What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an holistic form of healing based on ancient Chinese Medicine. This theory recognises illness or discomfort as an imbalance of a person's Qi (chee) or Life Force and this affects the body, mind and spirit. Acupuncture aims to rebalance this energy by encouraging the body to heal itself. This is done by shallowly inserting needles into various acupuncture points on the body. The needles act as beacons to redirect your Qi into a healthy and balanced dynamic state.

When should I see an Acupuncturist?
You don't need to feel sick or in pain to 'qualify' for an acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture is primarily a preventative medicine. Just like a car needs a regular tune up, so does your body, especially when the seasons are changing and when your lifestyle changes, to manage stress and make you less susceptible to common illness.

Acupuncture is becoming more widely accepted as a successful form of treatment for many conditions, in many cases reducing the need for constant medication and invasive surgery.

Our Acupuncturists are:
Ernestina Rivera
Mei Liu
Geju Lee

What is the History behind Acupuncture?
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is the application of needles into specific points on the body. Each point has its own therapeutic benefits. The needles are inserted into the skin and muscles only as deep as is appropriate for that particular area on the body (e.g. a needle in the wrist area will not go as deep as a needle in the thigh). Acupuncture encourages your body to adjust itself back to your homeostatic (healthy) balance by aiding to clear what is blocked, fill what is empty, strengthen what is weak and drain what is in excess. In this way, acupuncture can assist in reducing pain and swelling throughout the body, assist digestion and gastrointestinal motility, help to reduce stress and anxiety, and balance the general circulation of blood, fluids and hormones.

Does it hurt?
If the needles are inserted swiftly into the skin, then the most you will feel is a tiny pinch. Acupuncture needles are very fine. They are often much thinner than hypodermic needles and are not meant to go into your major blood vessels or internal organs. Once the needles are inserted, you may feel sensations such as heaviness or distention, tingling or fluttering, tightening around the needle, or referred sensations along a meridian (e.g. leg, arm) or in a completely different area of your body (e.g. a needle in some leg points can produce a reaction in your stomach). These sensations may feel uncomfortable, but it means that the needles are doing their work at making the body react to readjust itself to a healthy homeostatic condition.

Can I get rebates from my health insurance?
Most private health insurers will give rebates to their customers when they are treated by Ernestina, depending on your personal level of cover.