Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association

Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine

What is Traditional Chinese medicine?

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) dates back thousands of years and is a system of primary health care that includes acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and remedial massage (An Mo Tui Na). In Australia, the most popular forms of TCM health care are acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine.

The primary feature of modern TCM is the premise that good health relies on the restoration and maintenance of harmony, balance and order to the individual. TCM takes a holistic approach to understanding normal function and disease processes and focuses as much on the prevention of illness as it does on the treatment.

What is Qi and how does it affect the body?

When healthy, an abundant supply of qi (pronounced chee) or ‘life energy’ flows through the body’s meridians (a network of unseen channels through the body). If the flow of qi becomes blocked or there is an inadequate supply of qi, then the body fails to maintain harmony, balance and order and disease or illness follows. This can result from stress, overwork, poor diet, disease pathogens, environmental conditions and other lifestyle factors.

TCM treatments

TCM treatments focus on the underlying condition as well as treating the presenting symptoms. Treatments work on the basis of individualised formulae for each patient.

Please contact AACMA if you would like the contact details of qualified TCM practitioners in your local area or alternatively click here to find your nearest practitioner.