Our natural therapy association has been accrediting acupuncturists for more than 60 years, ensuring that they meet the high educational and training standards required for membership. Every acupuncturist in our directory is qualified and capable of delivering first-rate treatment, which ensures you are searching for only the best therapists in Australia.
Find local acupuncture practitioners across Australia using our directory of the leading expert practitioners who have been individually accredited by ANTA.
Acupuncture is the process of inserting thin, flexible needles into the body, to provide pain relief and treat a range of symptoms. The stainless steel needles are used to stimulate meridians (lines running through the body), acupuncture points, or neural zones underneath the skin.
Acupuncture has been practised for over 2,500 years, originating in modern-day China. Some people believe it was practised in Eurasia as early as the Stone Age, with possible acupuncture needles found made of stone and animal bone.
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine that has ancient roots. The first description of acupuncture diagnosis and treatment appears in The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, written around 300 BC in China. The chinese created needles from bamboo, copper, silver, iron, bronze and gold, and it’s believed that modern hypodermic needles were inspired from these original versions.
Traditional Chinese medicine states the existence of Qi (pronounced chee)—a life force within the body that flows along 12 to 14 pathways (meridians), between and through the surface of the body (skin, fascia, muscle, bone) and its internal organs. An imbalance or disruption to the flow of Qi can trigger illness, which can be manipulated and fixed with acupuncture.
The existence of Qi has never been scientifically proven, but despite this, acupuncture has been proven to treat a wide range of issues, including chronic pain, anxiety, fertility problems, and weight loss.
Given the complexity of the body and its numerous systems, it’s difficult to pin down a single process that makes acupuncture work, and in fact, it may work in a number of different ways.
A 2013 study (Dominic P Lu, Gabriel P Lu, 2013, PMC) from Dominic and Gabriel Lu found that acupuncture activates neurohormonal pathways, triggering biochemical processes in the body and releasing “endorphins, serotonin, enkephalins, γ-aminobutyric acid, norepinephrine and dopamine,” which can help to heal the patient.
By stimulating the body’s nerves, acupuncture needles send signals to the brain, which releases neural hormones that can make the patient feel happy, and reduce their pain. It’s thought that acupuncture doesn’t directly release feel-good chemicals, but instead works at a broader level, stimulating organs such as the pituitary gland, which produces extra hormones.
Other studies have shown that acupuncture decreases proinflammatory markers such as IL-1β and TNF, which reduces inflammation and pain. A common example of a proinflammatory marker in acupuncture is below the knee, which when targeted, can reduce inflammation across the entire body, as well as increase energy levels, and strengthen the immune system.
When using acupuncture to treat nerve damage, it’s believed that the needle sends signals to the brain that tell it to grow and repair nerves, which leads to nerve regeneration. When used in conjunction with fertility treatments, acupuncture has shown to increase the effectiveness of hormone-increasing drugs, with a better balance of hormones, and an improved chance of the patient becoming pregnant2.
Acupuncture has been proven to treat a range of medical conditions, including mental, physical and neurological illnesses and conditions. These include:
Acupuncture aims to holistically treat the entire body, rather than just individual symptoms. Therefore, your first appointment may be longer so that your practitioner can explore your symptoms, diet, lifestyle and medical history. They may also ask you about your sleep habits, emotional health and sexual, digestive and urinary function depending on the nature of your complaint. This will enable them to gain a clear picture of the type of acupuncture that will benefit you most.
Because acupuncture practitioners often blend aspects of both Eastern and Western approaches to medicine, many also often have their own unique style of treatment.
Acupuncture points are located in all areas of the body, and sometimes the appropriate points aren’t actually in the area where you feel pain. Your practitioner will advise of the general sites of your treatment and whether or not you need to remove any clothing. A towel, sheet or gown may then be provided.
They may also examine:
Treatment can either be performed sitting or lying down, and hair-thin, pre-sterilised, disposable stainless steel needles will be inserted into specific parts of your body. They will be inserted at various depths, and between five and 20 needles are used in a typical treatment session. The needles will usually remain in your body for between 10 and 20 minutes unless you are highly sensitive or not feeling well. During the session, your practitioner may also gently twirl or move the needles.
Other techniques they may use as part of a holistic treatment plan include:
After a treatment, some people feel relaxed, others energised, and others may not respond at all. The number of treatments needed depends on your condition and its severity, but most people experience a reduction in symptoms within a few sessions. Once your practitioner feels balance has been restored and your body can take care of itself, further treatments may not be necessary.
Some practitioners have suggested that acupuncture can stimulate blood flow to the uterus, ovaries and endometrium, assist menstruation and ovulation, and reduce stress and anxiety. This may encourage the ovaries to function at their peak and help to increase the thickness of the uterus lining. Acupuncture treatments may be undertaken when trying to conceive or during the first few weeks of pregnancy. Practitioners suggest acupuncture may also be beneficial if undertaken by women after several unsuccessful attempts to become pregnant.
Acupuncture may also benefit women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which is a hormonal disorder where women experience prolonged or infrequent periods or excess androgen levels. This often results in a woman developing numerous small collections of fluid (known as follicles), and fail to regularly release eggs. The specific aim here is to induce ovulation and regulate hormones.
For women preparing for an IVF cycle, acupuncture may assist in improving the menstrual cycle, regulating hormones and promoting ovulation. Some acupuncturists suggest a short treatment before and immediately after an embryo transfer, which can increase the chances of implantation. This is because it may serve to relax the uterus at the time of transfer — if it is undertaken at the correct time.
Because IVF treatments can be a stressful and emotional time, acupuncture may also assist with alleviating stress and allowing a woman’s body to function optimally. However, if you are already going through IVF treatment, it is essential to discuss any intention to undertake acupuncture with your fertility specialist first.
Achieving optimal health can also be beneficial for males pre-conception and acupuncture may assist in increasing sperm quality, count and motility. It can also improve their general health, including their weight, stress and energy levels and their cardiovascular health.
Experiencing morning sickness (commonly in the first trimester) can be very debilitating, and can include nausea, vomiting and dry retching. One of the most popular known acupuncture points is on the inside of the wrist, just above the base of the hand. Many practitioners will recommend several treatments within the first ten days from the onset of symptoms, and then only weekly treatments in the first trimester to keep nausea under control.
To get the safest and optimal treatment that will benefit your health and wellbeing, you should choose an acupuncturist who is fully accredited and qualified. ANTA has strict criteria for practitioner membership, so it’s simply a matter of searching our acupuncture directory via the form at the top of this page.
If you’d still like to find an acupuncture practitioner yourself, there are a number of things you should consider while searching.
You don’t need a doctor’s referral to see an acupuncturist, but they must have national and formally-recognised accreditation and be registered with AHPRA (the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency). They should also have current malpractice insurance.
There are also several indirect laws that may apply to acupuncturists, including:
The area of medicine advances over time, and it’s the same with acupuncture. To receive the most effective treatment, you should see an acupuncturist who uses the latest practises and techniques to deliver treatment and has up-to-date knowledge in their field.
Some acupuncturists choose to specialise in certain areas, for example, pain relief, fertility issues or weight loss. For the best treatment, you should find out the specialisations of all acupuncturists you are considering so they can treat you effectively.
As with any medical treatment, acupuncture must be performed in a sterilised area, and the clinical environment should be clean, tidy and not expose their clients to any risk of injury, risk or infection.
Many people assume that acupuncture hurts because there are needles involved. However, they are hair-thin and their insertion usually causes little discomfort. After insertion, most people only experience a slight tingling sensation or a mild ache, warmth or heaviness when the needle reaches the correct depth. These sensations show the treatment is working. However, many people don’t feel anything at all! If you do feel pain, it’s important to inform your acupuncturist.
Both acupuncture and dry needling involve the insertion of thin needles into the body. However, they are both individual treatments with unique histories. Acupuncture is a complementary medical practice rooted in Chinese medicine that aims to alleviate pain or treat various health conditions by unblocking a patient’s energy flow or Qi.
Dry needling follows evidence-based guidelines and recommended “point” locations with the goal of relieving pain, addressing neuromuscular conditions and/or improving range of motion. Evidence supports that it can reduce muscle tension and normalise dysfunction at the sites where nerve impulses are transmitted to the muscles. This can help speed up the patient’s return to active rehabilitation.
Side effects can include soreness, bruising, fatigue, light-headedness and emotional sensitivity, but these typically disappear within a day or two. The risk of infection is also minimal if your practitioner uses sterile, disposable and single-use needles, which is now the industry standard. A qualified practitioner will also know how to insert needles correctly, which can minimise skin injuries, bruising and bleeding.
However, you may be at risk of complications if you:
To prevent the chance of adverse side effects, you should search for an accredited and qualified practitioner from our acupuncture directory, located at the top of this page.
