Our natural therapy association has been accrediting Brisbane acupuncturists for more than 60 years, ensuring that they meet the high educational and training standards required for membership.
Every acupuncturist we’ve accredited is qualified and committed to providing the highest standard of treatment. If you’re looking for acupuncture in Brisbane CBD and surrounds, you’ll find a specialist in our directory.
You can compare acupuncture practitioners in Brisbane using our search function, which includes practitioners in the Brisbane CBD and its surrounding suburbs.
✔️Our acupuncturists are qualified and accredited
✔️Our acupuncturists adopt a holistic approach to treat your entire being, not just single symptoms
✔️Our acupuncturists use traditional techniques to promote your body’s natural capacity for healing and self-regulation
✔️Both state and federal governments recognise our acupuncturists
✔️We have a sixty-year history working with acupuncture practitioners
✔️Our nutritionists use science-based methods and information to provide you with the latest effective dietary advice
Acupuncture is completed using small flexible needles, which are inserted just beneath a patient’s skin. The process can reduce musculoskeletal pain, along with a number of other symptoms. Acupuncture needles are produced using stainless steel, of approximately 0.2mm in diameter, which is about the width of a human hair. The tiny needles stimulate meridians, which run as lines through your body, as well as acupuncture points and neural zones beneath the skin.
Acupuncture is a form of Chinese medicine, which has been practised in China for 2,500 years. Certain historians have hypothesised that acupuncture originated in Eurasia, after acupuncture-type needles made of stone and animal bone during the Stone Age (from 8700 to 2000 BCE) were discovered on the Eurasian continent. However, despite that, it is widely accepted to be of Chinese origin.
The first written description of acupuncture appeared in The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, which is an ancient Chinese book written about 2,300 years ago. Early acupuncture needles were crafted in China using bamboo, silver, copper, bronze, iron, and even gold. In fact, it is believed that modern hypodermic needles were inspired by these early Chinese creations.
Chinese medicine operates on the notion that our bodies gain their energy from a life force known as Qi (pronounced chee). Chinese medicinal principles state that Qi travels along 12 to 14 pathways, or meridians, which move through our skin, fascia, muscle, and bone, as well as through internal organs. Illness is simply a disruption or imbalance of Qi. Acupuncture works by recalibrating your Qi to correct any disruption or imbalance.
Acupuncture has been proven to work on a range of ailments, which is why it’s used to treat wide-ranging issues including anxiety, fertility issues, weight loss, and chronic pain.
The body is complex, made up of numerous systems that work together to keep you functional and healthy. It’s difficult to determine exactly how acupuncture works, although there’s been a number of scientific studies over the years, with different theories as to why acupuncture works. In recent years, Dominic and Gabrield Lu found acupuncture to be capable of stimulating neurohormonal pathways (Dominic P Lu, Gabriel P Lu, 2013, PMC), which are a key feature of the human body’s biomechanical process. By stimulating these processes, they worked out that acupuncture can release chemicals including endorphins, serotonin, enkephalins, y-aminobutyric acid, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Those chemicals can help with the healing process.
Studies have shown that acupuncture can address another common source of pain for many people: inflammation. Inflammation is prompted by certain proinflammatory proteins, which acupuncture has been shown to reduce. For example, there is a point below the knee that acupuncturists will often target, with the effect that inflammation reduces throughout the patient’s whole body. That comes with the added bonus of neurohormonal release, which can increase energy and improve your immune system.
For those suffering from chronic pain, acupuncture is often preferred to heavy regimes or harsh medication. Patients with nerve damage often turn to acupuncture, which can contribute to nerve regeneration. In fertility patients, acupuncture can be used in conjunction with hormone-stimulating medications to achieve a greater hormonal balance. In turn, that can produce better fertility outcomes.
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Acupuncture involves the insertion of hair-thin stainless steel needles into the body. They usually remain in place for 25 to 40 minutes. People with greater sensitivity generally fall on the short end of the spectrum.
You should always choose an acupuncturist with complete qualification and accreditation. ANTA imposes strict guidelines on the membership of its practitioners, which means our acupuncture directory is a good place to start.
If you would prefer to locate an acupuncture clinic yourself, here is what you need to take into account.
Practitioners are required to have standardised and formal accreditation, AHPRA registrations, and suitable malpractice insurance.
Whether Western or Chinese, medicine is constantly evolving. Acupuncture is the same, and to find the best treatment you need to seek out a practitioner with contemporary knowledge of the principles in their field, and a modern repertoire of clinical skills.
Like Western medical practitioners, acupuncturists often specialise in a certain area, like pain relief or fertility. If you have specific needs, consider looking for an acupuncturist with a special interest in your area.
As with any medical treatment, acupuncture must be performed in a sterilised area. Sealed, single-use needles are a legal requirement in Australia.
Acupuncture is a holistic treatment that aims to heal your entire body, rather than individual afflictions. An acupuncturist will look to gain a clear understanding of your overall wellbeing during your initial consultation, which means it could be a lengthy one. They may ask personal questions regarding your emotional state, prior illness, your sexual wellbeing, and your digestive habits. Although they seem a little invasive, the answers to these questions will be key in developing holistic solutions to address your complaints.
Acupuncture is scientifically proven to effectively address numerous medical conditions of neurological, mental, and physical natures. Some ailments include:
Acupuncture is a completely natural treatment that works with your body’s natural healing functions. The small needles, when inserted, trigger your body’s remarkable capacity for regeneration and self-regulation.
Acupuncture is a painless form of therapy, which is surprising to a lot of people, who naturally associate needles with pain. Usually, the sensations associated with acupuncture are limited to slight tingling, or, at worst, a mild ache.
Acupuncture is painless and is usually only accompanied by mild tingling feelings, or occasionally a slight ache.
Dry needling is an amalgamation of acupuncture and Western medical principles. It works to stimulate certain points, or muscles that are specifically causing issues. Acupuncture, on the other hand, is designed to redirect your body’s Qi and solve imbalances in your biomechanical system as a whole.
Side effects of acupuncture are extremely rare, and usually less severe than conventional drug treatments. Potential rare side effects include bruising, soreness, light-headedness, fatigue, and emotional sensitivity (e.g. crying). Any soreness that a patient feels typically disappears within a day, but more intensive treatments can last for longer.
To prevent the chance of adverse side effects, search for a qualified and accredited practitioner from our acupuncture directory, located at the top of this page.
Bulk billing is determined on a case by case basis, and as part of a multidisciplinary treatment regime. You will need a referral from a general practitioner and you will need to book with an accredited and AHPRA registered acupuncturist.
We have a wide range of acupuncturists who will complete pregnancy acupuncture in Brisbane. However, it is considered on a case by case basis, and often in conjunction with the advice of a multidisciplinary antenatal care team.
Certain Brisbane acupuncturists offer fertility acupuncture, although it is considered a specialty field. We would suggest searching our directory for a practitioner with a special interest in fertility acupuncture.