perfumes or cologne.

• Refrain from doing heavy exercises right before the appointment.

• Provide a list of medications you are taking.

• Bring along any relevant imaging or lab work

Appointments are required for all consultations to avoid long waiting hours. We recommend you to arrive on time as the more relaxed you are, the more accurate the diagnosis.

How often should you come for treatment?

As part of your first visit, our practitioner will propose a therapy plan. Since every individual is different with varied conditions, it is difficult to state definitively how many treatments will be required. In general, acute conditions of recent onset may require 2 or 3 treatments. Chronic conditions usually require more treatments to achieve sustainable results.

Herbal medicine is vast and considered to be the backbone of TCM. Traditionally, it involves boiling raw herbs for several hours, with the subsequent broth reduced to concentrate. The active ingredients are then taken as a drink. Our clinic offers herbal medicine in granulated form which can be easily dissolved in water.

Every patient's condition is unique and so should be the herbal formula. One of the key benefits of Chinese herbal medicine is its ability to be intricately tailored to suit each person. As conditions change, the herbal content will also be adjusted accordingly. Our clinic has over 250 different herbs in granule form. They are prepared under strict GMP and certified by the Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia. It is very rare that only one kind of herb will be used but rather, several kinds will be combined in a prescription formula, which may consist of 2 to over 20 different herbs, depending on the conditions.

Scared of the taste of herbal tea?

The herbal tea may taste repelling at first to anyone who has not tried it before. Now we can prepare tailored herb prescriptions in capsule form which is largely tasteless. Because of the limitation in extracting natural plant materials, patients may need to take more capsules than taking conventional medicine. Patients are recommended to drink a full cup of warm water when taking the capsule to promote proper absorption of the herbs to increase effectiveness.

Can Chinese herbs be used in conjunction with conventional medicine?

There are very few reports of adverse interactions between herbal medicine and conventional one. In fact, the two very often complement each other. However, it is important that patients disclose every medication currently taking to our practitioners at the first consultation so that we are able to ascertain any risks and adjust prescriptions accordingly.

Acupuncture is used for the treatment of a range of illnesses and dysfunction both acute (recent onset) and chronic in nature. It has long been used for health maintenance, addressing non-specific signs and symptoms such as fatigue, feeling run-down and poor sleeping quality. Thus, acupuncture is not just for treating illness or injury but also useful in maintaining optimal health, which is important to everyone who runs a hectic life in today's society. Acupuncture can help the prevention of illness through identifying and addressing imbalances before manifestation.

Our practitioners use both classical and contemporary styles to treat different conditions as required. We will decide which approach is best for your conditions. Therapy may also include the use of other treatment modalities such as massage, cupping and gua sha depending on the problems and health concerns.

Enhancement options

Our clinic also provides new Japanese Pyonex needle featuring a completely novel type of round head. The patches can be applied to the same acupoints after conventional acupuncture treatment. Thus efficacy can be maintained for a longer period of time. You can even do exercises and go to bed with the patch in place under practitioners’ advice.

Electro-acupuncture is also an excellent enhancement to traditional acupuncture. It involves the passing of a mild electrical current between two needles to improve Qi (energy) and blood circulation to an area. It is mainly used to treat pain, musculoskeletal and neurological disorder.

Scared of needles?

Some people are scared of being applied needles even though the pain involved is infinitely small. In our clinic, you may choose Pyonex needle as an alternative for less discomfort. It features a smaller size with a round-shaped head. It can be applied as a patch to various parts of the body.

Cupping is an ancient Chinese therapy in which a cup is applied to the skin and the pressure in the cup is reduced (either by heat or suction) in order to draw and hold skin and superficial muscles inside the cup. It is based on the meridian theory of the body. Cupping can remove any stagnation in the body and open the meridians so that Qi (energy) can flow freely. It can also help rejuvenate certain meridians and organs that are not functioning at their best. From a scientific stand-point, cupping is known to help activate the lymphatic system, promote blood circulation, and is good for deep tissue repair. It is generally recommended for the treatment of pain, gastro-intestinal disorders, lung diseases (especially chronic cough and asthma), and paralysis, although it does have applications for other problems.

Cupping is applied to certain acupuncture points as well as to parts of the body that have been affected by pain. Cupping is mostly applied on the back as it is easier to be performed there. Most practitioners use the back shu points or bladder meridian and the dazhui. It is frequently used after acupuncture, blood letting, or plum blossom treatment.