Chinese Herbal Medecine

WHAT IS CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE?

Chinese herbal medicine is part of the holistic  system known as traditional Chinese medicine  (TCM). Its branches include acupuncture, Chinese  herbal medicine, tuina (Chinese remedial  massage), Chinese exercise therapy (which  includes tai chi and qi gong), and lifestyle advice. 

The origins of Chinese herbal medicine in China  can be traced back at least 5000 years, making  it one of the oldest and most long-standing  health care systems in the world. 

In the intervening millennia, the practice of  Chinese herbal medicine and TCM has developed  and matured to become what it is today – a  natural and holistic system of primary health care,  supported by scientific evidence, that is being used  by people from a wide range of cultural and social  backgrounds to effectively treat a wide range of  chronic and acute health problems. 

A qualified practitioner is able to prescribe a  Chinese herbal formula that specifically matches  and treats your individual health problem. As  your condition changes and improves with  treatment, the Chinese herbal treatment is also  adjusted and modified until the desired health  outcome is achieved. 

For more information on Chinese herbal  medicine, please visit www.acupuncture.org.au.

A MODERN PROFESSION 

Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners,  including Chinese herbalists, must be  registered with the Chinese Medicine  Board of Australia (CMBA) before they are  permitted to practise in their profession. It  is therefore essential that members of the  public seeking traditional Chinese medicine  services consult a practitioner who is  registered with the CMBA. 

Selecting a practitioner who is also  accredited with the Australian Acupuncture  and Chinese Medicine Association Ltd  (AACMA) provides an additional layer  of safety and quality assurance. AACMA  members are held to the highest standards  of ethical and professional conduct and  by accessing the services of these highly  qualified and experienced practitioners,  you’ll be ensuring the best possible care for  yourself or your loved ones. 

To locate a qualified and registered  traditional Chinese medicine practitioner,  contact AACMA on 1300 725 334 or use  our online practitioner search facility on  www.acupuncture.org.au. 

WHAT HAPPENS AT A  TYPICAL CONSULTATION? 

The hallmark of traditional Chinese medicine is holistic  individualised treatment. At the initial consultation,  practitioners will take a case history by interviewing the  patient about their current health concerns, past health  conditions and a range of related matters, including diet,  lifestyle habits, sleeping patterns, appetite, menstrual  cycle, stress reactions and food or other sensitivities. To  further identify what are known in traditional Chinese  medicine practice as ‘patterns of disharmony’ in the  body, the practitioner will observe and note other  health indicators such as the colour of the face, the  condition of the tongue, the sound of the voice and the  characteristics of the radial pulse of the wrist. 

HOW DO I KNOW CHINESE  HERBAL MEDICINES ARE SAFE? 

All manufactured medicines in Australia are regulated by  the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) under the  Therapeutic Goods Act 1989, which ensures compliance  with strict requirements on safety, quality and a range of  other matters. Traditional Chinese medicine products are  marked AUST-L (listed) or AUST-R (registered) to indicate  the product is legally able to be supplied in Australia. 

The recommendations of a qualified and registered TCM  practitioner who is also accredited with AACMA should  guide an individual’s consumption of Chinese herbal  medicines. For safety’s sake, it’s strongly advised that  members of the public do not self-medicate or purchase  Chinese herbal products available on international  websites, as these may not be regulated by the TGA and  may not be manufactured to Australian standards.

Treatment commences once assessment and diagnosis is  complete. The duration of the treatment and the type of  technique used will vary according to both the patient’s  condition and the practitioner’s mode of treatment.  Chinese herbal medicine traditionally involved decocting  raw herbs – steeping them in boiling water and reducing  them to a concentrated form which is then imbibed  as a tea. Decocted raw herbs continue to be used in  contemporary TCM practice and some practitioners may  dispense decoctions by the dose in heat sealed bags.  However, a broader range of options are now available  for patients, with Chinese herbal medicine available in  granulated (water soluble) form, in capsules, or in pills. 

COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE 

The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) profession  in Australia is committed to the protection of  endangered species. Reputable practitioners do not  use medicines derived from illegally acquired wildlife  flora and fauna. 

Traditional remedies that are derived from endangered  species, or that contain potentially toxic components, have  been replaced by other substances with similar actions. 

Practitioner

Dr Andrew Chambers is a nationally registered practitioner of Chinese medicine, being one of Melbourne’s pre-eminent holistic physicians.

HOME VISIT MEDICINE: ACUPUNCTURE AND CHINESE MEDICINE offers medical services at our In-clinic location (Carnegie), along with offering mobile-clinic services anywhere in Greater Melbourne (*additional charges may apply). Telehealth services are also available when deemed appropriate and/or upon request. Our promise is drug-free, medical intervention and pain relief. Our services provided for the broader community, help improve greater accessibility, while providing the highest quality medical intervention and healthcare across Melbourne.

AVAILABILITY:
IN-HOURS CARE:
M-F: 9AM-5PM SAT/SUN: 12PM-5PM

AFTER-HOURS CARE:

7 DAYS: 5PM-9PM