Have you ever wondered what is really involved in your acupuncture treatment? Here at Haynes Acupuncture Gold Coast, our qualified acupuncturists practice a style of traditional medicine based on more than 2,500 years of Chinese medical practice. Within acupuncture care, self-care advice is not seen as an ‘add-on’ but rather as an integral and interactive component of a theory-based complex intervention.

Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on the conceptual framework of yin-yang theory, or the “balance” of opposites.  Within this medicine system, there is acupuncture, nutrition, herbal therapy, meditation, physical exercise and massage. Traditional Medicine Practitioners incorporate ancient theories and modern science to treat a wide range of conditions including pain management, mental health, stress, infertility, insomnia, digestive complaints and many more.

According to practitioners, longer-term benefits require the active participation of patients in their self care. Simplified concepts derived from acupuncture theory, such as ‘stagnation’ and ‘energy’, are employed as an integral part of the process of care, in order to engage patients in lifestyle changes, help them to understand their condition, and to see ways in which they can help themselves.

Principles of self-care we recommend;

  1. Meditation/Mindfulness
  • Journaling, meditating, talking with someone and doing some kind of self-inquiry work.
  • Breathing by inhaling down to your toes and exhaling out into all corners of your body body. It’s grounding and cleansing. It lowers blood pressure and feeds your cells with oxygen.
  • Laying flat on your back for as little as 5 minutes and not sleeping, has a way of feeling restorative.
  1. Movement
  • The body is always talking and often, it’s asking for some type of movement, whether walking, stretching, or exercising. Sometimes the answer to a frozen joint or aching pain is to get it moving.
  • Stepping outside where there are trees or birds or a river opens the senses up to new sights, sounds and smells. Fresh air and sunlight aren’t just for plants!
  1. Diet
  • When you’re feeling fragile or on the verge of getting sick, hold off on sugar, alcohol, overly spicy foods, fried or processed foods and dairy. Stick to slow cooked dishes like soups or bland foods like steamed veggies. The digestive system is responsible for 70% of our immune system.
  • Don’t overdo it on water since massive amounts of water can exhaust the kidneys. Pay attention to your eyes, mouth, nose and skin for any dryness sensations and keep an eye on your urine; when it gets slightly cloudy, colourful, or inconsistent, reach for a couple of glasses of water.

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4. Massage

  • Massage, foam rolling, hugs, or pet-petting can release endorphins that boost mood and reduce pain.
  • Dry skin brushing or wet skin exfoliation do more than just shed old skin; they activate the lymph to help flush the body of toxins. Our skin is our largest organ and is considered our third lung, so it absorbs and expels much more than we notice all day long.
  • Muscles naturally get knotted up. Applying gentle pressure to knots by leaning against a tennis ball for several minutes, can help release knots.
  1. Feng Shui
  •  Feng Shui relates to the picture of your personal space. How do you feel in your home, your car, your office? Making time to orient yourself with the objects that fill your life and establish a space that feels comfortable and clean, can have an immense effect on your state of mind and wellbeing.
  1. Herbs
  • Some super greens mixed into a smoothie, a herbal tea to soothe and support internal organs, or reaching for fresh herbs like ginger and garlic can help boost the body’s natural healing abilities.
  • 1/2 cup of Epsom salt (aluminium free) in a warm bath for 20 minutes helps relax tightness and draw out toxins from the body.
  • Essential oils are a great tool, we like peppermint to clear sinuses or reduce headaches, lavender to heal burns and insect bites, and citrus to lift the mood and for going to social events.
  1. Acupuncture
  • Acupuncture has been part of traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. It involves inserting fine needles into specific points on the skin or applying various other techniques, such as moxa and cupping, to the acupuncture points to restore balance and encourage the body to heal itself.

Our bodies are designed to heal. The above suggestions are a blueprint for guiding the body into harmonious resonance with the richness of life. Take care of yourself first and embody an overflowing reservoir of healing potential. If you allow your well to run dry, everyone suffers. Self-care is not a form of selfishness, when the well is full, everyone benefits!

If you would like more information or to book in for an appointment with one of our practitioners, please call us on (07) 5531 6461 or you can book online via our website.

© Haynes Acupuncture ™ Gold Coast 2022