Christina Tolstrup - Chinese Medicine Practitioner

GARDENVALE TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE is a contemporary clinic where ancient traditions are combined with a modern approach to provide clients with comprehensive and individually tailored healthcare.

CHRISTINA is a qualified, professional, and registered Chinese medicine practitioner who offers a range of services, including:

Acupuncture
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Chinese Remedial Massage
Cupping
Gua Sha
Diet & Lifestyle Advice
Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage
Ear Candling

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STRAIGHT TO THE POINT ABOUT CHINESE MEDICINE

In Chinese Medicine any symptom, illness or pain is viewed as an imbalance in the body and mind. Somehow there is a disruption to the smooth flow of your vital energy, referred to as "Qi". The quality and flow of your Qi ("energy") and other vital substances, such as your blood can be affected by many factors, such as genetics, trauma, injury, illness, infection, emotions, stress, diet, quality of sleep, and lifestyle.

Chinese Medicine provides a wholistic and different, complementary or alternative, approach to mainstream medicine and aims to get to the root of the cause of your symptoms. It focuses as much on prevention of illness as on the relief or cure of health conditions.

HOW CHINESE MEDICINE CAN BENEFIT YOU

Due to Chinese Medicine's unique approach to illness and to maintenance of health, it can be successful in treating an incredibly wide spectrum of ailments ranging from MUSCULOSKELETAL ACHES and PAINS, including ARTHRITIS, to more internal conditions, such as DIGESTIVE ISSUES, MENSTRUAL IRREGULARITIES, INFERTILITY, COUGHS and the COMMON COLD, CHRONIC FATIGUE, INSOMNIA, DEPRESSION, and children's ASTHMA and ECZEMA, just to mention a few...
(Check our website for more information www.gardenvaletcm.com.au or give us a call on 9530 6566 to enquire about how Chinese Medicine may help relieve YOUR specific complaint)

To achieve the best treatment outcomes a Chinese Medicine consultation generally involves collecting detailed information about you, including your energy levels, digestion, exercise and sleep routines, stress levels, menstrual cycles for women, and dietary habits, as well as inspection of your tongue and pulse.

By considering your health in context of your history, lifestyle and living environment, we compile a "bigger picture" of your health status and your individual imbalances, weaknesses, blockages, or challenges in order to regulate or boost the flow of your Qi and vital substances to ultimately restore equilibrium and improve your health and wellbeing.

The Qi flows along channels (meridians) through the body, connecting all body parts as well as the mind.

Several techniques and treatment methods are traditionally used to regulate and balance the flow of Qi and facilitate the healing process, such as ACUPUNCTURE, MASSAGE, CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE, CUPPING, DIET & LIFESTYLE ADVICE.

Treatments are individually prescribed to suit the client's needs and requests on the day and generally involve a combination of the treatment methods mentioned. Chinese Medicine is safe in PREGNANCY and in the treatment of CHILDREN.

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TREATMENTS AVAILABLE

Acupuncture
An acupuncture treatment involves the insertion of ultra fine, disposable and sterile acupuncture needles at specifically chosen points along the meridians on the body. Acupuncture sensations vary between individuals, often described as either dull, numb, buzzing, tingling or heavy feelings in the affected area during and after the treatment. Acupuncture should generally not be painful or unpleasant. The acupuncture needles are usually retained for 10-30 minutes depending on the treatment strategy. As with all types of treatments the frequency of treatments vary according to the nature of the complaint and the individual's response to treatments.

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Chinese Herbal Medicine
Chinese herbal medicine involves the prescription of natural substances, mostly from plants (such as leaves, seeds, twigs, stems, roots, flowers, and fruits), minerals, and occasionally some animal products, to nourish, regulate and balance bodily functions.
At Gardenvale Traditional Chinese Medicine we mostly use granulated herbs. The herbs are mixed into your own individual prescription, and are easy for you to prepare at home by dissolving them in a bit of boiled water before drinking. Herbs should generally be taken 2-3 times a day.

We also sell a range of Chinese patent medicines (such as capsules, cough syrups, oils, and liniments), herbal teas & other products.

Chinese herbal medicines are generally fine to use in conjunction with other medications. It is however vital that you advise your Chinese medicine practitioner exactly what other medicines, prescribed or non-prescribed, you are taking, to minimise any risk of adverse effects and potential interactions, and to achieve optimal treatment results.

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Chinese Remedial Massage
Tactile touch is essential for humans to function and thrive!
A professional MASSAGE involves the use of specific touch, pressure, strokes, movements and stretches applied to the skin, muscles, joints, and pressure points.
With a variety of techniques and stimulation of pressure-points the flow of energy (Qi) is moved , restoring balance.

The benefits are plentiful. They include:

• Improved circulation of body fluids
  
• Improved oxygenation of blood to the muscles, organs & other body tissues
  
• Improved bodily functions
  
• Removal of blockages & release of muscle tension
  
• Reduced pain
  
• Improved mobility
  
• Strengthening of the immune system
  
• Faster recovery
  
• Reduced stress
  
• Increased relaxation
  
• Increased body awareness

Chinese Massage is remedial and can alleviate and treat a large range of complaints.
Having regular acupuncture and massage treatments can boost your immune system and prevent injuries and illness from occurring or progressing.

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Cupping & Gua Sha
Cupping and Gua Sha ("spooning") are traditional techniques often used in combination with acupuncture and/or massage to further stimulate the flow of Qi in the body. Cupping is a technique that involves the application of glass cups to the surface of the skin by creating suction and negative pressure. This increases the blood flow to the muscles and skin, loosens the tissues, stimulates the circulatory and nervous systems, and can draw out toxins, excess fluids and pathogens.
Cupping can be remarkably beneficial in the treatment of a variety of complaints such as common colds, asthma, cough, digestive problems, and period pains, and it can have great detoxifying effects. It is most commonly used to relieve and treat joint and muscle pains, such as shoulder- and backaches.

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Lymph Drainage Massage
Lymph drainage massage stimulates the flow of the body's lymphatic fluid to the lymph glands, thereby strongly enhancing the removal of the body's waste products.
It cleanses, relaxes and energises the body and is particularly good for:

• Reducing swellings (due to either soft tissue injury or oedema)
  
• Softening scar tissues
  
• Promoting healing & recovery post surgery
  
• Cellulite
  
• Arthritis
  
• Detoxification
  
• Chronic fatigue
  
• Neorological disorders

Lymph drainage is an extremely light, slow and gentle style massage.

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GENERAL INFORMATION

Fee Schedule
Initial Consultation (60 mins)......................$90

Standard Consultations (Acupuncture / Massage / Cupping)
30min......................$65
45min......................$70
60min......................$80

Herbal Consultation (20-30 mins)......................$35
(The cost of the prescribed herbal medicines is additional to above fee)

Herbal Medicine (Granules)
40ml......................$30
80ml......................$50


Payment
Cash / Cheque / EFTPOS / Credit Cards

Health Fund Rebates
Most private health funds, many of which Christina is a registered provider with, offer a rebate for Chinese Medicine treatments. This is subject to the individual health fund and level of cover.

Gift Vouchers
Available on request

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"Your body is precious. Looking after it will help you live a healthier and happier life. Chinese Medicine can assist the body's natural ability to restore balance and health"
- Christina Tolstrup