Frequently Asked
Questions

Acupuncture involves the insertion of ultra-fine needles into specific points on the body to stimulate healing, restore balance, and support the body's own intelligence. Needles move through the layers of skin — the epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, and muscle — each of which contains structures and cells that actively respond to needling.

Acupuncture points run along 12 meridians, which modern anatomy understands as fascial pathways. These points are connected to nerve trunks, nerve branches, nerve plexuses, and the walls of blood vessels. Think of your body as an information highway. Similar to a neurotransmitter, the needle sends a signal to the central nervous system. The body then cross-talks between the neuroendocrine, nervous, and immune systems, delivering a targeted response to reach the desired therapeutic outcome.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qi (pronounced "chee") is the vital energy that flows through pathways called meridians. When Qi flows freely, the body maintains health. When it is disrupted or stagnant, symptoms and disease emerge.

Modern research is beginning to give this ancient concept a physiological language. What TCM calls Qi appears to correlate with bioelectrical signalling, specifically piezoelectric current, generated when acupuncture needles are inserted into tissue. Studies have identified that acupuncture points sit at the intersections of nerve trunks, plexuses, and blood vessel walls, which explains why stimulating these specific sites produces measurable systemic effects.

When needled, these points trigger adenosine release, a neurotransmitter with powerful inhibitory and anti-inflammatory effects on the nervous system. They stimulate the body's endogenous opioid system, your built-in pain relief. They regulate the HPA axis (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal), balancing cortisol, stress response, and the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system. They also modulate the HPO axis (hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian), supporting endocrine and hormonal function.

The ancient understanding of Qi as intelligent, moving energy is not so far from how we now understand bioelectrical signalling in the body. Different language. The same truth.

Acupuncture works by sending a precise signal through the nervous system that triggers a cascade of physiological responses. Research shows it modulates prostaglandins, beta-endorphins, dynorphins, and substance P — the exact inflammatory chemicals driving much of the pain and hormonal disruption I see in clinic. It reduces central sensitisation, restores parasympathetic regulation, improves blood flow to the pelvic organs, and downregulates cytokine activity at a cellular level.

It is not masking symptoms. It is changing the environment those symptoms live in.

Yes. When practised by a qualified and registered Chinese Medicine practitioner using sterile single-use needles, acupuncture is extremely safe. I hold a Doctor of Chinese Medicine with over 20 years of clinical experience, and safety is foundational to everything I do. As with any therapeutic intervention, a thorough intake and health history is taken before treatment to ensure it is appropriate for your individual circumstances.

Most people are genuinely surprised by how gentle it is. The needles used in acupuncture are hair-fine, nothing like a standard injection needle. You may feel a mild sensation at the insertion point, sometimes described as a dull ache, warmth, or a gentle heaviness, which is known in Chinese Medicine as the arrival of Qi. Many patients find the experience deeply relaxing and leave feeling calmer than when they arrived. Sensitivity varies between individuals and between acupuncture points, and I always work within your comfort level.

Yes, and the mechanism is well documented. Acupuncture directly regulates the HPA axis, the body's central stress-response system, reducing cortisol, calming the sympathetic nervous system, and restoring the parasympathetic state of rest and regulation. For many of my patients, chronic stress and anxiety are not separate from their physical symptoms. They are part of the same pattern. Treating the nervous system treats the whole picture.

In Australia, acupuncture provided by a registered Chinese Medicine practitioner is covered by many private health insurance funds under extras cover. Coverage varies depending on your policy and fund. I recommend checking directly with your insurer. Acupuncture is not currently covered under Medicare.

My clinical focus is women's health in all its complexity. Conditions I treat regularly include endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS, painful and irregular periods, heavy menstrual bleeding, perimenopause and menopause, fertility challenges, IVF support, recurrent miscarriage, pelvic pain, pelvic floor dysfunction, hormonal imbalance, anxiety, fatigue, and pregnancy support across all trimesters.

Complex cases are my specialty. If you have been told there are no more options, or that what you are experiencing is simply something you must manage, I would ask you to sit with me first.

Initial consultations are typically 75 to 90 minutes, which allows time for a thorough case history, intake, and full treatment. Follow-up sessions are generally 60 minutes. The time matters. Understanding your full picture is part of how I treat.

This depends entirely on your case, your history, and what we are working toward together. Acute presentations may respond within a handful of sessions. Chronic, complex conditions like endometriosis, adenomyosis, or long-standing hormonal dysregulation typically require a course of treatment over weeks or months. I will always be honest with you about what is realistic and why. Root-cause medicine takes time, but the results are built to last.

Acupuncture is generally very well tolerated. Some people experience mild, temporary effects following treatment: light-headedness, a brief intensification of symptoms before improvement, minor bruising at needle sites, or a strong sense of fatigue as the body processes the treatment. These are not cause for concern and typically resolve quickly. Serious adverse effects are rare when treatment is delivered by a qualified practitioner.

The evidence here is robust and growing. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis confirmed acupuncture is effective in alleviating dysmenorrhea and pelvic pain, with additional benefits including reduced CA-125 levels, decreased nodule size, and improved quality of life. (Chen et al., Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 2024)

Research from Dr Mike Armour at Western Sydney University's NICM Health Research Institute found that women in the acupuncture group experienced a 42% reduction in pelvic pain in just eight weeks of treatment. A 2024 network meta-analysis found acupuncture and related modalities were superior to NSAIDs for primary dysmenorrhea pain relief, without the gut damage. (Frontiers in Medicine, 2024)

This is not alternative medicine at the fringes. This is evidence-based care.

Absolutely, and this is one of the areas I am most passionate about. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine work beautifully alongside IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies. I work collaboratively with fertility specialists including Professor Joseph Sgroi and Dr Nick Lolatgis to support women through every stage of their fertility journey, from preparation and cycle regulation through to embryo transfer and beyond.

Over 5,691 families have been created through the care I have been privileged to be part of.

Yes, and the evidence base continues to strengthen. Beyond the pain and fertility research cited above, acupuncture has been shown to suppress serum oestradiol levels, potentially inhibiting the growth of ectopic endometrial tissue. It downregulates cytokine activity and inflammatory markers, triggers adenosine release for localised anti-inflammatory effect, enhances immune function at a cellular level, and regulates both the HPA and HPO axes, the hormonal command centres of the body.

A clinical study on women with deep infiltrating endometriosis found dysmenorrhea pain scores dropped from a mean of 8.0 to 3.4 on a 10-point scale after a course of acupuncture, a more than 50% reduction in women with Stage IV disease. (Pasquale et al., Frontiers in Medicine)

The science is there. The clinical outcomes I witness daily confirm it.