Herbal Medicine or Acupuncture? A Guide to Choosing the Right Treatment

· 5 min read
Herbal Medicine or Acupuncture? A Guide to Choosing the Right Treatment

Research has focused on  elements such as blood vessels, neurotransmitters, cells, inflammatory factors, and proteins[12,13]. Theories, such as the “neural-endocrine-immune” and “cell-vascular-neuronal” network structures have been proposed[14–17], highlighting the role of neural excitatory reflexes in PSCs[18]. This phenomenon originates from the central nervous system when acupuncture is applied at distal acupoints in the limbs[19].
In recent years these actions have been systematically studied and verified by  modern scientific research. Currently, there are several of Acupuncture for Stiff Neck forms of acupuncture practised throughout the world. In the West medical acupuncture is commonly practiced by doctors, physiotherapists and chiropractors.

Spring Health is an integrated complementary medicine clinic in Ballarat servicing Ballarat and surrounds with telehealth services for distance and interstate patients. Spring Health has a combined 30 years of clinical experience in Western and Chinese medicine across many areas of health and disease management. Meredith is a Doctor of Functional Medicine and Chinese Medicine, practising for 20 years and founder of the Neurobiome Method. Neurobiome is a science-backed, wisdom enriched integrative approach that helps people decode their body’s signals to restore balance and improve health. Western medicine is based on mainstream science, and, therefore, the standard approach to CAM is the integrative way. This process requires a profound evaluation of effectiveness and security, which has an inherent science-based conceptualization and standardization effort that goes from diagnosis to therapeutics.
However, the notable heterogeneity and variability in study quality highlight the need for further high-quality research. For HM, prescriptions are tailored to the patient’s condition and ART phase, aiming to improve endometrial thickness, hormonal balance, and pregnancy outcomes. This model should be guided by evidence-based protocols and close collaboration between licensed EATM and ART practitioners to ensure safety and clinical effectiveness. In the sensitivity analysis, we evaluated the stability of primary outcomes, including the CPR (clinical pregnancy rate) and LBR (live birth rate), to determine whether the results were influenced by variations in study characteristics. Sensitivity analyses were performed by sequentially excluding individual studies to assess their impact on the overall effect size. Additionally, we examined the effect of excluding studies with a high risk of bias, restricting analyses to only high-quality RCTs, and removing small-sample studies to evaluate potential publication bias.
Acupuncture carries little risk of side effects, and practitioners must carry a license to perform acupuncture procedures. Acupuncture is a complementary therapy and should not take the place of doctor-recommended treatments. TCM explains that health is the result of a harmonious balance of the complementary extremes of yin and yang of the life force known as Qi, pronounced “chi.” Advocates believe that illness is the consequence of an imbalance of these forces. Acupuncture has roots in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and is now a common complementary treatment worldwide. The Midwest College of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine was founded in 1979 and has been a fully accredited Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine school since 1987. MCAHM believes in preserving traditional ideologies and philosophies developed by ancient practitioners while incorporating current medical knowledge and techniques.

Indirect ways include a bundle, or a single stick of moxa burned near the surface of the skin, or the acupuncturist might use a small ball of moxa placed atop a needle. Direct forms use a much higher quality of moxa than that used for indirect applications and are applied with a range of techniques. Direct moxa techniques require further training and a clear rationale for its use. Moxibustion is used to promote the circulation of blood to the acupuncture points, muscle and nerve zones as well as areas of chronic pain or muscle tension.
ATCM aims to ensure high standards services in TCM including Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture are provided by its members. Tuina literally translates as push and grasp and is a Chinese therapeutic massage closely related to acupuncture in its use of the meridian system. It is considered to be effective for treating a similar range of health problems, especially musculoskeletal conditions and some internal diseases such as abdominal and digestive disorders related to digestions. Infant Tuina is especially useful for treatment of certain infant health problems. Tuina is regarded alongside herbal medicine and acupuncture as one of the fundamental arts of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Under Australian law, acupuncturists must use pre-sterilised, single-use needles. These needles are crafted of solid, flexible stainless steel and are extremely fine, as thin as a strand of hair (around 0.2 mm wide), and not designed to penetrate arteries or veins. Once inserted into skin, fascia and muscle tissue, they may be stimulated through gentle or specific movements by the acupuncturist, sometimes with the help of an electronic pulse device (electroacupuncture). Weight loss – While there is no magic acupuncture point or treatment to help weight loss, acupuncture can help support the journey toward weight loss through relief from stress or depression, by curbing appetite, improving digestion and boosting metabolism. Allergic rhinitis, acute sinusitis and the common cold – Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for patients with allergic rhinitis, acute sinusitis and common cold, reducing nasal and eye symptoms such as itching, sneezing and blocked or runny nose.
It is an opportunity to educate your patients to think differently about the value of Eastern medicine and preventive  health care. Herbal medicine has been the medicine of necessity and choice from the beginning of history. About 80% of our planet’s population still actively uses herbal medicine as its foremost source of health care. According to the theory behind acupressure, meridians are channels that carry life energy (qi or ch’i) throughout the body.
Our acupuncture services include distal style acupuncture, dry needling, motor point acupuncture and electro acupuncture, and can support a range of health issues including womens health, ivf support, stress, and  fatigue. With our experienced team and personalised approach, we are your partners in promoting your overall health and well-being. Contact our TCM practitioners today to start your wellness journey with the help of acupuncture therapy. If you’ve been looking for a traditional Chinese medicine clinic in Sydney that is passionate about helping its patients with tcm treatment, our expert team would love to help you.

Herbal Medicine is prescribed according to your symptoms for personalised treatments. They also work to improve digestive function and increase nutrient absorption of any vitamins or supplements you may be taking. While acupuncture stimulates the body’s meridians, herbal medicine works internally to strengthen and balance the body.
Interventions were performed before IVF, during IVF, and after ET, with durations ranging from 2 weeks to 3 menstrual cycles. The top acupoints included Sanyinjiao (SP6), Zusanli (ST36), Guilai (ST29), Xuehai (SP10), Diji (SP8), Taichong (LR3), Guanyuan (CV/RN4), Hegu (LI4), Neiguan (PC6), and Baihui (GV/DU20). The most used meridians were the Spleen Meridian (SP), Stomach Meridian (ST), Ren Meridian (RN), Du Mai Meridian (DU), and Liver Meridian (LR) (as depicted in Figure 15 and Figure 16).
Only by thoroughly understanding what meridians truly are can we utilize acupuncture and moxibustion techniques more effectively in clinical settings. Traditional Chinese medicine is used for treatment of a wide range of diseases. In practice, the therapeutic methods commonly used by TCM practitioners includes Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, tuina (therapeutic massage), cupping or a combination  of these therapies. It has been proven that these therapeutic methods are very effective in management of many clinical conditions and has been safely practised for centuries.