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ACUPUNCTURE

The ancient language of Chinese Medicine refers to the harmonious flow of Qi (energy) and the balance of other Vital Substances in the body in order to achieve or maintain health 1. Western science has found that acupuncture affects the circulation of blood and the relay of information via the nervous system 2 to bring about changes in the body, such as reduction of pain 3, ease of movement, and a stronger immune system.

Fiona Remedial Massage Therapist Gold Coast

 

 

Fiona R Saxton
Bachelor of Health Science (Acupuncture), Diploma of Remedial Massage
Level 2 Usui Reiki practitioner, Level 1 Yoga Instructor (200hrs)

 

 

 

 

My name is Fiona, and I am a fully qualified Acupuncturist, registered with AHPRA, the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency. I studied part-time for eight and half years, learning both Western medical science and Eastern medical philosophy and practice. Chinese medicine is an allied health practice which complements and supports your regular medical health care.

I began my career in health care as a relaxation massage therapist in 2007, becoming a diploma-qualified remedial therapist in 2009. My primary therapeutic goal has always been to encourage the relaxation response of the parasympathetic nervous system, taking you away from the “fight-or-flight” stress response to the “rest-and-digest”, deeply restorative and healing state. Within my practice of acupuncture, I aim to give you and your body time and space to rest, feel nurtured, and recover, so that you can return to your daily life feeling stronger and more capable, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Each Acupuncture treatment is customised to the individual. The following are just a few examples of how acupuncture may help to support you:

Acupuncture for Management of Stress 4:

  • calm the mind,
  • relax the body (muscles, joints, tendons),
  • reduce pain.

Acupuncture to enhance Immunity 5

As we approach the season of colds and flus, a short course of acupuncture may boost or strengthen your immune system and

  • may prevent, or reduce the severity of, cold- and flu-like viruses,
  • may assist with recovery from illness or injury.

*Note: If you are not comfortable with needles, a Manual Lymphatic Drainage treatment stimulates the immune system in a similar way but with only very light hand pressure on the skin.6

Acupuncture and Mental Health 7

  • acupuncture may help alleviate the physical, mental, and emotional symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Acupuncture and Chronic Illness 8

  • by calming the mind, enhancing immunity, reducing inflammation, and supporting the digestive system with the transport of nutrients, acupuncture may assist with the management of chronic illness and pain, & conditions such as IBS, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue.

What happens in an acupuncture treatment?

Your acupuncture appointment will include a consultation/chat for a thorough understanding of your presenting complaint and the aspects of your health and lifestyle that may have contributed to it. The treatment will include the insertion of hair-fine single-use needles and may be supported by myofascial cupping, remedial or relaxation massage, heat therapy (in the form of an infra-red heat lamp or electronic moxa, see note below), or reiki.

*Moxa is a therapeutic herb (mugwort) which is rolled into fat incense sticks. The stick is lit and held close to acupuncture points to warm and nourish the skin and blood, however the smoky aroma can be a little overwhelming in small rooms. The electronic moxa stick does not contain the dried herb but rather, uses infra-red light which operates at the same healing frequency and the same comforting warmth as the burning herb. It is a relaxing, fragrance-and-smoke-free aspect of the acupuncture treatment 9.

References

  1. Kaptchuk, T. 1984. The web that has no weaver. McGraw Hill.
  2. Zhang et al. 2014. Anesthesiology 120(2).
  3. Vickers, A & Linde, K. 2014. JAMA 311(9).
  4. Cabıoğlu et al., 2012. Mamara Pharmaceutical Journal 16(2).
  5. Wang et al., 2023, Frontiers of Immunology 14.
  6. Hruby et al., 2021. Cureus 13(7).
  7. Anxiety: Amorim et al., 2018. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice 31.

Depression: Tan et al., 2024. Frontiers in Neuroscience 18.

  1. IBS: Dai et al., 2020.  World Journal of Gastroenterology 26(41)

CFS: Wang et al., 2014. Complementary Therapies in Medicine 22(4).

Fibromyalgia: Valera-Calero et al., 2022. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19.

  1. Seki et al. 2013. Acupuncture in Modern Medicine. InTechOpen