Medicare in the U.S. has announced this week that it will now cover acupuncture for patients with chronic low back pain. In fact Medicare will now cover up to 12 sessions in 90 days. This is in part because of the widespread abuse of opioids in America. Research continues to support the benefits of acupuncture for pain relief and it is reducing the dependency of patients on addictive pain medications. Restore acupuncturists are experienced at managing patients with chronic and acute pain.
At Restore Health & Wellness we offer allied health treatments that proactively support you through your oncology journey and beyond.
Restore Health & Wellness is a relaxing, nurturing clinic in the heart of the medical district of St Leonards. We offer oncology patients care in the form of oncology acupuncture and lymphatic drainage massage both by practitioners with advanced training in oncology patients. They are both covered by private health insurance extras cover should your policy cover these modalities of treatment.
Acupuncture for Oncology
The American Society for Cancer Oncology (ASCO) actively supports Acupuncture services. This is due to research demonstrating that oncology acupuncture may be effective in supporting immune function and managing side effects including:
At Restore our acupuncturist for oncology patients is Sally Gole. Sally is a renowned and experienced Acupuncturist who is passionate about using a wholistic and complementary approach to care for her patients during this challenging time. After gaining her initial qualifications as an Acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine Herbalist, Sally has been practicing with a focus on Womens Health and Oncology for over 13 years.
Sally completed the Post Graduate Oncology Acupuncture Hospital Training Program under Dr Byeongsang Oh at the Mater Hospital in Sydney. Dr. Oh is a Clinical Associate Professor at the Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney and a Research Fellow at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School. He has practised acupuncture and other complementary medicine for over 15 years, specialising in cancer care.
Lymphatic Drainage Massage for Oncology
Lymphatic Drainage Massage is a gentle massage to encourage the natural drainage of the lymph from the body tissue. The technique is light with gentle pressure mobilising fluid toward the lymphatic sites, with varying degrees of pressure. This form of massage is renowned for its benefits in lymphedema patients.
Lymphedema, or lymphatic obstruction, is a condition whereby excess fluid collects in tissues causing swelling (oedema). The lymphatic system is a part of the immune system and vital for immune function. This may occur in oncology patients with the removal of lymph nodes as part of their oncology treatment, or as a result of scarring following any form of surgery.
At Restore our Remedial Massage Therapist for oncology patients is Nathalie Gagnon. Nathalie has been practicing for more than 15 years and is a caring and compassionate practitioner. She has completed advance training in lymphatic drainage massage and works with oncology patients regularly to help manage their symptoms and reduce their discomfort.
Amanda Hannaford is excited to be back at Restore on Tuesdays and Thursdays and we have now opened up her list for bookings. She has been on sabbatical for over 3 months and thanks her patients for their understanding and support.
Amanda is a member of our fantastic Osteopathy team at Restore including Alex Douglas, Sarah Lal and Kate Major. If you used to see Amanda in the past but are happy with your new osteopath please feel free to stay with your current carer. We are all highly qualified and experienced. We work as a supportive team and all have access to your records, treatment plan and progress reports.
To make an appointment with Amanda or another of the Osteo Crew, just book online or call the clinic on 9439 3333 anytime.
Restore Health & Wellness is conveniently close to the birthing centres and maternity teams at Royal North Shore, North Shore Private and the Mater Hospitals. We are also within walking distance of Genea Australia and less than 1km from IVF Australia.
Our acupuncturists and osteopaths care for patients during their fertility, pregnancy, labour and postpartum journey.
As we are so close to hospitals and IVF centres our acupuncturists are renowned for their work in IVF pre and post transfer acupuncture and labour induction acupuncture.
If you need to see one of our practitioners you can always book online however if it is time sensitive due to your transfer time or overdue bub please call us on (02) 9439 3333 and we will make it work!
Multiple studies have demonstrated that acupuncture can be an effective treatment for insomnia. Acupuncture lessens anxiety, stimulates melatonin production, induces sleep onset, and reduces sleep disruption during the night. All of these effects amount to an overall increase in total sleep time.
Acupuncture also activates your parasympathetic system which is the part of your nervous system that encourages your body to rest and digest. In some instances, acupuncture is used as a treatment not for insomnia itself, but for pain from other physical conditions that in turn make it difficult to fall asleep at night.
The first step your acupuncturist will take is to try to assess why this may be happening to you at this time and whether they can help. In some cases you GP will be involved in this assessment process to rule out any serious illness. Lets have a look at the most common causes of insomnia:
Common Causes of Insomnia
Adrenal and thyroid disorders: Adrenal and thyroid glands are responsible for producing hormones that regulate energy levels, metabolic rate and sleep onset and maintenance.
Chronic pain: Chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis are strong related to sleep disorders as the pain can prevent sleep onset and maintenance. On that note – sleep deprivation has been found to increase pain sensitivity, leading to a vicious cycle, hence the importance of addressing causes and symptoms.
Breathing disorders: Sleep apnoea which is the obstruction of airways during sleep may stop the airflow and cause the individual to wake up, often several times during the night. Similarly, inadequate mouth breathing, asthma and snoring may interrupt sleep cycles and prevent restorative sleep.
Poor sleep hygiene: Irregular sleep schedule, stimulating activities (such as strenuous exercise, smart phones, computers and TV exposure, nicotine, alcohol, recreational drugs and caffeine consumption) . Also an uncomfortable sleep environment may affect circadian rhythm and disturb sleep quality.
Protein rich meal too close to bed time: An important raw material for the synthesis of melatonin in the brain is the amino acid tryptophan. High-protein meals can decrease the availability of tryptophan because other amino acids compete for absorption.
Imbalances in gut flora: A very high percentage of neurotransmitters (also responsible for regulating sleep onset and maintenance) is produced by the good gut bacteria. Any conditions affecting the gut flora balance such as candida overgrowth and parasite infections may negatively affect neurotransmitters production, directly impacting sleep patterns.
Anxiety: Insomnia is frequently associated with depression and most anxiety disorders. The causes and effects are bidirectional – insomnia can lead to anxiety and depression, whereas chronic insomnia is often a symptom of depression and anxiety disorders
Therefore treatment for insomnia needs to follow a thorough assessment and treatment plan to eradicate as many causative factors as possible. Acupuncture then works to settle the system back down and allow you to return to a normative sleep pattern. At Restore our acupuncturists regularly care for patients with insomnia and other related issues such as anxiety and gut issues. If you are struggling with insomnia book an appointment with us today.
Acupuncture is frequently used to assist in the regulation of hormones and the reduction of inflammation. This is why it is commonly used to great effect in the treatment of a condition called endometriosis. Endometriosis is a condition whereby some of the tissue lining of the uterus, called the endometrium, grows outside of the uterus. Endometriosis is a progressive, chronic condition and is often very painful. It is also associated with infertility as this endometrial tissue can interfere with fallopian tubes and result in ovarian endometrial cysts. It is estimated that up to 1 in 10 women suffer from endometriosis which is over 700,000 women in Australia alone.
In a recent study researchers found acupuncture more effective than hormone drug therapy for the treatment of endometriosis. Acupuncture relieves menstrual pain, reduces the size of pelvic masses, lowers CA125 levels, and reduces the recurrence rate of endometriosis. CA125 a is biomarker for several types of cancer and benign conditions including endometriosis and menstrual disorders.
Researchers in the study compared the symptoms in patients receiving acupuncture with those receiving standard drug therapy. According to their findings patients receiving acupuncture achieved a 92.0% total effective rate, whilst patients receiving mifepristone achieved only a 52.0% total effective rate. In addition to this benefit acupuncture has no side effects unlike drug therapy.
This supports what the Restore acupuncturists see daily – that acupuncture can result in significant reduction of symptoms of endometriosis and reduce its recurrence.