Category Archives: ARTICLES

PERIMENOPAUSE AND MENOPAUSE IN CHINESE MEDICINE

The transition into perimenopause and menopause can often be a wild ride.

Fluctuating hormones and symptoms like hot flushes, mood swings, sleep disturbance, and brain fog can be tough to navigate. While menopause typically occurs in early 50s, the years leading up to it (perimenopause) can be equally challenging.

Having gone through menopause in the last couple of years, I get how there can be many emotions at play too. At times relief and a sense of freedom, at other times grief, in acknowledging a transition from one life phase to another. But also, surprise… For example, I could never have imagined how my skin wouldn’t quite fit anymore – until it happened.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this is an important life phase and an opportunity to re-calibrate and reset. Constitution, lifestyle, environment and state of health, can really influence how your body navigates the process. There is so much Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture has to offer… wherever you are at. We all have a unique experience of this process, therefore, an individual and targeted approach with Acupuncture, herbal medicine, diet and lifestyle changes can help smooth this transition.

When it comes to navigating the highs and lows of this time, I find, the more you can settle your nervous system the better. For me, that means a little less cardio, a bit more yoga, more strengthening and a piling on of the joyful things.

Because the more you can nourish your heart by doing the things that you love and being true to yourself, the more resilient and stronger you can become.

Some Chinese Medicine Strategies to help support during this time:

  • Build Qi and Blood Reserves: Supporting the spleen and stomach Qi in Chinese medicine is crucial to aid digestion, boost energy, nourish skin, hair, and promote nutrient absorption. Eat plenty of whole, nutrient-dense foods like soups, slow-cooked meals and root vegetables. Increase your protein intake in the morning when your digestion is at its peak strength. Avoid processed and refined foods.
  • Lighter Evening Meals: Eat before 7pm to improve digestion and support peaceful sleep.
  • Support Liver Qi: Help your liver to cleanse and detoxify by eating lots of leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables. Include exercises that stretch through the sides of the body and ribcage to aid your liver qi.
  • Boost Kidney Energy and Soothe the Nervous System: Include mindful practices such as yoga, tai chi or qi gong. Take walks in nature and schedule some quiet reflective time to calm the mind and support adrenal health.
  • Nourish the Heart: Find the things that bring you joy and do more of them. Even if you can only manage small snippets of time to start with. Connect into your creativity and self-expression.
  • Chinese Herbs and Acupuncture: Treatment can help by addressing the underlying issues that contribute to your individual symptoms. Acupuncture can also be great at addressing stress levels and chronic pain. This in turn may help sleep and mood.

Elisabeth x

A TRANSITION INTO THE COOLER MONTHS – WITH CHINESE MEDICINE.

Autumn is here!

The crisper air of Autumn is starting to come through and I feel like the Autumn equinox was a defining pivot into the new season.

Going with the flow of the seasons, we get to appreciate all the goodness that comes with Autumn. Seasonal produce, some truly lovely days where the light is golden and cooler nights which makes sleeping cosier.


In Chinese Medicine, as in nature, Autumn is a time of harvest, but also of letting go of what is no longer needed. And as the weather starts to cool, there can be a sense of agitation and, as our energy starts to move inward it can be difficult to slow down and accept the change.

The letting go process can be challenging, requiring gentleness and sometimes extra support. I find that doing the things that bring you joy and help to ground you – can really help navigate this process.

In Chinese Medicine, the Lung and Large intestine are the key organs of Autumn. Together they take in air and nutrients and expel what is no longer useful to us.

An imbalance in these organs can show up in a variety of symptoms.

With the Lungs it is the respiratory system and the skin. There may be an exacerbation of asthma, eczema and seasonal allergies at this time. For the Large Intestine, digestive function may be impaired leading to constipation or frontal headaches and sinus issues.

It is helpful to re-evaluate your diet and routine at the change of season – Add some more cooked and warming foods to help your digestion along. Include plenty of root vegetables and other seasonal goodies. Drop back on the raw salads and cold foods.

In Autumn, the aim is to build our reserves by introducing more nourishing and calming practices into our daily routine to help bolster our immunity and vitality in the cooler months.
Below are some general guidelines – however, if you have a particular concern, please reach out to book a session, or contact your regular health care practitioner.

SOME AUTUMN GUIDELINES:

  • *Soups and broths🍲
  • *Seasonal fruit and veggies, such as root vegetables, pumpkin, pears and figs 🍐
  • *Pungent foods to support the lungs –
  • caraway, thyme, rosemary, turnip, radish, fennel, papaya, watercress and leek 🌿
  • *Breath-work, meditation, yoga, bodywork 💆🏻‍♀️
  • * Journaling, painting, drawing.
  • * Walks in nature.
  • * Protect your neck and lower back from the cold.
  • *Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs.

And.. if the humidity of Summer has left you feeling sluggish or you have some residual phlegm – then adding pungent foods in to help balance your digestive system and open the airways can be helpful. Look at fennel, kohlrabi, radicchio, bitter greens, peppermint and rosemary.

Wishing you a happy harvest season!

Elisabeth

ACUPUNCTURE FOR ANXIETY – AN INTEGRATED APPROACH

Photo by Yoann Boyer on Unsplash

Up to date evidence shows Acupuncture to be a promising therapy in the treatment of anxiety.

Anxiety disorders are prevalent in today’s society affecting between 1-30% of the global population (1). In Australia, it is estimated that 1 in 4 people will experience anxiety in their lifetime (2).

Causes of anxiety can be varied and complex. Traumatic events, genetic factors, health concerns and chronic pain can all play a part. Whilst anxiety can be a normal response to stress, it can be debilitating when symptoms persist long after the event or danger has passed.

Symptoms of anxiety may include hot and cold flushes, racing heart, rapid breathing, obsessive thinking, feelings of dread, sleep disturbance and avoidance behaviors (3).

A systematic review conducted in 2018 showed an overall decrease in anxiety symptoms in Acupuncture treatment groups, relative to control groups in all 13 studies (4). Findings showed Acupuncture to have a beneficial effect on heart rate variability and a calming effect on the body’s response of neuro-chemicals when under stress (5).

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), anxiety centres around the concept of the ‘Shen’. In TCM, our physical, mental and emotional processes are seen as completely interconnected.

Whilst scientific studies will never quite capture the breadth of Acupuncture’s effects on the body’s Qi and blood according to TCM theory – they are nevertheless extremely valuable as a measure of physiological changes that can occur through the insertion of an acupuncture needle.  

These findings show Acupuncture is well placed to be part of an integrated treatment plan and therefore, a sound referral option for anxiety sufferers (6),(7). I am hopeful that further research will go towards bridging the gap in understanding between this ancient healing modality and modern medicine.

During an Acupuncture consultation, a holistic approach is taken to carefully assess all factors. Treatment is very gentle and most patients will feel relaxed during and after a session. However, for those new to Acupuncture please feel free to reach out for more details.

**It is important that you let your primary health care practitioner know if you are planning to start any new treatments.

REFERENCES: 1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22781489 2. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety 3. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety/signs-and-symptoms 4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29705474 5. https://europepmc.org/article/med/12624851 6.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24200100/ 7.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27355312/