At AcuHealth Therapies, acupuncture is at the heart of everything we do. But for many of our patients, acupuncture is just one part of a broader, tailored therapy plan that may also include Chinese herbal medicine to provide a more complete level of care.
If you are new to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), you may be wondering how these two therapies relate to each other and why a practitioner might recommend both. Here is a straightforward overview.
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are different in their approach, but they share the same philosophical foundation.
Both are core pillars of Traditional Chinese Medicine which is a holistic system of healthcare that has been practised for thousands of years. At the heart of TCM is the belief that good health relies on balance: a free and smooth flow of energy (known as Qi) through the body, and a harmonious relationship between the body’s opposing forces, Yin and Yang.
According to TCM philosophy when that balance is disrupted, through factors such as stress, illness, injury or lifestyle, health concerns can follow. Both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine aim to restore that balance: acupuncture by stimulating specific points on the body, and herbal medicine by supporting the body’s own processes from within. Used together, the two therapies can complement and reinforce each other as part of a single, coordinated therapy plan.
Chinese herbal medicine draws on a broad range of natural substances, primarily plant-based, including roots, bark, leaves, seeds and flowers, that have been used in clinical practice for thousands of years.
Rather than prescribing a single herb in isolation, Chinese herbal medicine uses carefully constructed formulas in which multiple ingredients work together. Each ingredient plays a specific role in the formula, and the combination is tailored to the individual patient rather than a generic condition.
At AcuHealth Therapies, we stock a wide variety of high quality herbal medicine products, including patented pills, concentrated powdered capsules, herbal pads and ointments, giving us the flexibility to recommend the most appropriate form of herbal medicine for each patient’s needs and preferences.
In Australia, Chinese herbal medicine is a regulated health profession. Practitioners must hold an approved qualification and be registered with AHPRA, providing patients with confidence that their care meets national professional standards.
At AcuHealth Therapies, every treatment plan begins with a thorough consultation. Dr Sharlane Aldover takes the time to understand each patient’s health background including their health history, current concerns, lifestyle and individual circumstances. A tailored therapy plan is then created for each patient.
For some patients, acupuncture alone is the most appropriate starting point. For others, incorporating Chinese herbal medicine alongside acupuncture provides a more comprehensive approach. That decision is always guided by the patient’s individual needs.
Where both therapies are recommended, they are designed to work in a coordinated way. Acupuncture sessions provide direct, targeted support during clinic visits, while a personalised herbal formula continues to support the body between appointments. As a patient’s health responds and evolves, the herbal formula can be adjusted to reflect those changes, a level of personalisation that is central to the Chinese medicine approach.
When prescribed by a qualified, AHPRA-registered practitioner, Chinese herbal medicine is considered safe for the vast majority of patients.
At AcuHealth Therapies, Dr Sharlane sources high quality herbal products from reputable suppliers and always takes into account each patient’s full health history, including any medications they are currently taking, before making any herbal recommendations.
If you are currently receiving conventional medical treatment, it is important to let your GP or specialist know that you are also taking Chinese herbal medicine. Dr Sharlane always encourages open communication between patients and their broader healthcare team and is happy to liaise with other practitioners where appropriate.
Whether you are coming to us for pain management, women’s health, fertility support or general wellbeing, Dr Sharlane Aldover will take the time to understand your individual needs and develop a treatment plan that is right for you.
AcuHealth Therapies is located at the Templestowe Health Hub in Templestowe Lower, and we welcome patients from across Melbourne’s north-east including Templestowe, Doncaster, Heidelberg, Bulleen, Donvale, Balwyn North and Viewbank.
To find out more about Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine call us at the clinic on 0403 524 893
